“I believe that if we are to maintain biblical Christianity we must refocus our attention on the cross. We must live and celebrate it. At a time when more Christians in the world are dying for Christ than at any time in the history of the faith, we must even be ready to die for it.” ~ Michael Card, Artist and Author “I believe that if we are to maintain biblical Christianity we must refocus our attention on the cross. We must live and celebrate it. At a time when more Christians in the world are dying for Christ than at any time in the history of the faith, we must even be ready to die for it.” ~ Michael Card, Artist and Author

“Of all the questions regularly asked about Jesus, the question ‘Why did Jesus die?’ must be among the most frequent. It is certainly the most fascinating.” ~ N. T. Wright, Historian “Of all the questions regularly asked about Jesus, the question ‘Why did Jesus die?’ must be among the most frequent. It is certainly the most fascinating.” ~ N. T. Wright, Historian

“It is no surprise, in view of his teachings and actions, that Jesus was crucified. What is surprising is that it did not happen sooner.” ~ Ben Witherington III, Historian & Theologian “It is no surprise, in view of his teachings and actions, that Jesus was crucified. What is surprising is that it did not happen sooner.” ~ Ben Witherington III, Historian & Theologian

“Jesus was not busy with a religious revival; he was busy with a revolution – a revolution in religion, in politics, and in everything else.” ~ Albert Nolan, Historian “Jesus was not busy with a religious revival; he was busy with a revolution – a revolution in religion, in politics, and in everything else.” ~ Albert Nolan, Historian

“We should begin our study with two firm facts before us: Jesus was executed by the Romans as would-be ‘king of the Jews’, and his disciples subsequently formed a messianic movement which was not based on the hope of military victory. The difficulty explaining how to hold these two facts together is the fundamental problem involved in attempting to understand the death of Jesus.” ~ E. P. Sanders, Historian “We should begin our study with two firm facts before us: Jesus was executed by the Romans as would-be ‘king of the Jews’, and his disciples subsequently formed a messianic movement which was not based on the hope of military victory. The difficulty explaining how to hold these two facts together is the fundamental problem involved in attempting to understand the death of Jesus.” ~ E. P. Sanders, Historian

“Jesus’ messianic calling led him not to military victory over Rome, but to death at the hands of the Romans. This was an unwelcome and virtually incomprehensible vision in the eyes of Jesus’ contemporaries, including his closest followers.” ~ Mark D. Roberts, New Testament Scholar “Jesus’ messianic calling led him not to military victory over Rome, but to death at the hands of the Romans. This was an unwelcome and virtually incomprehensible vision in the eyes of Jesus’ contemporaries, including his closest followers.” ~ Mark D. Roberts, New Testament Scholar

“When Jews of Jesus’ day celebrated Passover, its message of freedom naturally resonated into their own context. What God had done to Egypt, He would do to Rome. What He had done for Israel then, He would do for her again. … That’s why the Romans were on special alert over the holiday period.” ~ N.T. Wright, Historian & Theologian “When Jews of Jesus’ day celebrated Passover, its message of freedom naturally resonated into their own context. What God had done to Egypt, He would do to Rome. What He had done for Israel then, He would do for her again. … That’s why the Romans were on special alert over the holiday period.” ~ N.T. Wright, Historian & Theologian

“Jesus was following, and advocating, an agenda which involved setting aside some of the most central and cherished symbols of the Judaism of his day, and replacing them with loyalty to himself. Passover was no exception.” ~ N. T. Wright, Historian & Theologian

As Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside privately and told them what was going to happen to him. "When we get to Jerusalem," he said, "the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die. Then they will hand him over to the Romans to be mocked, whipped, and crucified. But on the third day he will be raised from the dead." ~ Matthew 20:17-19 (NLT) As Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside privately and told them what was going to happen to him. "When we get to Jerusalem," he said, "the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die. Then they will hand him over to the Romans to be mocked, whipped, and crucified. But on the third day he will be raised from the dead." ~ Matthew 20:17-19 (NLT)

As Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside privately and told them what was going to happen to him. "When we get to Jerusalem," he said, "the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die. Then they will hand him over to the Romans to be mocked, whipped, and crucified. But on the third day he will be raised from the dead." ~ Matthew 20:17-19 (NLT) As Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside privately and told them what was going to happen to him. "When we get to Jerusalem," he said, "the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die. Then they will hand him over to the Romans to be mocked, whipped, and crucified. But on the third day he will be raised from the dead." ~ Matthew 20:17-19 (NLT)

“What is difficult for our culture to understand, indeed what it cannot understand on its own terms, is an orientation to one’s life that is not focused on self at all, either as self- esteem, or self-abasement, as self- fulfillment or self-emptying.” ~ M. Eugene Boring, New Testament Scholar “What is difficult for our culture to understand, indeed what it cannot understand on its own terms, is an orientation to one’s life that is not focused on self at all, either as self- esteem, or self-abasement, as self- fulfillment or self-emptying.” ~ M. Eugene Boring, New Testament Scholar

Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. [43] Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, [44] and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. [45] For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." ~ Mark 10:42-45 (TNIV) Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. [43] Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, [44] and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. [45] For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." ~ Mark 10:42-45 (TNIV)

“The events of the last supper are enacted against the backdrop of a cosmic struggle between the powers of good and evil.” ~ Gail R. O’Day, New Testament Scholar “The events of the last supper are enacted against the backdrop of a cosmic struggle between the powers of good and evil.” ~ Gail R. O’Day, New Testament Scholar

Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They all responded again, "We will do everything the Lord has commanded. We will obey." [8] Then Moses sprinkled the blood from the basins over the people and said, "This blood confirms the covenant the Lord has made with you in giving you these laws." ~ Exodus 24:7-8 (NLT) Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They all responded again, "We will do everything the Lord has commanded. We will obey." [8] Then Moses sprinkled the blood from the basins over the people and said, "This blood confirms the covenant the Lord has made with you in giving you these laws." ~ Exodus 24:7-8 (NLT)

"And I will turn against anyone, whether an Israelite or a foreigner living among you, who eats or drinks blood in any form. I will cut off such a person from the community, [11] for the life of any creature is in its blood. I have given you the blood so you can make atonement for your sins. It is the blood, representing life, that brings you atonement. [12] That is why I said to the Israelites: 'You and the foreigners who live among you must never eat or drink blood.' ~ Leviticus 17:10-12 (NLT) "And I will turn against anyone, whether an Israelite or a foreigner living among you, who eats or drinks blood in any form. I will cut off such a person from the community, [11] for the life of any creature is in its blood. I have given you the blood so you can make atonement for your sins. It is the blood, representing life, that brings you atonement. [12] That is why I said to the Israelites: 'You and the foreigners who live among you must never eat or drink blood.' ~ Leviticus 17:10-12 (NLT)

“Their stomachs must have been in knots. The Gospels give no indication that a word was spoken in response. For a change, these twelve men sat in absolute, stunned silence. Words failed to describe their feelings.” ~ Chuck Swindol, Pastor “Their stomachs must have been in knots. The Gospels give no indication that a word was spoken in response. For a change, these twelve men sat in absolute, stunned silence. Words failed to describe their feelings.” ~ Chuck Swindol, Pastor

"Come, let us return to the Lord. For He has torn us, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bandage us. [2] "He will revive us after two days; He will raise us up on the third day, That we may live before Him. ~ Hosea 6:1-2 (NASB) "Come, let us return to the Lord. For He has torn us, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bandage us. [2] "He will revive us after two days; He will raise us up on the third day, That we may live before Him. ~ Hosea 6:1-2 (NASB)