TODAY'S KINGDOM INSIGHTS:

SERMON TOPIC:

THE REAL REASON BARABBAS WAS SET FREE AND NOT JESUS.

Main Text:

Matthew 27:15–26; Mark 15:6–15; Luke 23:13–25; John 18:38–40


There are moments in Scripture that make us stop and ask, “How could this happen?”
Jesus was innocent.
Barabbas was guilty.
Jesus healed the sick.
Barabbas was a criminal.
Jesus preached love, forgiveness, and the Kingdom of God.
Barabbas was associated with rebellion and violence.
Yet the crowd shouted:
“Release Barabbas!”
And concerning Jesus:
“Crucify Him!”
It looks like injustice won.
But here is the deeper truth:
Barabbas was not simply released because Jesus lost the argument. Barabbas was released because Jesus was going to take his place.
The story of Barabbas is actually a picture of the Gospel.
Barabbas represents the guilty sinner.
Jesus represents the innocent Savior.
Barabbas walked away free because Jesus walked toward the cross.

And that is the mystery of grace:
The guilty goes free because the innocent One takes his place.
1. BARABBAS WAS GUILTY, BUT JESUS WAS INNOCENT
Pilate examined Jesus and repeatedly found no sufficient reason to condemn Him.
Luke 23:22 says:
«“I have found no reason for death in Him.”»
Jesus was innocent.
But Barabbas had committed serious crimes.
Mark 15:7 tells us that Barabbas had been involved in rebellion and murder.
So, humanly speaking, the choice should have been obvious.
But the crowd chose Barabbas.
Why?
Because the cross was not an accident.
Jesus had already declared that He came to give His life for others.
Mark 10:45 says:
«“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”»
Jesus knew why He came.
He came to become the substitute.

Spiritual Insight

Sometimes we ask, “Why did Jesus have to die?”
The answer is partly found in Barabbas.
Someone had to bear the consequence of sin.
And Jesus willingly took that place.
2. BARABBAS RECEIVED WHAT JESUS DESERVED
This is the shocking part of the story.
Barabbas deserved punishment.
Jesus deserved no punishment.
Yet Barabbas walked out of prison.
Jesus walked toward Golgotha.
Barabbas went free.
Jesus was condemned.
Barabbas was released.
Jesus was crucified.
This is substitution.
The guilty person goes free because the innocent person takes his place.
Isaiah 53:5 declares:
«“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities.”»

Notice the language:
Our transgressions.
Our iniquities.
Our punishment.
The cross was personal.
Jesus was not dying because He had sinned.
He was dying because we had sinned.

Think About This

Barabbas probably did not understand everything that was happening.
He may have walked out of that prison wondering how he escaped death.
But we know something he may not have understood:
Another Man died in his place.
And spiritually, that is our story.
We were guilty.
Christ took our place.
3. THE RELEASE OF BARABBAS REVEALS THE DEPTH OF GOD'S GRACE
Grace is not God pretending that sin does not matter.
Grace is God dealing with sin through the sacrifice of Christ.
Romans 5:8 says:
«“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”»
That means Jesus did not wait for us to become perfect before He loved us.
He loved us while we were still sinners.
Barabbas did not earn his freedom.
He did not negotiate his release.
He did not pay the governor.
He simply received an unexpected release.
That is grace.
Grace is receiving what you could never earn because someone else paid the price.
You cannot boast about salvation.
You cannot say, “I saved myself.”
No.
Jesus saved you.
4. THE CROWD CHOSE BARABBAS, BUT GOD WAS WORKING THROUGH THE CROSS
The crowd thought they were making the final decision.
But heaven had already established a redemptive purpose.
Acts 2:23 says that Jesus was delivered according to the “determined purpose and foreknowledge of God.”
This does not mean the people were innocent.
Their choices were still sinful.
But God was able to accomplish His redemptive plan through what sinful people intended for evil.
This is one of the mysteries of God's sovereignty.
People thought:
“We are getting rid of Jesus.”
God was accomplishing:
“I am providing salvation for humanity.”

The cross looked like defeat.
But it became victory.
The grave looked like the end.
But resurrection was coming.
Never Judge God's Work Too Early
There may be seasons in your life when everything looks like it is going in the wrong direction.
But remember Calvary.
Friday looked like defeat. Sunday revealed the victory.
Do not conclude the story while God is still writing it.
5. BARABBAS IS A PICTURE OF EVERY SINNER WHO RECEIVES SALVATION
We often read the story and say:
“Why did they release Barabbas?”
But there is another question:
“What if I were Barabbas?”
What if you were the one sitting in that prison?
What if you knew punishment was coming?
What if you knew you were guilty?
Then suddenly, the story becomes personal.
Barabbas walked out because Jesus took his place.
And every person who comes to Christ in genuine faith can say:
“I deserved judgment, but Christ took my place.”
2 Corinthians 5:21 says:
«“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”»
That is the Gospel.
Jesus took our place so that we could receive His righteousness.

BIBLICAL CASE STUDY:

THE CROSS

Look at the sequence.
Barabbas: Guilty.
Jesus: Innocent.
Barabbas: Imprisoned.
Jesus: Free.
Barabbas: Released.
Jesus: Condemned.
Barabbas: Walked away.
Jesus: Walked toward the cross.
Barabbas: Lived because another died.
Believers: Receive eternal life because Christ died and rose again.
The cross is therefore more than a religious symbol.
It is the place where justice and mercy met.
Justice says sin must be dealt with.
Mercy says sinners can be saved.
At the cross, Jesus bore the judgment so that mercy could reach us.

PRACTICAL LESSONS FOR CHRISTIANS.

