As Jesus hung on the cross, struggling painfully for each breath, He uttered seven short, powerful statements showing who He was and what was happening, and encouraging those who would follow Him. It was His last sermon.

1. “Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).

Jesus is not only practicing the forgiveness He preached (Matt. 5:44), He is asserting His divinity as God who forgives sin (Ps. 103:3). Beyond that, however, He is announcing the beginning of the New Covenant under which our sins will be forgiven (Jer. 31:33-34).

• “I tell you the Truth, today you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43).

Jesus’ promise of life to the criminal on the cross tells us that He has authority over Heaven (Ps. 115:16), He will conquer death (Psalm 16:10), and through Him we also will live (John 14:19). He is the priest of the New Covenant because of His indestructible life (Heb. 7:16-17).

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• “Dear woman, here is your Son… here is your mother” (John 19:26-27).

Jesus took time to entrust His mother into the care of the beloved Disciple John, fulfilling the Scripture at Psalm 69:8 that He was estranged from His brothers and showing us, that God expects us to honor our family (Mark 7:10-13). We are also reminded that Jesus was the “Seed of Woman”, the Savior born to a virgin as promised in Genesis 3:15, who was being “bruised in the heel” on the cross and who will triumph by “crushing the head” of the serpent Satan.

• “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” (Matt. 27:46).

Many of those who heard Jesus, and many commentators since, have failed to understand that Jesus is quoting the Hebrew title of the Psalm 22. Jesus sends us to Psalm 22 to show us that 1,000 years earlier it was prophesied that Jesus would be mocked (Ps. 22:6-8) and even prophesying the very words of His mockers (Matt. 27:41-43). In one sense, He was mocking His mockers. The crucifixion is also described, as His hands and feet were pierced (Ps. 22:16), His clothes were divided by casting lots (Ps. 22:14), and it was difficult to speak (Ps. 22:15).

Yet Psalm 22 is not a picture of forsakenness or despair but is instead a declaration of victory. God did not hide his face or despise the suffering of Jesus (Ps. 22:24). Rather, God used it to purchase eternal life (Ps. 22:26) and promised that all nations will come to Jesus (Ps. 22: 27-28). Jesus is telling us that He knew the price and gladly paid it.

• “I am thirsty” (John 19:28).

This is another fulfillment of prophecy (Ps. 69:28), when the suffering Savior is given vinegar for His thirst. Yet in the midst of His pain and distress, Jesus used Psalm 69 to tell us that those who seek God will live (Ps. 69:12), and the God does not despise the suffering of His people (Ps. 69:33). There is also the promise that His people will rebuild Judah (Ps. 69:35-36), an apparent reference to His promise to return.

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• “It is finished” (John 19:30).

To fully understand this statement, we believe that we need to look to the prophet Daniel. He foretold the coming of the Anointed One who would come 483 years (69×7) after the decree to rebuild Jerusalem (458 B.C.), or A.D. 26, and then be “cut off” in the midst of the next seven years (Dan. 9:25, 26). Jesus is telling us that He has fulfilled Daniel’s prophecy to finish transgression, put an end to Sin, atone for wickedness, bring eternal righteousness, seal up prophecy and anoint the Holy One (Dan. 9:24). This is the finished work of Jesus on the cross.    

• “Father, into Your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 43:46).

The last words of Jesus on the cross are taken from Psalm 31. He is telling us that we can take refuge in God (Ps. 31:1-4) and that we can trust God with our life (Ps. 31:15). Our times are in His hands (Ps. 31:19-22) and He preserves the faithful (Ps. 31:23, 24).

With His last sermon Jesus told us what He was doing even as He was doing it.

With his last words He is telling us that God’s hands are the only safe place for our lives.

Can you join Him in saying “Father, into Your hands I commit my Spirit?”   

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Note: This is the next installation of Charisma’s Holy Week series.

