Jesus’ disciples died because they and hundreds of others had seen the risen Christ with their own eyes. The evidence is solid. The history is secure. But history demands a verdict from every single one of us. So the question that Matthew and the other Gospel writers pose to us is this: What are you going to do with this evidence?

Reading through Matthew 26 & 27 with response through reflection, communion, prayer and song to help prepare our hearts for Easter.

Jesus tells us three back to back stories in Matthew 25 to show us exactly what it means to be prepared for the return of the King.

The end of the world as we know it will be the beginning of a new heaven and a new earth, where death will be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore. Are you ready?

There are many ways to go to hell, but perhaps the saddest way is by way of church. Too many people go to church, saying and doing all the right things, but their heart is not right with God. And if that’s true, they will fall under the same judgment for hypocrisy as the religious leaders of Jesus’ day. There are many ways to go to hell, but only one way to go to heaven. God sent his Son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. Jesus is the only way to heaven. He is the only way back to God.

Three parables of rejection found in Matthew 21 & 22.

The King has come. The question is not “Is He King?”; the question is, “Is He your King?”.

When we realize the price ofJesus’ ransom, we don’t walk away. We follow the King who became a slave to set us free. Jesus paid the ransom. Jesus serves the table. All we do is eat and follow.