1. Never take salvation for granted.
You were not saved because you were better than someone else.
You were saved by grace.
Therefore, remain humble.
2. Stop trying to earn God's love
You cannot work your way into salvation.
Serve God because you love Him, not because you are trying to purchase His acceptance.
3. Forgive others
If Christ has forgiven you, you must learn to extend forgiveness to others.
4. Live like someone who has been set free
Barabbas walked out of prison.
The believer has also been delivered from the dominion of sin.
Do not keep living like a prisoner when Christ has made you free.
5. Tell someone about Jesus
Your testimony may be simple:
“I was guilty, but Jesus took my place.”
That is powerful enough.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

1. Have I truly understood what Jesus accomplished for me on the cross?
2. Am I trying to earn God's acceptance instead of receiving His grace?
3. Do I live like someone who has been set free?
4. Have I truly repented of my sins?
5. Who can I tell about the saving grace of Jesus Christ?
6. Do I extend to others the same mercy I have received from Christ?

POWERFUL PRAYER POINTS

1. Prayer of Thanksgiving
Father, thank You for sending Jesus Christ to take my place. Thank You for Your mercy and grace. I will never take my salvation for granted. In Jesus' name, Amen.
2. Prayer of Repentance
Lord Jesus, forgive me for every sin, disobedience, pride, and rebellion in my life. Cleanse me and help me walk faithfully with You. Amen.
3. Prayer for Freedom
Every chain of sin, addiction, fear, and spiritual bondage in my life, break in the name of Jesus. I declare that whom the Son sets free is free indeed. Amen.
4. Prayer for Grace
Father, help me to understand the depth of Your grace and to live every day with gratitude for what Christ has done for me. Amen.
5. Prayer for Others
Lord, use my life to bring other Barabbases to Jesus—people who feel condemned, rejected, broken, and far from You. Let my testimony point them to the cross. Amen.

DEEP SPIRITUAL TRUTH

Here is the heart of the message:
Barabbas was released, not because he was innocent, but because another took his place.
And that is the Gospel.
We are not saved because we are perfect.
We are saved because Jesus is perfect.
We are not accepted because we deserve it.
We are accepted because Christ paid the price.
We are not standing before God because of our righteousness.
We stand because of His righteousness.
The cross says:
“Your sin is serious, but God's grace is greater.”

CALL TO ACTION

Today, do not simply admire the story of Barabbas.
See yourself in it.
You were guilty.
Christ took your place.
You were condemned.
Christ bore the condemnation.
You were far from God.
Christ opened the way back to the Father.
The question is not merely:
“Why was Barabbas released?”
The deeper question is:
“What will I do with the Jesus who took my place?”
Will you continue living for yourself?
Or will you surrender your life completely to Him?
Will you keep returning to the prison of sin?
Or will you walk in the freedom Christ purchased for you?
Jesus took your place.
Now give Him your life.
«“Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” — John 8:36»
You are not free because you were innocent.
You are free because Jesus became your substitute.
THE CROSS WAS HIS PLACE.
THE FREEDOM WAS YOURS.
THE SACRIFICE WAS HIS.
THE GRACE IS YOURS.
Come to Jesus. Remain in Jesus. Live for Jesus. And tell the world about Jesus.
Amen.

Give your life to Jesus by joining a Bible believing Church near you.
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Behold, I am with you all the days, until the completion of the age.

Matthew 28:20 ᴊɴᴅ

As we earnestly look to the blessed coming of our Lord Jesus to take His own to Himself, we do feel and know that “while present in the body we are absent from the Lord, (for we walk by faith, not by sight)” (2 Cor. 5:6–7). Yet, our blessed Lord told us, “I am with you all the days, until the completion of the age” (Mt. 28:20). If our eyes cannot see Him just yet, is our spiritual vision adjusted properly to see His presence with us?

It is worthy of our attention to see in various passages that Jesus is “in the midst.” For example, we see Him in the midst of the two or three gathering to His name (Mt. 18:20), in the midst of the thieves at Golgotha (Lk. 23:32–33), in the midst of His own after His resurrection (Jn. 20:19, 26), in the midst of the seven candlesticks which represent the assemblies (Rev. 1:13, 20), and He walks in their midst (Rev. 2:1). He alone is worthy to have this prominent place.

When we consider the eternal purpose of God and what will happen when this present creation’s history will be over, we also learn something interesting: “When all things shall have been brought into subjection to Him, then the Son also Himself shall be placed in subjection to Him who put all things in subjection to Him, that God may be all in all” (1 Cor. 15:28). In the eternal state, in the new heavens and new earth, God will be all in all—He will be everything for all that will be there. It is hard to find words to describe this amazing greatness and purpose. But already seeing Christ in the midst and knowing that God will be all in all in the age of ages, what an encouragement we have to already make a reality in our lives that Christ be in the midst of everything! He is the answer to all our questions and needs, and He is absolutely sufficient for everything. If we have Him, what else are we missing?

Alexandre Leclerc


https://gbv-online.org/calendar/773/date/2026-08-22

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DATE: SUNDAY AUGUST 2ND 2026

THEME: OVERCOMING TEMPTATIONS III

MEMORISE: And it came to pass in those days, that he went out in to a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

Luke 6:12

READ: Matthew 26:37-41

37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.

38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

39 And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?

41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.


MESSAGE

This statement 'A prayerless Christian is a powerless Christian' is not a direct quote from the Bible, but I have found it to be very accurate. If you don't make prayer your lifestyle, you will be too weak to overcome the devil's temptations when they come. In Matthew 26:41, Jesus told His disciples:

Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Some people claim that they want to live above temptations, but they always find themselves failing. If you check carefully, many individuals who face this challenge often have a weak prayer life. Even though they desire to live a holy life, they are too weak to withstand the devil's temptations because they are not prayerful. For example, Peter failed to pray sufficiently at the Garden of Gethsemane, so it was not surprising that he denied Jesus three times after he had claimed that he was willing to die with Him. If Jesus had not prayed for Peter, the devil would have succeeded in sifting him away (Luke 22:31-32, 39-46).

