"Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to thy name give glory". There is always the temptation to take a little of the glory that should be the Lord's. We can easily feel we have had a part in securing the blessing and benefit experienced. It may be because the temptation is ever ... Read more

"ashamed of me". 'Who would be ashamed of Christ?' we might ask - ashamed of One who went about doing good; whose words and teaching have been the foundation of the great. Be religious if you will, or a church-goer or philanthropist and you will be commended. It is no threat to the hearer. But ... Read more

"stand … still, and see the salvation of the Lord". There are times when everything is done for you, when the matter is completely out of your hands: you just stand still and see it all happen. Those who have never stopped and stood still are likely to have missed the great experience of seeing ... Read more

"I have suffered many things this day in a dream". Was Pilate's wife a devout and spiritual lady, because she had such disturbing dreams? Her name was probably Claudia and tradition made her a proselyte to Judaism. She may have been the Claudia mentioned by Paul in his Second Letter to Timothy. She stands out ... Read more

"being in an agony he prayed more earnestly". Jesus sets an example we should follow. More difficulty calls for more prayer. When things are running smoothly, prayer becomes smooth and easy - a sort of good habit that calls for little energy. It is when faced with mounting problems, with difficulties that will not resolve ... Read more

"And the people stood beholding". The execution of Jesus was in public. God ordained it so. All and sundry gathered to witness the awful scene - soldiers, religious leaders, commoners and men of rank and even the two malefactors whom He predeceased by a few hours. Jesus was atoning for the sins of the whole ... Read more

"they kept watch over him there". We are not told why the soldiers felt it necessary to watch Jesus as he died on the cross. They had done their job, shared the spoils just as they had done many times before. But they specifically sat down so as to watch Jesus as he died. Perhaps ... Read more

"rolled back the stone and sat on it". This is a wonderful moment in the gospel narrative. The rolling back of the stone was not to let Christ out, He had already gone, but to let the women and disciples in. Then having done the job the angel sat on the stone. Just as Christ ... Read more

"spices which they had prepared". God rewards diligence in preparation as much as success in putting to good use. The spices that the women prepared to anoint the body of Jesus illustrate this. Nobody says they wasted their time, though it is most likely the spices were never used for anointing Jesus. Rather we see ... Read more

"walked along with them". In their sadness and despair, the two disciples did not recognise Jesus walking along with them. They must have been pretty downcast to have the best travelling companion and the best Bible study ever, yet not appreciate either! But Jesus stayed with them. He walked along with them, at their pace ... Read more