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The Good News

Scripture: Luke 4:16-21

Of all the prophecies concerning Himself, Christ chose to begin His Galilean ministry with this one: “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD…” (Isaiah 61:1-2; NKJV).

Christ came to preach good tidings...to heal the brokenhearted...to proclaim liberty to the captives...to unbind the bound...to proclaim the acceptable year of Jehovah.

Today, pause and consider just how good the good news really is. Christ came to do all of those things for you and for me. Beloved, the good news is so good...

Jason Cicero

And Peter

"But go, tell His disciples - and Peter - that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you" (Mark 16:7; NKJV).

On Sunday the angel spoke two of my favorite words in all of Scripture: "and Peter."

The Thursday before Peter spoke a number of words. Words of rebuke. Vehement words of disagreement. Words of denial.

Peter rebuked God. He vehemently disagreed with God. He verbally denied God three times.

Peter had a long way to go, but God wasn't finished with him yet: "But go, tell His disciples - and Peter." Do you have a long way to go too? Be encouraged! God is not finished with you either: "being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6; NKJV).

Jason Cicero

Poured Out For Me

And He said to them, "This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many" (Mark 14:24; NASBU).

I love Jesus because He poured out His blood for me. His blood cleanses me. It removes my sins.

I love Jesus because His blood brings me into covenant with God. His blood dedicates the new covenant...mycovenant. It fulfills the old covenant and brings the new covenant, my covenant into effect.

And He said to me, "This is My blood of the covenant, which I poured out for you."

Jason Cicero

May I Be

According to Jesus, when it comes to the business of His second coming I have two responsibilities: "Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come"(Mark 13:33; NIV).

Be on guard! This phrase comes from a primary verb that means "to look at" (Strong's). Jesus would have me look at my life in relation to His coming in judgment. He would have me see whether or not I am ready to meet Him.

Be alert! This word literally means "to be sleepless, i.e. to keep awake" (Strong's). Jesus would have me to be ready for His coming morning, noon, or night. He would have me ready when He comes.

I do not know the occasion of His coming. But I know what He would have me be when He comes. May I be.

Jason Cicero

The Vineyard

Scripture: Mark 12:1-12

Everyone who would be this Man's disciple needs to be properly aligned in this: God the Father owns the vineyard. It is imperative that we submit to His will for His vineyard. It is by His grace that we have the opportunity to work in His vineyard. It is through His Son and in the power of the Holy Spirit that we will bring forth a harvest to the glory of the Father. Let us be content to do our Father's work His way to His glory.

Jason Cicero

Hosanna

Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: "Hosanna! 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!' Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!'" (Mark 11:9-10; NKJV)

"Hosanna" is a Hebrew and Aramaic term that means "help" or "save now." It was used as a cry for assistance. It was also used as a greeting of praise.

Add "hosanna" to your vocabulary of faith. Cry out to the Lord for help on a daily basis. Greet Him with praise each day of your life. Long to shout "Hosanna!" when He comes again to save you from your sins!

Jason Cicero

Hidden in My Heart

"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."(Revelation 1:8; NKJV)

Sunday Morning Starters

Scripture: Mark 10:17-22

Question: What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?

Answer: Keep the commandments.

Response: I do.

Conclusion of the Whole Matter: Keep the commandments for the right reason.

The rich young ruler was not rebuked by Jesus. He was obedient to the commandments. Yet, His heart was not set on eternal life. His heart was not set on treasure in Heaven. He needed to obey the commandments, but from a heart that desires nothing more than to see the Author behind each and every command.

Jason Cicero

Jesus' Warning About Hell

According to Jesus, to entice, trap, or to lead a believer into sin is a very serious matter. The hanging of a millstone around a person's neck and throwing them into the sea was a Gentile form of execution. Jesus said such a horrifying death is to be preferred to leading a Christian into sin.

The contrast of "life" with "hell" indicates that Jesus was referring to eternal life. The Greek word gehenna refers to the Valley of Hinnom near Jerusalem, a garbage dump where fires burned continually. Jesus used gehenna to serve as a graphic symbol of eternal torment.

According to Jesus, Hell is real. According to Jesus, Hell is a place. According to Jesus, you don't want to go there.

According to Jesus, I should be about the business of doing whatever it takes not to go there...

Jason Cicero

Ashamed

Growing up my parents used a number of different methods to discipline me. My mom was good with a switch. My dad could take his belt off faster than a Texas outlaw could draw his gun. Sometimes my mom would just look at me.