As a Christian, you must gather strength in the place of prayer to remain standing when temptation arises. Proverbs 24:10 says that if you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. People who sleep when they ought to pray will faint in the day of adversity because they didn't build strength in the day of peace. Every human being will face a day of adversity. Jesus faced His at Golgotha, but He was well prepared for it. Before His crucifixion, He prayed intensely to the point that His sweat was as great drops of blood (Luke 22:44). Therefore, when Judas betrayed Him, Peter denied Him, and the other disciples deserted Him, He responded with love and kindness. Even when He was crucified, He asked God to forgive those who crucified Him (Luke 22:34). Only someone who has developed spiritual strength and stamina in the days of peace can respond like Jesus did in the day of adversity.

Beloved, do you know why Apostle Paul urged you to pray without ceasing in 1 Thessalonians 5:17? It is because you have a relentless foe, the devil, who will tempt you without ceasing. However, being a prayerful Christian will give you a constant edge over him and ensure that you are not caught unawares in any way. Like the apostles in Acts 6:4, give yourself continually to prayer. May the Almighty God continue to strengthen you, in Jesus' name.

ACTION POINT

Take time to assess your current prayer life and commit to making the necessary adjustments where needed.


BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Isaiah 64-66

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE

HYMN 22: SWEET HOUR OF PRAYER

1 Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!

that calls me from a world of care,

and bids me at my Father's throne

make all my wants and wishes known.

In seasons of distress and grief,

my soul has often found relief,

and oft escaped the tempter's snare

by thy return, sweet hour of prayer!


2 Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!

the joys I feel, the bliss I share

of those whose anxious spirits burn

with strong desires for thy return!

With such I hasten to the place

where God my Savior shows his face,

and gladly take my station there,

and wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!





3 Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!

thy wings shall my petition bear

to him whose truth and faithfulness

engage the waiting soul to bless.

And since he bids me seek his face,

believe his word, and trust his grace,

I'll cast on him my every care,

and wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!



PRAYER POINTS ON TODAY'S OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL
SUNDAY, 2ND AUGUST, 2026
*OVERCOMING TEMPTATIONS III*

✓Father, thank You for teaching us how to pray, and for giving us the Holy Spirit Who prays for us with a groaning that cannot be altered.

✓Father, please help me to make prayer my lifestyle, so I can overcome the devil's temptation when they come, in Jesus' name.

✓Father, please help me to be fervent with my prayer life, never to be cold or lukewarm. Lord Jesus, please pray for me so the devil will not succeed in sifting me away, in Jesus' name.

✓Father, please help me to build strength in the day of peace, so I can respond like Jesus did, and still remain standing when temptations arise, in Jesus' name.

✓Father, please help me not to sleep when I ought to pray so I won't faint in the day of adversity, in Jesus' name.

✓Father, please help me to pray always, without ceasing. Give me an edge over the devil so I won't be caught unaware in any area, in Jesus' name.

✓Father, please help me to continually give myself to prayers, in Jesus' name.

✓Father, please help me never to ignore my prayer life for frivolous comfort at the expense of my soul, in Jesus' name.

✓Father, please help me to be truthful to myself and to make the necessary adjustments to my prayer life, in Jesus' name.

✓Father, please increase my love for You; help me to love to commune with You at all times, n Jesus' name.

✓Father, thank You for the life of Your son, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye.
‎
Help him to keep growing deeper in his prayer life and never to sleep when he ought to be praying, in Jesus' name. Bless his children (biological and spiritual). Help him to continue to produce sons and daughters to Your glory, in Jesus name
‎
‎✓Father, please bless Your son that You have been using to prepare these prayer points, answer all his prayers beyond measure, and all those who have been broadcasting them, in Jesus' name.
‎
‎✓Father, please let every challenge and temptations, hindrance and obstacles of getting these prayer points across to Your children, timely, and on daily basis be removed, in Jesus name.
‎
‎✓Your personal petitions.
‎(Philippians 4:6)
‎
‎✓In Jesus name I pray.
‎(John 14:13-14; 15:16)
‎
#GodBlessOurNation

*These prayers have no expiry date! Please join us in prayer, irrespective of the time they get to you. Remain blessed, in Jesus’ name.

