Category Archives: truth

Video of the Day: Clip from the 2004 movie “The Passion of the Christ”

Bible Verse of the Day:

Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. ⁵ But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. ⁶ We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all, Isaiah 53:4-6.

Biblical Connection:

I was a high school Bible teacher when the Passion of the Christ first debuted in theaters. I recall large church groups and Christian organizations purchasing nearly all the tickets for one showing. While Jesus on the cross receives most of the attention on Good Friday Services throughout the world, the 24-hour period leading up to this moment began with a sleepless night. This was followed by accusations, betrayal, having his face bashed in and whipped beyond recognition.

The Good News about Jesus Christ can be summed up in Romans 5:8, “while we were still sinners, Jesus died for us.” This is the vision that the prophet Isaiah wrote about thousands of years ago. The author of Hebrews compares Jesus to the Great High Priest who was able to empathize with our weaknesses but did not sin, Hebrews 4:14-16. Finally, one of Jesus’ own disciples writes that Jesus died once and for all, paying the debt of our sin, 1 Peter 3:18. This is the hope of Good Friday.

Closing Song:

I played this song following the first sermon that I preached in college. One of the stanzas in the lyrics talks about playing games with God. May the lyrics to Feel the Nails inspire you like it did for me 30 years ago on this Good Friday.

by Jay Mankus

Video of the Day: Clip from the 1997 movie “Cop Land”

Bible Verse of the Day:

Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. ¹³ “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’^[e] but you are making it ‘a den of robbers, Matthew 21:12-13.

Biblical Connection:

Sylvester Stallone plays the Sheriff of a suburban New Jersey town named Garrison. However, the locals refer to this community as Cop Land, a place where New York City police officers reside. Today’s scene has an Internal Affairs investigator played by Robert De Niro who discovers the town is a front for mob connections. De Niro asks Stallone, Freddy Heflin, to use his power as Sheriff to look into these allegations.

Jesus didn’t need anyone from Internal Affairs to see what was going on in the Jewish temple. One day after being exalted on Palm Sunday upon his entry into Jerusalem, Jesus speaks out about the secularization of God’s holy temple. Whenever political or spiritual corruption is exposed, the people in power deflect responsibility. Just as the Department of Government Efficiency has uncovered financial abuse and fraud, the people behind this are trying to cover their tracks.

Closing Song:

Confronting the corruption of Jewish leaders on the Monday of Passion Week triggered a chain of events that resulted in His crucifixion. While the findings of the Department of Government Efficiency are still playing itself out, the biblical response to any exposure of sin is to lay this at the altar in prayer. May a spirit of conviction lead readers to lay their burdens at the feet of Christ.

by Jay Mankus

Video of the Day: Clip from the 2000 film “The Patriot”

Bible Verse of the Day:

And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, ⁷ maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation,” Exodus 34:6-7.

Biblical Connection:

Mel Gibson plays Benjamin Martin, an infamous French and Indian war hero who is haunted by a great sin from his past. When the Revolutionary War commences, Benjamin refuses to join this cause following the death of his wife. However, when one of Benjamin’s sons is murdered by a British officer, he pursues a caravan of prisoners to rescue Gabriel, his oldest son. Driven to lead the Colonial Militia, Gabriel’s life is lost during a battle which sets the stage for today’s scene.

Watching the Patriot recently, I am reminded of the cost of freedom paid for by members of the Continental Army. Blood was shed daily as the bodies of dead soldiers were buried like today’s scene depicts. Just as King David’s life was accompanied by war, Benjamin Martin sinful acts during the French and Indian war caught up to him in the form of generational sins. Introduced by Moses in Exodus 20:4-5, these sinful patterns and tendencies is why a Savior was sent down to earth.

Closing Song:

If you ever find yourself flooded and overwhelmed by conviction, turn to Jesus, the spiritual anchor of our faith. While there are consequences to any sin, may you hold on to Jesus this Easter Season.

by Jay Mankus