As dawn broke over Jerusalem, the city stirred awake unaware that this day would mark the most pivotal moment in human history. Jesus of Nazareth, the healer, the teacher, the miracle-worker—now bound and bruised—stood before the religious and political powers of the age. Betrayed by a kiss and abandoned by His closest friends, He faced a series of sham trials, false accusations and merciless injustice. Yet, He did not resist. He had come for this.

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In the early morning hours, Jesus was led before Caiaphas the high priest and the Sanhedrin. They searched for testimony against Him, but none could agree. Finally, the high priest asked directly:

“Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God.” (Matt. 26:63)

Jesus replied, “It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.” (v. 64)

The high priest tore his garments in outrage and declared Him guilty of blasphemy. The decision was made—He must die. But the Jewish leaders lacked the authority to carry out a death sentence under Roman rule. So they brought Jesus before the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate.

Pilate found no fault in Him. Even after questioning, and learning that Jesus was from Galilee, he sent Him to Herod Antipas, who mocked Jesus and sent Him back. The crowd, stirred by the chief priests, demanded crucifixion. Pilate, trying to avoid further unrest, offered to release one prisoner according to custom—Jesus or Barabbas, a known insurrectionist.

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“Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” they said, “Barabbas!” Pilate said, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!” (Matt. 27:21–22)

Pilate symbolically washed his hands, declaring himself innocent of Jesus’ blood and handed Him over to be scourged and crucified.

The Roman soldiers stripped Jesus, put a scarlet robe on Him and twisted a crown of thorns into His head. They mocked Him, spat on Him and beat Him. Then they led Him out to a place called Golgotha—“The Place of a Skull.”

There they crucified Him.

Nails were driven into His hands and feet. He was lifted up between two criminals, fulfilling the words of Isaiah: “He was numbered with the transgressors” (Isa. 53:12). Above His head, a sign read: “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.”

Even as He hung there in agony, Jesus prayed:

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” (Luke 23:34)

The soldiers gambled for His garments. Bystanders mocked. The religious leaders jeered, saying, “He saved others; Himself He cannot save.”

One of the criminals crucified next to Him joined in the insults. But the other rebuked him and turned to Jesus:

“Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” (Luke 23:42)

And Jesus replied with eternal assurance:

“Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” (v. 43)

Darkness fell over the land from noon until 3 p.m. At the end, Jesus cried out:

“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matt. 27:46)

Then, with a loud voice, He declared:

“It is finished!” (John 19:30)

“Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” (Luke 23:46)

At that moment, the earth shook. Rocks split. The veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom—signifying that the barrier between God and man had been removed. Even a Roman centurion, witnessing these things, declared:

“Truly this was the Son of God!” (Matt. 27:54)

The Lamb had been slain. The perfect sacrifice had been offered. He bore our griefs, carried our sorrows and was pierced for our transgressions. Though the sky was dark and hope seemed lost, redemption was unfolding.

Jesus’ body was taken down before sundown, and a man named Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for His body. Gently, they wrapped Him in a clean linen cloth and laid Him in a new tomb cut out of rock.

The stone was rolled into place.

The world went silent.

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Prepared by Charisma Media Staff.

This Passover season, Rabbi Kirt Schneider is calling believers to stop looking back—and start charging into the future with confidence in the power of God’s deliverance.

“Is your past holding you back?” Rabbi Schneider asks in his message titled Passover – Charge Into a New Season. “Sometimes we don’t understand how what we’ve been through in the past is causing us to be ineffective today.”

Drawing from the story of Israel’s exodus from Egypt, Rabbi Schneider emphasized the miraculous power of God to set His people free, not just physically, but spiritually and emotionally too.

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“Our God, who’s a personal God, who has a name, Yahweh… is in the ministry of delivering people from their past,” he said. Referencing Exodus 14, he reminded listeners, “The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent.”

But Schneider made it clear that faith isn’t passive.

“Why do you keep crying out to Me? Tell the sons of Israel to go forward,” he read from Scripture. “So you might be asking God for help with something, but there comes a time where you need to take a step forward… believing He’s going to do something as you go forward.”

He underscored that the Exodus moment was not just a dramatic historical event—it was a picture of what God wants to do in the lives of believers today.