WHEN THE STONES CRY OUT:
ARCHAEOLOGY AND THE GOD WHO ACTS IN HISTORY
Dr. Xavier Cravenwolfe, ThD
Luke 19:40; Psalm 85:11
INTRODUCTION: THE GOD WHO LEAVES EVIDENCE
Saints, today we stand on holy ground not because of the carpet beneath our feet, but because of the truth beneath our faith. We live in a world that questions everything sacred, doubts everything divine, and dismisses everything biblical. But Jesus said something that echoes across time:
“If these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.”
He was not speaking metaphorically. He was speaking prophetically, and in our generations, the stones are crying out. Archaeology, the science of digging into the earth has become a witness to the truth of Scripture.
Psalm 85:11 declared it long ago:
“Truth shall spring out of the earth.”
Truth is rising from the soil. Truth is emerging from the dust. Truth is being uncovered from the ruins. And every discovery whispers the same message: The Bible is true. The God of the Bible is real. And the God who acted in history is still acting today.
Today, I want to take you on a journey not just through Scripture, but through the stones, the ruins, the inscriptions, the tombs, the cities, and the artifacts that confirm the Word of God. This is not a lecture. This is not a seminar. This is not an academic presentation. This is a sermon, a proclamation of truth, a declaration of faith, and a celebration of a God who leaves evidence.
I. THE TEL DAN STELE WHEN A PAGAN KING CONFIRMS GOD’S PROMISE
For decades, the "minimalist" school of biblical criticism argued that King David was nothing more than a pious fiction, a mythological figure akin to King Arthur, designed to give a fledgling post-exilic community a sense of grand heritage. They claimed there was no extra-biblical evidence for his existence. But in 1993, at the foot of Mount Hermon in northern Israel, archaeologist Gila Cook noticed a stone used in a secondary wall that looked different. It was a fragment of a victory monument, the Tel Dan Stele, commissioned by Hazael of Aram-Damascus. As the dust was brushed away from the basalt surface, three words in Paleo-Hebrew script silenced the skeptics and shook the foundations of academia.
"Beit David" – "The House of David."
This wasn't a biblical scribe writing with a theological agenda; this was a pagan king, a bitter enemy of Israel, boasting of his military triumph over a dynasty he recognized as the legitimate lineage of David. He didn't just carve a name; he carved a historical reality. The stones cried out across 2,800 years of silence.
This discovery confirmed:
David was real.
His dynasty was real.
His impact was real.
God’s promise to him was real.
Preaching Lift:
If God kept His promise to David, a promise carved into history He will keep His promise to you. Your faith is not built on fairy tales. Your faith is built on a God who leaves evidence. And sometimes, God will let your enemies confirm your calling.
II. THE HOLY SEPULCHRE GARDEN THE RESURRECTION IN REAL SPACE
For nearly two millennia, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre has stood as the epicenter of Christian pilgrimage, marking the traditional site of Golgotha and the Empty Tomb. While some sought more "scenic" locations like the Garden Tomb, recent scientific excavations and restorations within the Aedicule and the surrounding complex have unveiled a subterranean history that aligns perfectly with the Passion narratives.
But recent excavations beneath that church revealed:
A first‑century garden
Soil containing grains, grapes, and figs
A quarried limestone tomb matching Gospel descriptions
A landscape consistent with John’s words: “In the place where He was crucified there was a garden.”
Critically, archaeologists found that the site was originally an ancient limestone quarry that had been transformed into a garden in the first century. By analyzing the archaeological strata, they confirmed that the tomb was indeed carved into a rock face outside the city walls of that era, exactly as the New Testament records. Archaeology cannot peer into the supernatural moment of the resurrection, but it can and has verified the geographical theater of our salvation. The Gospel is not a "once upon a time" story; it is a "there in that garden" reality.
The discovery of the limestone quarry-turned-garden is not merely a geological curiosity; it is a profound chronological marker. For years, critics argued that the traditional site of the Holy Sepulchre was located inside the city walls of Jerusalem during the time of Christ, which would have invalidated it as a burial site according to Jewish law. However, archaeological probes have definitively shown that these walls were expanded by Herod Agrippa I only years after the crucifixion. The stones reveal that at the moment of our Lord’s sacrifice, this ground was indeed "outside the gate," preserving the legal and historical integrity of the Passion narrative.
Furthermore, the presence of agriculture remains, the soil containing grains, grapes, and figs paints a vivid picture of the "garden" mentioned in the Gospel of John. This was not a manicured park of leisure, but a working, living piece of Judean land. It underscores the profound humility of the Incarnation: that the King of Glory was laid to rest in the working soil of His own creation. The archaeology invites us to see the Resurrection not as a ghost story occurring in a vacuum, but as a cosmic event anchored in the very dirt and vegetation of the first century.
Finally, the specific architectural features of the tomb itself, uncovered during recent restorations of the Aedicule, provide a direct link to the burial customs of the wealthy in the Second Temple period. The presence of a "kokh" or burial niche and the rolling stone track found in similar tombs of that era validate the specific details provided by the Evangelists regarding Joseph of Arimathea’s "new tomb." Every measurement of the rock and every analysis of the mortar serves as a silent, physical witness that the story of the Empty Tomb is rooted in a specific, identifiable location that still speaks to us today.
Preaching Lift:
If the resurrection happened in real space, then redemption happens in real lives. Your salvation is not symbolic, it is historical. Your deliverance is not theoretical, it is factual. Your hope is not imaginary, it is anchored in reality.


III. CAPERNAUM AND MAGDALA JESUS WALKED WHERE WE WALK
The shores of the Sea of Galilee aren't just beautiful landscapes; they are the floorboards of the Master's classroom. At Capernaum, known as Jesus' "own city," excavators found in 1968 the black basalt foundations of the very synagogue where He taught, and just steps away, an octagonal church built over a humble first-century home identified by early Christian graffiti as the House of Peter. This is where the healing of the paralytic and the centurion's servant weren't just stories, they were events. The theology of the Incarnation is etched into this basalt and limestone. When we touch these stones, we are touching the reality that the Word did not just become "idea" or "philosophy" He became flesh. He dwelt in a specific house, walked on specific floors, and breathed the air of a fishing village. The House of Peter serves as a monument to a God who is comfortable in the messy, ordinary spaces of our lives.
A first‑century synagogue beneath a later structure
Homes arranged exactly as described in the Gospels
Fishing tools consistent with Peter’s profession
Even more striking is the recent discovery at Magdala. While building a retreat center, workers struck stone and found a perfectly preserved first-century synagogue, one of only seven in the world. They found the "Magdala Stone," a miniature representation of the Second Temple, likely seen and touched by Jesus Himself. These aren't just ruins; they are witnesses to the fact that Jesus occupied the same physical world we do. The Magdala Stone represents the bridge between the holiness of the Temple and the dust of the village. It tells us that Jesus brought the presence of God out of the distant sanctuary and into the marketplace. The Incarnation means that the "Holy of Holies" has entered the human experience, validating every square inch of our physical existence as a potential meeting place with the Divine.
A first‑century synagogue
A carved stone depicting the Menorah
A thriving Jewish fishing village Mary Magdalene’s hometown
These discoveries confirm that Jesus’ ministry unfolded in real towns with real people not imaginary settings.
Preaching Lift:
If Jesus walked into real towns, He can walk into your real situation. The archaeological record at Capernaum and Magdala proves that our Savior is not a distant, sanitized deity, but an Incarnate Lord who got His feet dusty in the same world where you struggle. He is not a mythical Redeemer or a symbolic figure; He is a present help in the real world for real people with real problems. Because He truly entered our history, He can truly transform your story.