Of all the punishments that came my way none was worse than having one or both of my parents say to me, "I'm so ashamed of you."

I can only think of one experience that would be worse:"For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels" (Mark 8:38; NKJV).

Father, help me not to be ashamed of Him so that when He comes...He will not be ashamed of me. In His Name, Amen.

Jason Cicero

With Him

Jesus set apart twelve men for a number of reasons. I am most envious of the one I read about in Mark 3:14. He chose these men to "be with Him."

What I do by faith, they did in the flesh. They saw Him with their eyes. They heard His voice with their ears. Their hands touched Him. They walked with Him. They worked with Him. They played with Him. They were"with Him."

Oh, how I want to be with Him! My joy is full knowing what awaits. "They shall see His face..." (Revelation 22:4).

Jason Cicero

Do I Do What He Did?

To be a disciple of Jesus Christ is to discipline oneself to be like Him. Jesus prayed without ceasing. He kept the converstation with His Father going.

"Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed" (Mark 1:35; NKJV).

Jesus had the same amount of time in a day that I have. Jesus needed sleep as much as I do. Jesus had a greater purpose that I do.

His time, His needs, and His purpose did not keep him from getting away from it all to talk to His heavenly Father. Do mine? Then He said to me, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny Himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me" (Luke 9:23; NKJV).

Jason Cicero

Jesus' Authority and Me

Authority (exousia) is the "power of rule or government, the power of one whose will and commands must be obeyed by others" (Vine's). God has inherent authority because of who He is. Jesus has been given "all authority"because of what He did.

#1. He became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14).

#2. He did not sin (Hebrews 4:15).

#3. He sacrificed Himself for the sins of others (Hebrews 9:26).

#4. He arose (Matthew 28:6).

#5. He ascended (Revelation 5:5-7).

Because of what He did...

#1. I go.

#2. I make disciples of all nations.

#3. I baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit.

#4. I teach them to observe all things He commanded.

#5. I trust He will be with me always.

Jason Cicero

Hidden in My Heart

"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."(Revelation 1:8; NKJV)

Sunday Morning Starters

From noon to three in the afternoon there was darkness over all the land. One took a sponge, filled it with sour wine and offered it to Him to drink. Others said to leave Him alone. Finally, Jesus "yielded up His spirit."

To yield is "to send forth" (Strong's). Jesus sent forth His spirit. In other words, He chose to die at that exact time. His life was not taken from Him. He "gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father" (Galatians 1:4; NKJV).

He "yielded up His spirit" for me. I will rejoice in my spirit in Him. In spirit I will live for Him until He comes.

Jason Cicero

In Gethsemane Alone

Before Jesus went to Calvary He went to Gethsemane. At Gethsemane He prayed the same prayer three times. The Father said "No" to the Son's request. Jesus knows the heartbreak of unanswered prayer. In respect to prayer, the Son of God shared fully in our human experience. Jesus knows. Jesus Cares.

Jason Cicero

When the Son of Man Comes

"When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on th throne of His glory" (Matthew 25:31; NKJV).

Jesus came the first time for salvation: "...for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost"(Luke 19:10; NKJV).

He is coming again in judgment: "...when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thessalonians 1:7-8; NKJV).

For those who obey the gospel of Christ and receive His salvation He is coming as a Savior. For those who reject the knowlege of God and fail to obey He is coming as Judge. Will He be your Savior or your Judge? Will you hear Him say, "Come" (Matthew 25:34), or "Depart"(Matthew 25:41)? Will you "inherit the kingdom"(Matthew 25:34) or will you "go away into everlasting punishment" (Matthew 25:46)?

Jason Cicero

The Stone

In the parable of the wicked vinedressers Jesus explains that the Jewish leaders were the builders of a nation. In their building they rejected God's prophets. They were about to reject God's Son. Their rejection of Jesus would not stop God’s eternal purpose.

Jesus quotes Psalm 118:22-23 when He finishes the parable. The rejected Son is likened to the rejected stone which became the chief cornerstone! Jesus was rejected. He was crucified. He died. Through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead God had the final say!

Jesus will be one of two things to you. He will be a stone of stumbling and rock of offense or He will be your rock, your chief cornerstone. He will be your means of salvation or your means of judgment.

Jason Cicero

What He Did

"From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day" (Matthew 16:21; NKJV).

He went to Jerusalem.

He suffered many things.

He arose the third day.