Herod Antipas Mocks the King of Glory!And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.— Luke 23:11On that day when Jesus refused to meet Herod’s expectations, Luke 23:10 tells us the chief priests and scribes were so infuriated that they stood up and “...vehemently accused him.” That word “vehemently” means at full p...  Read More

Herod Finally Meets Jesus!And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.— Luke 23:8After Pilate discovered Jesus was from Galilee, the jurisdiction of Herod, the Roman governor quickly sent Jesus off to see Herod. At that time, Herod was in Jerusalem to ce...  Read More

Pilate Looks for a LoopholeWhen Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilean. And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time.— Luke 23:6,7Pilate had never had a problem with causing bloodshed in the past, so it seems strange that he balked at the thought of crucifying Jesus. As governor an...  Read More

Being Confident of God’s PlanAnd when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor. — Matthew 27:2Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you felt like you were surrounded and besieged by control freaks who were obsessed with keeping everything that moved under their monitoring control? If you’ve been in a situation like this before, you know ho...  Read More

Playing Games at Jesus’ Expense! Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands, saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee? — Matthew 26:67,68  Read More

Has Anyone Ever Spit in Your Face? Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him.... — Matthew 26:67 Some years ago, I visited another church in our city to hear a special speaker who had come from afar. That evening at the meeting, the local  Read More

Led Like a Sheep To Its Slaughter And they that had laid hold on Jesus  led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.— Matthew 26:57 After Jesus demonstrated His phenomenal power, He permitted the soldiers to take Him into custody. In a certain sense, this was simply an act, for He had already vividly proven that they didn’t have adequate power to take ...  Read More

Who Was the Naked Boy In the Garden of Gethsemane? And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him: and he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked. — Mark 14:51,52 Just about the time Jesus was finished healing the ear of the servant of the high priest named Malchus, the Gospel of Mark tells us a naked young man ...  Read More

Twelve Legions of Angels Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give memore than twelve legions of angels?— Matthew 26:53 How much strength do you think one angel possesses? Today I’d like for us to consider the full impact of Jesus’ words in Matthew 26:53, where He said, “Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than...  Read More

Jesus Cleans Up Peter’s Mess! When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword? And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. And Jesus answered, and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him. — Luke 22:49-51 Have you ever had a time when it nearly broke your heart to see what a m...  Read More

Peter Swings for the Head — But Gets an Ear! Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. — John 18:10When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword? And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.— Luke 22:49,50...  Read More

When Roman Soldiers Were Knocked Flat by the Power of God! Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he....As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.— John 18:4-6 Just as the Roman soldiers and temple police were prepa...  Read More

Have Disagreements Revealed Your Level of Submission to Authority? And he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, and lead him away safely. And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to him, and saith, Master, master; and kissed him.— Mark 14:44,45 When I was a young man and just getting started in the ministry, God positioned me ...  Read More

The Judas Kiss And he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, and lead him away safely. And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to him, and saith, Master, master; and kissed him.— Mark 14:44,45 Have you ever been stabbed in the back by someone you thought was a true friend? You had walked with him and spent much time with him; ...  Read More

A Full Moon, Lanterns, Torches, and Weapons! Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.— John 18:3 Have you ever had an experience with someone who had a wrong perception of you? When you heard what that person thought of you, were you shocked to hear it? Did you wonder, How could anyone ever th...  Read More

How Many Soldiers Does It Take To Arrest One Man? Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.— John 18:3 Jesus has the greatest power in the whole universe! When He walked the earth, He healed the sick, cast out demons, raised the dead, walked on water, changed water into wine, and multiplied loa...  Read More

Supernatural Assistance When You Don’t Know Where To Turn for Help! And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. — Luke 22:43 I’ll never forget the time years ago that our ministry was under a great assault. For no reason we could logically explain, the financial gifts of our partners seemed to dry up and dwindle away for a number of months. After this drought had gone on f...  Read More

The Right Way To Die!I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.— 2 Timothy 4:7When I was just old enough to get a job, I heard about a job opening at the huge cemetery just down the street from where my family lived. The old caretaker needed someone to mow the cemetery lawn. So one day I walked down to the cemetery and knocked on the door at the caretaker’s resid...  Read More

Have You Ever Felt ‘Agony’ Over Situations You Have Faced in Life? And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.— Luke 22:43,44 Have you ever wondered where all your friends were at a time when you really needed them? They pledged they would be faithf...  Read More

Because the month of April is normally the time that Easter is celebrated, I have dedicated all the Sparkling Gems for the entire month of April to the following subjects:Jesus’ final hours with His disciplesJesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus’ arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus’ trial before Pontius PilateJesus’ appearance before King Herod Jesus’ scourging and beatingJesus’ cro...  Read More

Jesus’ Last Lesson For the Disciples And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another comforter.... — John 14:16 I’ve often heard Christians ask, “I wonder what it must have been like to walk with Jesus. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to walk with Him and to hear His voice and talk to Him?” But believers who ask these kinds of questions don’t understand the ministry of the Holy Spirit. If they ...  Read More

Don’t Get in a Hurry! But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak;not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. — 1 Thessalonians 2:4 Have you ever wondered, God, how long am I going to have to wait for that promotion I deserve? Is there a reason that the promotion I want keeps getting delayed? What is happening in my life, Lord?We always seems conce...  Read More

The Supernatural Intercessory Ministry Of the Holy Spirit Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.— Romans 8:26 To whom do you go for help when you feel trapped, cornered, or pinned against the wall because of a situation you’ve fallen into? In mome...  Read More

Are You an ‘Amateur’ Or a ‘Professional’? And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. — 2 Timothy 2:5 It is a fact that hardships nearly always reveal the real level of a person’s commitment to Jesus Christ. When everything is going well and there are no challenges, it’s easy to serve God. But when things get tough and people are faced with hard decisi...  Read More