IV. THE EXODUS AND THE FORTRESS OF TELL EL‑KHAROUBA: GOD GUIDES WITH STRATEGIC PURPOSE

In the blistering, arid expanse of the northern Sinai, at a strategic site known as Tell el-Kharouba, archaeologists have unearthed a massive Egyptian military installation that provides a startlingly clear window into the geopolitical landscape of the New Kingdom. This fortress was a critical link in the defensive chain guarding "The Way of Horus," the primary coastal international highway connecting Egypt to Canaan. The archaeological significance of this infrastructure cannot be overstated; excavations revealed thick mud-brick ramparts, sophisticated granaries, and residential quarters for a permanent garrison of elite Egyptian troops.
The presence of such advanced military infrastructure confirms that this "Way of the Philistines" was not merely a road, but a militarized zone. Tell el-Kharouba served as a logistics hub and early-warning system for Pharaoh’s chariot corps. For Israel, a newly liberated but militarily unproven assembly of former slaves, artisans, and families, to have attempted this route would have been a suicide mission. They were a non-combatant group laden with the elderly, children, and livestock totally unequipped to breach a fortified frontier guarded by the world's most advanced superpower.
This fortress confirms:
Egypt heavily fortified the northern coastal route
Israel could not have taken the “short way”
Exodus 13:17–18 is historically accurate: “God led them not by the way of the Philistines… but by the wilderness.”
The theology of the "detour" in Exodus 13:17–18 is revealed here as an act of divine tactical genius and fatherly preservation. God did not lead them into the wilderness because He was lost; He led them there because He knew the vulnerability of their hearts and the reality of the Egyptian swords at Kharouba. The text says, "Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war." God understood that while the spirit might be willing, the trauma of slavery had not yet been replaced by the courage of the covenant. By diverting them from the coastal route, God was not delaying their destiny; He was protecting their fragile, burgeoning freedom from the crushing military reality of the "Way of Horus."
Preaching Lift:
When God reroutes your life and sends you the "long way," it is not a sign of His absence, but of His strategic protection. The archaeology of the Sinai proves that His detours are often the only reason we survive the hidden fortresses of our enemies. The same God who saw the garrison at Tell el-Kharouba sees the obstacles in your future and is guiding you with a purpose that prioritizes your preservation over your speed.
V. NEBUCHADNEZZAR’S CYLINDERS THE KING WHO FULFILLED PROPHECY
For generations, the Book of Daniel was dismissed by critics as a late-date pious fiction, written long after the events it purports to describe. Skeptics argued that its intimate details of the Babylonian court were too accurate to be prophetic and too specific to be historical. However, the shovel of the archaeologist has once again silenced the seat of the scornful. The discovery of numerous primary sources including the clay cylinders found near Kish and the monumental East India House Inscription has provided an archival, first-person look into the reign of Nebuchadnezzar II. These are not biblical commentaries; they are the official state records of a superpower, preserving the voice of the king himself across the chasm of two and a half millennia.
The physical evidence etched into these cylinders is staggering. They describe a monarch of unparalleled ambition whose construction projects transformed Babylon into the envy of the ancient world. The inscriptions detail the building of the Etemenanki ziggurat, the massive Ishtar Gate, and the formidable defensive walls that made the city seemingly impregnable. These artifacts confirm that the biblical portrait of Nebuchadnezzar is not a caricature, but a precise historical reflection of the man who stood at the center of the world's stage.
His absolute military and political dominance across the Ancient Near East
His historical role in the siege of Jerusalem and the destruction of Solomon’s Temple
His exhaustive architectural campaigns that mirrored the "Great Babylon" of Scripture
The theology of the Babylonian exile is anchored in the reality of Nebuchadnezzar’s pride. In Daniel 4:30, the king walks upon his palace roof and boasts, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty?” The East India House Inscription contains words that are eerily similar, recording his obsession with his own legacy and his "mighty work" for the glory of his name. This is more than a linguistic parallel; it is a spiritual revelation. It shows that God does not merely observe history; He manages it. He took a king who sought to immortalize himself in clay and stone and used him to fulfill the prophetic purposes of the Almighty, proving that the heart of the king is but a stream in the hand of the Lord.
Preaching Lift:
If God can take the most powerful monarch of the ancient world, a man who thought he was a god, a king who commanded empires with a whisper and turn him into a servant of His divine decree, then there is no authority on this earth that can overrule God’s plan for you. The archaeological record of Nebuchadnezzar proves that the "Great Babylon" of man’s ambition is merely a footstool for the King of Kings. You need not fear the "kings" and "cylinders" of this world; for the same God who held the heart of Babylon holds your future in His hands. His sovereignty is the final word, and His providence is the ultimate architecture of your life.
Part 2
WHEN THE STONES CRY OUT:
ARCHAEOLOGY AND THE GOD WHO ACTS IN HISTORY
Luke 19:40; Psalm 85:11
VI. THE DEAD SEA SCROLLS GOD PRESERVES HIS WORD IN THE WILDERNESS
In 1947, a young Bedouin shepherd threw a stone into a cave near Qumran and heard pottery shatter. That unexpected sound led to a monumental discovery that changed biblical scholarship forever: the Dead Sea Scrolls. Hidden away in those desert caves lay ancient jars holding priceless manuscripts that had remained preserved across two millennia.
Inside those caves were:
Over 900 manuscripts, representing a vast library of theological and community documents.
Copies of every Old Testament book except Esther, confirming the textual canon used in the Second Temple period.
A complete scroll of Isaiah dated to around 125 BCE, which is virtually identical to the texts used today.
Texts that match the Masoretic Hebrew Bible with astonishing accuracy, silencing those who claimed the Bible had evolved over time.
The Dead Sea Scrolls provide undeniable historical confirmation that the Scriptures we read today are not corrupted, altered, or distorted. Across centuries of copying and historical upheaval, the Word has been supernaturally preserved. This discovery serves as a bridge across time, linking our modern Bibles directly to the hands of ancient scribes who treated every letter as sacred.
Preaching Lift:
If God can preserve His Word in a cave for 2,000 years, He can preserve you in the wilderness of your life. No matter how isolated, dry, or challenging your surroundings may feel, your calling and destiny remain secure in His hands. Just as the scrolls were kept safe from the elements, God is keeping you safe from the fires of your trials. The scrolls cried out from the desert: “The Word of God endures forever.”
VII. HEZEKIAH’S TUNNEL WHEN FAITH BUILDS WHAT FEAR CANNOT STOP
In 701 BCE, King Hezekiah faced the threat of Assyrian invasion. Scripture says he built a tunnel to secure Jerusalem’s water supply (2 Chronicles 32:30) Archaeologists found that tunnel 1,750 feet long, carved through solid rock, meeting perfectly in the middle.
Inside the tunnel, they found an inscription describing:
The workers
The engineering
The breakthrough moment when the two teams met
The exact biblical event
The stones cried out.
The architectural feat of Hezekiah’s Tunnel is more than an engineering marvel; it is a physical manifestation of the synergy between human responsibility and divine sovereignty. When the Assyrian king Sennacherib boasted of shutting up Hezekiah "like a bird in a cage," he underestimated a king who had already secured his city's lifeblood. The Siloam Inscription, discovered on the tunnel wall, records that the two teams of stonecutters guided by the sound of their axes meeting in the middle, bridged a gap that should have been impossible to navigate with such precision. This "breakthrough" was not merely a victory of craftsmanship, but a victory of a people who refused to let the drought of fear dictate their destiny.
Archaeologically, the tunnel validates the specific strategic measures detailed in the biblical text, proving that Hezekiah did not simply pray and wait, he prayed and prepared. The Gihon Spring, Jerusalem’s only permanent water source, was redirected into the city to ensure that "the kings of Assyria should not come and find much water." The stones tell us that the "God who acts in history" often acts through the calloused hands of those who are willing to dig in the dark. The theology of the tunnel teaches us that when we move in obedience to secure the "living water" of God's presence, the obstacles of solid rock must eventually yield to the progress of the promise.