“God delivers and sets free completely,” Schneider declared. “Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians… not even one of them remained.”

The opportune connection to Passover couldn’t be clearer. “Jewish people all over the world celebrate this story and tell this story every year… we consider the greatest part of the Passover the retelling of this story right here—how God delivers His people and delivers us today through… the blood of the Lamb.”

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Rabbi Schneider also sang a paraphrase of the Song of Moses, declaring: “I will sing unto the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously. The horse and rider thrown into the sea… The Lord my God, my strength, my song, has also become my salvation.”

He concluded the message with a personal encouragement to everyone carrying burdens from the past. “I want to encourage you today to stop accepting your past as a present reality,” Schneider said. “Let’s not let Satan’s lies cling to us… You’re destined for glory. Keep putting one foot in front of the other in the Lord.”

And as he closed the program, he left viewers with a timely reminder: “Chag Sameach. That’s Hebrew for happy holiday. And it is a time, it’s a season to be happy because Passover is about freedom and deliverance.”

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James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.

For followers of Christ, Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday are powerful, hope-filled moments in the story of redemption. Yet, before the cross and the empty tomb came a night filled with purpose—Holy Thursday, also known as Maundy Thursday. It’s the quiet before the storm, a sacred chapter that leads us into the heart of Jesus’ sacrifice.

But what exactly happened on Maundy Thursday?

This day marks the first communion.

On this night, as Jesus gathered with His disciples to celebrate the Passover, He instituted what we now call the Lord’s Supper. It was during this meal that Jesus gave them—and us—a tangible way to remember the price He would pay on the cross.

“As they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed it and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, ‘Take and eat. This is My body.’ Then He took the cup, and after He gave thanks, He gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink of it, all of you. For this is My blood of the New Covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins’” (Matt. 26:26–27).

At the time, the meaning may have been veiled to the disciples. But in the days to come, they would understand—His body would be broken, His blood poured out, all for the forgiveness of sin.

Holy Thursday is when Jesus humbly washed the disciples’ feet.

In a stunning act of humility, Jesus took the role of a servant, kneeling to wash the feet of His followers. Peter resisted, but Jesus made it clear—this was more than just an example. It was a message: the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve.

“Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands and that He came from God and was going to God, rose from supper, laid aside His garments, and took a towel and wrapped Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was wrapped” (John 13:3–5).

This act was a reflection of the greater cleansing to come—only through Jesus are we made clean. It was also a foreshadowing of the cross, where He would lay down His life for His friends.

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Maundy Thursday is the night Jesus prayed in Gethsemane.

In the garden, Jesus poured out His soul to the Father. Fully divine, yet fully human, He felt the crushing weight of what lay ahead. His prayer reveals both His agony and His surrender.

“He prayed, ‘O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done’” (Matt. 26:42).

The suffering He faced was more than physical—it was the burden of bearing the sin of the world. Yet even in this, Jesus submitted Himself to the will of the Father so that we might be saved.

Maundy Thursday is the night of Judas’ betrayal.

Under the cover of night, Judas led a crowd to where Jesus was praying. The sign of betrayal? A kiss.

“Now he who betrayed Him had given them a sign, saying, ‘Whomever I shall kiss is the Man. Seize Him.’ He immediately came to Jesus and said, ‘Hail, Rabbi!’ and kissed Him” (Matt. 26:48–49).

Overwhelmed by what he had done, Judas later returned the 30 pieces of silver and took his own life. The religious leaders used the blood money to buy a potter’s field, unknowingly fulfilling the prophetic words written centuries earlier.

“‘They took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of that which was priced by the sons of Israel, and gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord directed me’” (Matt. 27:9–10).

This is the night Peter denied Jesus.

Peter had once boldly declared his loyalty to Jesus, even if it meant prison or death. But just as Jesus foretold, Peter’s courage faltered.

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“Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: ‘Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.’ Then he went out and wept bitterly” (Matt. 26:75).