Preaching Lift:
Faith does not wait for crisis faith prepares for victory. Hezekiah dug a tunnel before the enemy arrived. Some of you need to start digging before the battle begins.
VIII. THE PONTIUS PILATE INSCRIPTION THE GOVERNOR WHO COULD NOT STOP GOD’S PLAN
For centuries, skeptical scholars and critics claimed that Pontius Pilate was nothing more than a fictional character or a literary invention. But in 1961, in the ancient seaside city of Caesarea Maritima, archaeologists turned over a limestone block and uncovered a monumental discovery. Carved directly into the stone was an authentic first-century inscription reading: “Pontius Pilate, Prefect of Judea.” The very Roman governor who presided over the trial of Christ and condemned Jesus to be crucified had his name and official title indelibly etched into physical history.
This limestone inscription confirms:
The historical existence and official role of Pontius Pilate as Prefect of Judea.
The historical reliability of the Gospel accounts detailing the trial and condemnation of Jesus.
That human rulers and political authorities cannot stop or erase God’s sovereign plan.
Pilate famously sought to wash his hands of Jesus and distance himself from the judgment, yet he could not wash his name out of human history. Though he held earthly power and sentenced the Savior, the physical stone at Caesarea Maritima remained hidden for generation

Daily Bible Lesson.
THE BIOGRAPHY OF JESUS CHRIST — THE LORD WHO SAVES.

“I am the way, the truth, and the life.” — John 14:6.

Jesus Christ is the central figure of Christianity—the Saviour who came into the world to reveal God's love, teach truth, and redeem humanity through His death and resurrection.

1. PERSONAL INFORMATION
Name: Jesus Christ
Hebrew: Yeshua
Greek: Iēsous
Meaning: “The Lord Saves”
Birth: Traditionally dated to around 4–6 B.C., in Bethlehem of Judea.
Family:
Mother: Mary, a young Jewish woman.
Legal Father: Joseph, a carpenter from Nazareth and descendant of David.
Siblings: The Gospels mention brothers—James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas—and also unnamed sisters (Mark 6:3).
Origin: Jesus was Jewish and was associated with the tribe of Judah and the royal lineage of David. He was raised in Nazareth of Galilee.

2. EARLY LIFE
Birth in Bethlehem: Jesus was laid in a manger because there was no room in the inn (Luke 2:7).
Visitors: Shepherds came to see Him, and later wise men from the East visited Him.
Flight to Egypt: Joseph and Mary took Jesus to Egypt to escape Herod's attempt to kill Him (Matthew 2:13–15).
Return to Nazareth: After Herod's death, the family returned and settled in Nazareth.
At Age 12: Jesus astonished the teachers in the temple with His understanding and answers (Luke 2:46–47).

3. EDUCATION & TEACHING
Jesus was not known to have attended a formal rabbinical school. Some people were amazed at His knowledge and asked, “How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?” (John 7:15).
His teaching was marked by:
Deep knowledge of Scripture
Divine wisdom
Dependence upon His Father
Unparalleled spiritual authority
Jesus was called Rabbi, meaning Teacher, by many who recognized His authority (John 3:2).
His authority did not come from human credentials—it came from the truth He taught and the divine mission He fulfilled.

4. CAREER & PUBLIC MINISTRY
Occupation: Jesus was known as a carpenter or craftsman (Mark 6:3). He worked before beginning His public ministry.
Public Ministry: He preached the Kingdom of God and:
Healed the sick
Cast out demons
Forgave sins
Performed miracles
Raised the dead
Taught God's truth
Trained His disciples

5. ACHIEVEMENTS & CHALLENGES
His Achievements
He taught the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7).
He performed many recorded miracles.
He trained twelve apostles and many other disciples.
He fulfilled numerous Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah.
His Challenges
Opposition from religious leaders.
Rejection by people in His hometown.
Betrayal by Judas.
Denial by Peter.
Abandonment by His disciples.
False accusations, torture, and crucifixion.

6. MARRIAGE, CHILDREN & PERSONAL LIFE
Marriage & Children: The Bible does not record Jesus as having a wife or biological children. His earthly life was completely devoted to His Father's mission.
Personal Life: Scripture does not describe hobbies in the modern sense, but Jesus regularly:
Withdrew to pray
Spent time alone with His Father
Fasted
Spent time in quiet places
His greatest passion was fulfilling the will of His Father and saving humanity.

7. MAJOR TURNING POINTS
Baptism: Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. The Holy Spirit descended like a dove, and a voice from heaven declared, “This is my beloved Son.” (Matthew 3:16–17)
Temptation in the Wilderness: Jesus fasted for forty days and resisted Satan's temptations (Matthew 4:1–11).
Transfiguration: Jesus revealed His glory before Peter, James, and John (Matthew 17:1–8).
Gethsemane: Before the cross, Jesus experienced profound anguish and submitted Himself to the Father's will (Luke 22:39–46).

8. LEGACY & IMPACT
Redemption: Through His death and resurrection, Jesus became the foundation of Christian hope for salvation.
The Church: He established and commissioned His followers to carry the gospel to the world.
His Teachings: He taught radical love, forgiveness, humility, mercy, and service.
Global Impact:
Billions of people identify as Christians worldwide.
His teachings have profoundly influenced cultures and societies.
His life became a central reference point in the traditional division of history into B.C. and A.D.

9. HISTORICAL CONTEXT
Jesus lived during the period of Roman rule in Judea.
Caesar Augustus was emperor during the time of His birth.
Herod the Great ruled Judea as a Roman client king.
The period was marked by:
Roman political control
Social unrest
Religious tension
Jewish hopes for the promised Messiah

10. CHALLENGES & HOW JESUS RESPONDED
Challenges
Religious opposition from Pharisees, Sadducees, and scribes.
Misunderstanding from His own disciples.
Betrayal by Judas.
Denial by Peter.
Abandonment by His followers.
False accusations, torture, and crucifixion.
His Response
Deep prayer life
Complete trust in the Father's will
Unshakable commitment to His mission
Forgiveness—even toward those who crucified Him (Luke 23:34)
Jesus responded to hatred with love, to betrayal with forgiveness, and to suffering with obedience.

11. REFLECTIONS & LESSONS FROM JESUS
Lessons He Taught
Love your enemies — Matthew 5:44
Treat others as you would want to be treated — Luke 6:31
True greatness is found in serving others — Mark 9:35
Forgive others
Love God with all your heart
Core Christian Beliefs
God is love.
Salvation is offered through God's grace and received through faith.
Eternal life is available through Jesus Christ.
Jesus' Call to His Followers
“Take up your cross, and follow Me.” — Matthew 16:24
“Love the Lord thy God... and thy neighbour as thyself.” — Matthew 22:37–39

12. HIS DEATH & RESURRECTION
Crucifixion: Jesus was crucified under the Roman governor Pontius Pilate, around A.D. 30–33, during Passover.
Place: Golgotha, meaning “The Place of the Skull,” outside Jerusalem.
Manner: He was crucified between two criminals after suffering severe physical abuse.
Significance: Christians believe Jesus died as the Lamb of God, making salvation available to humanity (John 1:29).
Resurrection: Jesus rose from the dead on the third day and appeared to His followers and many others, including more than 500 people according to 1 Corinthians 15:6.
Ascension: He later ascended into heaven.
THE CROSS WAS NOT THE END—THE EMPTY TOMB DECLARED THAT JESUS HAD CONQUERED DEATH!

13. HIS LEGACY AFTER DEATH
Christianity spread throughout the world.
His followers carried His gospel to the nations.
His life inspired martyrs, missionaries, reformers, and countless believers.
His resurrection remains the central hope of Christianity.
His message continues to transform lives today.

THE GREATEST LIFE EVER LIVED
Jesus was more than a historical figure. He is the Saviour, the Messiah, the Son of God, and the hope of humanity.
He came to seek the lost.
He came to reveal the Father's love.
He died for sinners.
He conquered the grave.
He is coming again!

THE QUESTION IS NOT ONLY “WHO WAS JESUS?”
THE QUESTION IS: “WHO IS JESUS TO YOU?”

Daily devotion: Luke 23:34

“Jesus said, ‘Forgive them, Father! They don’t know what they’ re doing.”

Forgiveness, something which many people struggle with. But I want you to consider this. Our Saviour, Jesus Christ, was tortured by the Romans. He was rejected by His own people who chose the murderer, Barabbas, to be released from prison instead of the innocent Jesus. While carrying His cross to Golgotha, people spit on His bleeding body. People cheered as nails were driven through His wrists and feet. He was mocked by all when the Roman soldiers hung a message, written on wood, over His thorn crowned head. The message read: “This is the King of the Jews.” (Luke 23:38) Jesus did nothing wrong, yet He suffered unspeakable torment.

Despite all of this, the injustice of crucifying and innocent man, the horrifying flogging that tore His skin open, the abandonment by His own people. Despite ALL this He still asked God to forgive these people. Even at the end He remained compassionate and empathetic.