His denial wasn’t the end of the story—but it showed just how deep the need for grace truly is. Even the most devoted among us can fall. That’s why Jesus came.

Maundy Thursday is a solemn yet sacred turning point in the story of redemption. It’s the night of covenant, humility, surrender, betrayal and brokenness—all leading to the cross. And without it, there would be no Resurrection. Let it draw our hearts into deeper gratitude for the One who gave everything for us.

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Abby Trivett is content development editor for Charisma Media.

Note: This is part three of Charisma’s Holy Week series.

The fifth day of Holy Week marks a dramatic shift. The day begins with preparations and ends with betrayal, anguish and the arrest of the Son of God. Though Jerusalem buzzed with Passover festivities, beneath the surface, a cosmic confrontation was unfolding. Jesus, fully aware of what lay ahead, moved intentionally through every moment. The hour of His suffering had come.

Earlier that day, Jesus instructed Peter and John to prepare the Passover meal in a guest room of a house in the city. As evening came, Jesus reclined at the table with His twelve disciples. This was no ordinary Passover. What had long been a celebration of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt would now become a revelation of the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world.

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During the meal, Jesus made a startling announcement:

“Assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” (Matt. 26:21)

The disciples were deeply troubled. One by one they asked, “Lord, is it I?” Jesus identified the betrayer subtly, saying the one who dipped his hand in the bowl with Him would be the one. Judas Iscariot, who had already conspired with the chief priests for 30 pieces of silver, slipped away into the night.

Then Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it and gave it to them:

“Take, eat; this is My body.” (v. 26)

He took the cup, gave thanks and said:

“Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (vv. 27–28)

In these sacred acts, Jesus instituted what would become known as the Lord’s Supper or Communion. It was a declaration that the final Passover Lamb was about to be slain. This covenant, unlike the old, would be sealed not with the blood of animals, but with His own.

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After the meal, they sang a hymn and departed for the Mount of Olives. There, Jesus shared with His disciples that they would all fall away. Peter, bold as ever, insisted he would never deny Him. Jesus replied:

“Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” (v. 34)

They arrived at a garden called Gethsemane. Jesus told His disciples to wait while He went a little farther to pray. Taking Peter, James, and John with Him, He confessed:

“My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” (v. 38)

Then, falling on His face, Jesus prayed the most agonizing prayer ever recorded:

“O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” (v. 39)

Three times He prayed. Three times He returned to find His disciples sleeping. The weight of the moment was too great for them to comprehend. But Jesus was fully awake to what was about to happen.

Suddenly, a crowd appeared—led by Judas. He approached Jesus with a kiss, the prearranged sign of betrayal. Jesus looked at him and said:

“Friend, why have you come?” (v. 50)

In a flash, the mob seized Jesus. Peter drew a sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. But Jesus rebuked him:

“Put your sword in its place… or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?” (vv. 52–53)

Jesus, the eternal Son, willingly surrendered. As He was led away, His disciples fled.

The final stage had begun. The Lamb of God had been betrayed, arrested and brought before the religious leaders. The next day, the trial would begin, and the cross would draw closer.

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Prepared by Charisma Media Staff.

If you could meet any giant of the faith, who would it be?

In a stunning heavenly encounter, prophetic voice Micah Turnbo shared a moment that left a lasting impression—not just for its supernatural awe, but for the sobering wisdom it carried.

In an interview on Jennifer Bagnaschi’s Deeper Believer, Turnbo detailed his fascinating encounter that took place in the heavenly realm. Turnbo says he met King Solomon, the wisest man to walk the earth apart from Christ, seated at a table with other kings from various nations and eras. But it wasn’t the grandeur of royalty that marked the moment—it was Solomon’s confession.

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“All that wisdom that I gained, that I thought was valuable,” Turnbo recounted Solomon saying, “Nothing. Everything is meaningless. He is truth. He is all. He’s everything.”

That “He” is Jesus. Solomon—who amassed not only wisdom and wealth but also hundreds of wives and concubines—made a candid admission in heaven that stunned Turnbo: that his pursuits, even those backed by supernatural wisdom, became vanity because they were centered on things outside of God.

“He said, ‘It allowed me to chase after things that just didn’t matter,’” Turnbo shared. “It became vanity. It became meaningless.”

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For those familiar with Solomon’s story in 1 Kings and Ecclesiastes, this reflection echoes Scripture. Despite starting his reign with divine wisdom and building the majestic Temple of the Lord, Solomon’s heart turned as he grew older, drawn away by his many wives who worshipped foreign gods. His own writings in Ecclesiastes mourn the futility of worldly pursuits: “Meaningless! Meaningless! … Everything is meaningless” (Eccl. 1:2).

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But Turnbo’s encounter gives a personal, post-mortem glimpse into that regret—spoken from heaven itself. It’s a reminder that not even divine wisdom is a substitute for wholehearted devotion to God.

This moment serves as a sobering call for today’s believers: wisdom, status, success—even spiritual gifts—mean nothing if they lead us away from the simplicity of loving Jesus. Turnbo’s heavenly vision reveals that even the wisest among us can get lost when they shift their eyes from the One who is truth.

In the end, it’s not success, knowledge or even legacy that matters—it’s Him. Jesus is the only pursuit that will echo in eternity.

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Abby Trivett is content development editor for Charisma Media.

Passover is more than a Jewish tradition—it’s a vivid, faith-filled journey through history, prophecy and divine promise.

Recently, believers from around the world joined a livestreamed Passover Seder hosted by Ark of Grace Ministries, stepping into a sacred celebration that powerfully revealed how every element of the feast points to Jesus, the Lamb of God. From the lighting of candles to the breaking of matzah, the event invited participants to experience the story of deliverance not just as observers, but as those living in the freedom it proclaims.

The Seder opened with communion, reminding viewers that Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of Passover. “He was the Passover lamb,” they declared, reading from Isaiah and recounting the brutal suffering He endured to purchase salvation with His blood.

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As candles were lit and prayers spoken, symbolic elements of the Passover table took center stage. Matzah was broken and hidden as the afikoman, recalling the body of Christ broken for us. Bitter herbs represented the suffering of slavery, while charoset—a sweet mixture—reminded them of the hope of deliverance.

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The Seder followed the ancient order: retelling the story of Israel’s slavery in Egypt, the birth and calling of Moses, the dramatic exodus and the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea. Powerful symbolism was present: the blood of the lamb on the doorposts, placed on the lintel and the sides, forming the shape of a cross; hard-boiled egg, symbolizing both new life and mourning; cup of grape juice, celebrating the fruit of the vine and the joy of redemption.

This Passover wasn’t just a retelling. It was a prophetic proclamation of hope, redemption and victory—pointing not only to what God did, but to what He is still doing through His Son, the Messiah and the Spirit that dwells within His people. A celebration of freedom. And a night to remember.

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Abby Trivett is content development editor for Charisma Media.

Is Easter a pagan holiday?

One viewpoint is that Easter is rooted in the celebration of the fertility of a pagan goddess, Ishtar, who was from Babylonian times. This celebration of ancient fertility rites would, ultimately, mean that Christians were celebrating something far from the truth of Jesus’ Resurrection.

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Others have also connected Easter to the timing of Passover, and the forbidding of Christians eating eggs at the time of Lent in the Middle Ages. The word “Easter” can also be connected to the Germanic form of the word “dawn” which would symbolize the dawn of Christ’s Resurrection on the Third Day.

So, should Christians use the term “Easter” or not?

As believers, we are called to walk in wisdom and discernment, that’s why it’s important to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit, allowing Him to convict and lead us personally.

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While discussions about pagan roots and cultural influences for the name “Easter” are valid, they should not distract believers from the central truth that Resurrection Sunday marks the greatest event in human history—the defeat of sin and death through Jesus rising from the grave.

Regardless of the terms used, what matters most is the posture of our hearts and our focus on the victory of the cross and the empty tomb. Our hearts must be fixed at all times on Christ in sincere worship, not only at this time of year, but in all situations and circumstances.