Now, look at your own life. What pain and sorrow, inflicted by others, do you carry with you? This hurt drags you down and fills you with feelings of regret, dislike and even hate and revenge. Can you see how events that occurred years ago are kept fresh in your mind? You turn it over and over in your mind like a dark jewel.

However, compared to what Jesus went through, our own cares, worries and pain seem so small. We need to remember that Jesus forgave those who harmed Him. Let us learn from Him and and feel the peace that forgiveness brings. Pray for those who hurt you instead of nurturing negative thoughts. (Luke 6:28)

I hope that you can find it in your heart to forgive and let go of those who hurt you. Setting them free will leave room for the Light of God to shine brightly in your life.

#Scripture #Forgiveness #Luke23 #DailyDevotion

Hello, I would like to share with you the message from 26 juillet 2026 from “The Good Seed” daily calendar.


And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called The Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha. (John 19:17)

The Lord Jesus carries His cross
The crucifixion of the Lord Jesus is described to us in a special way in the Gospel of John. Although it seemed that people were acting as they pleased, the Son of God decisively followed the path in which the Father had directed Him. He carried His cross to the place of execution. He was not forced to do so. No, He voluntarily left Jerusalem to be crucified at Golgotha.
 At no moment do we see His energy and determination diminish. Even on the way to Golgotha, He remained above all and acted in the power of a will that was completely devoted to God.
 The other evangelists report that the soldiers forced Simon of Cyrene to carry Jesus’ cross. But we cannot conclude from this that there were signs of fatigue in the Lord Jesus. The Bible mentions nothing that justifies such an assumption.
 Didn’t the Saviour suffer under the burden of the cross? Yes! As a perfect man, He deeply felt every physical pain. But at the same time, as the Son of God, He had the strength to carry His cross all the way to Golgotha. We cannot fathom the mystery of His wonderful person, for no one knows the Son except the Father. We marvel at His perfection and worship Him.

Today’s reading: Joshua 4:9-24 – 1 Corinthians 3:1-10

John 19:

"1 Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him.
2 And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe,
3 And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands.
4 Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him.
5 Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!
6 When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him.
7 The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.
8 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid;
9 And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer.
10 Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?
11 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.
12 And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.
13 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.
14 And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!
15 But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.
16 Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.
17 And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:
18 Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.
19 And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.
20 This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin.
21 Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews.
22 Pilate answered, What I have written I have written.
23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.
24 They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.
25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.
26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.
29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.
30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
31 The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
32 Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him.
33 But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:
34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.
35 And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.
36 For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.
37 And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.
38 And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.
39 And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.
40 Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.
41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid.
42 There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand."

THE CALVARY MINISTRY ONLINE

The Gospel From Calvary

TUESDAY 21ST JULY, 2026

THE DEATH THAT GIVES LIFE

```TEXT: MATTHEW 27:45-54```

```KEY VERSE:``` "Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost" (MATTHEW 27:50).

Matthew 27 brings us to Calvary itself. No more parables, no more mountains. The King stands before Pilate, Barabbas goes free, and Jesus is led to Golgotha. From the sixth to the ninth hour, darkness covered the land. Then came the cry that shook eternity: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” He who knew only fellowship now knew forsakenness — for you. At the ninth hour, He yielded up His ghost. Not taken, yielded.

Three truths from Calvary’s hill: One, darkness fell because Light was judged. “Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land.” From noon to 3pm, God turned off the sun. It was not an eclipse. It was the Father hiding His face while the Son became sin. The darkness you deserved fell on Him. Two, the veil tore because access was opened. “And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.” Man tears from bottom to top, but God tore from top to bottom. The way into God’s presence, closed for 1500 years, was opened by one death. Three, He yielded His life willingly. “Yielded up the ghost.” No man took His life. He gave it. He died as a King dismissing His spirit. And when He died, the earth quaked, graves opened, and a Roman centurion confessed, “Truly this was the Son of God.”

What does His death mean to you today? Have you remained on the outside of the torn veil, or have you entered in? Barabbas walked free because Jesus took his cross. That Barabbas is you. Come today — the darkness is past, the veil is torn, the price is paid.

✍🏽```THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:``` He was forsaken so you could be accepted; He died so you could live.

```THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:``` PSALMS 25-27

THE CALVARY MINISTRY ONLINE

The Gospel From Calvary

TUESDAY 21ST JULY, 2026

THE DEATH THAT GIVES LIFE

```TEXT: MATTHEW 27:45-54```

```KEY VERSE:``` "Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost" (MATTHEW 27:50).

Matthew 27 brings us to Calvary itself. No more parables, no more mountains. The King stands before Pilate, Barabbas goes free, and Jesus is led to Golgotha. From the sixth to the ninth hour, darkness covered the land. Then came the cry that shook eternity: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” He who knew only fellowship now knew forsakenness — for you. At the ninth hour, He yielded up His ghost. Not taken, yielded.

Three truths from Calvary’s hill: One, darkness fell because Light was judged. “Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land.” From noon to 3pm, God turned off the sun. It was not an eclipse. It was the Father hiding His face while the Son became sin. The darkness you deserved fell on Him. Two, the veil tore because access was opened. “And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.” Man tears from bottom to top, but God tore from top to bottom. The way into God’s presence, closed for 1500 years, was opened by one death. Three, He yielded His life willingly. “Yielded up the ghost.” No man took His life. He gave it. He died as a King dismissing His spirit. And when He died, the earth quaked, graves opened, and a Roman centurion confessed, “Truly this was the Son of God.”

What does His death mean to you today? Have you remained on the outside of the torn veil, or have you entered in? Barabbas walked free because Jesus took his cross. That Barabbas is you. Come today — the darkness is past, the veil is torn, the price is paid.

✍🏽```THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:``` He was forsaken so you could be accepted; He died so you could live.

```THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:``` PSALMS 25-27