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Abby Trivett is content development editor for Charisma Media.

Rabbi Kirt Schneider has spread the Gospel to millions all across the world, shedding light on the divine connection between Judaism and Jesus as the Messiah. His broadcast ministry, Discovering the Jewish Jesus, has inspired countless people in desperate need of Christ and his books have been a beacon of light.

However, not everyone in the Jewish community has particularly liked this.

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Rabbi Tovia Singer spoke against Schneider for his faith in Jesus as the Messiah, calling him the “chief rabbi.” Yet, what may have been said as a tongue-in-cheek statement is actually a great compliment because of Schneider’s Christ-like resemblance of the ultimate rabbi, King Jesus Himself.

Schneider has made it clear that no one, not even the Jewish people, can save themselves from sin. Instead, we are all in need of a gracious and merciful God to come and rescue us from the grave.

“The Law’s true intent was to cause mankind to recognize that we are not in and ourselves capable of keeping the Law to perfection,” Schneider says. “At the end of the day, our heart is not true enough, it’s not pure enough , it’s not perfect enough to meet the demands of the Law, and recognizing that we are now prepared to receive God’s ultimate answer, which is the Messiah, King Jesus.”

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Despite criticism and misunderstanding, Rabbi Kirt Schneider has stood firm in his faith with humility, grace, and unwavering conviction. His bold proclamation of Jesus as the Messiah is not driven by popularity or acceptance, but by a deep love for truth and a heart set ablaze by the revelation of God’s redemptive plan through Yeshua.

Rabbi Schneider’s life is a testament to what it means to follow in the footsteps of Jesus—full of truth, full of love and full of purpose. He continues to bridge the gap between the ancient truths of Judaism and the fulfillment found in Christ, lighting the way for others to follow.

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Abby Trivett is content development editor for Charisma Media.

Note: This is part-two of Charisma’s Holy Week series.

By the fourth day of Holy Week, the tension in Jerusalem was palpable. While many still whispered in wonder at the miracles of Jesus, the religious leaders seethed in secret. The triumphal entry and temple cleansing had pushed the boundaries of what they would tolerate. Now, Jesus turned His attention toward those who bore the greatest responsibility for Israel’s spiritual condition—the scribes and Pharisees.

That morning, Jesus returned to the temple courts and began teaching. The crowds gathered around Him, hanging on His every word. He spoke in parables that exposed the hearts of the religious elite—stories like the wicked tenants, the two sons and the wedding feast. Each parable subtly yet unmistakably revealed how those entrusted with God’s vineyard had failed, and how God would give the kingdom to others who would bear fruit (see Matthew 21–22).

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But then Jesus shifted from parables to direct confrontation. What followed was one of the most sobering discourses in the Gospels. Known as the “Seven Woes,” Jesus publicly condemned the hypocrisy of the religious leaders in a series of scathing pronouncements:

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.” (Matt. 23:13)

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.” (v. 14)

“Woe to you… blind guides… who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!” (vv. 16, 24)

He didn’t accuse them of ignorance—but of willful blindness. They meticulously observed external rituals while neglecting justice, mercy, and faith. Their lives were polished on the outside, yet filled with spiritual decay. Jesus likened them to whitewashed tombs—beautiful to behold but full of death within (v. 27).

This wasn’t anger for anger’s sake—it was the voice of a righteous Judge calling out corruption, but also the lament of a brokenhearted Shepherd. As Jesus concluded His rebuke, He looked over Jerusalem and cried:

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” (v. 37)

His tone was both prophetic and pastoral. He mourned the city that had rejected her Messiah and predicted the desolation that would follow.

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This day marked a turning point. Jesus’ public teaching ministry came to a close with this sobering indictment. The religious leaders’ opposition now turned into plotting. They would stop at nothing to arrest and destroy Him. Meanwhile, Jesus withdrew from the temple, never to teach there again. The sun was beginning to set—not just on the day, but on an entire era. The cross was drawing near.

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Prepared by Charisma Media Staff.