This.... is Manhood. This... is Jesus.

Then, after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in
the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking
them questions. And all who heard Him were amazed at his
understanding and His answers.

Childlike wisdom...infinite knowledge...

Jesus, full of the Holy Spririt... was led around by the Spirit in the
wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil.

...determination...

Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to
minister to Him.

...weakness...

And He said to them, "Follow Me."

...eager...inviting...

Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their
synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and
healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among
the people.

...God-like...strong...

"For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of
the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of
heaven."

...bold...unafraid...honest...

"It was said... hate your enemy... but I say... love your enemies"

..challenging...redefining...

"Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor
gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Are you not worth much more than they?"

...loving...rebuking...

"In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want
them to treat you."

...teaching...

The crowds were amazed at His teaching, for He was teaching
them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.

...authority...authority...

A centurion came to Him, imploring Him, and saying, "Lord, my
servant is lying paralyzed at home, fearfully tormented."

...trusted...

Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am
willing; be cleansed."

...loving...

And they [the deamons] cried out, saying "What business do
we have with eachother, Son of God? Have You come to
torment us before the time?"

...feared...

He said, "Leave, for the girl has not died, but is asleep." And they
begand laughing at Him.

...misjudged...

"So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows."

...comforting...

And He spoke many things to them in parables, saying, "Behold,
the sower went out to sow."

...story-teller...

When He went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt
compassion for them, and healed their sick.

...compassionate...

Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him,
and said to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"

...disappointed...

He took the seven loaves and the fish, and giving thanks, He
broke them and started giving them to the disciples, and the
disciples gave them to the people.

...thankful...miraculous...

And Jesus answered and said, "You unbelieving and perverted
generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put
up with you?"

...frustrated...

"If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and
throw it from you; it is better to enter life crippled or lame, than
to have two hands or two feet and be cast into the eternal
fire."

...earnest...

And Jesus entered the temple, and drove out all those who
were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the
tables of the money changers, and the seats of those who were
selling doves.

...zealous...passionate...

"But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now
on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's
kingdom."

...sober...

Jesus... said to them, "Why do you bother the woman? For she
has done a good deed to Me... for when she poured this
perfume on My body, she did it to prepare Me for burial."

...gratified...protecting...

"Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more."

...forgiving...

Then He said to them, "My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of
death; remain here and keep watch with Me."

...grieved...lonely...

And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and
prayed, saying, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from
Me; yet not as I will, but as You will."

...agonized...humble...

Then He came to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still
sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand and the Son
of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners."

...distressed...

Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place; for all
those who take up the sword will perish by the sword."

...forgiving....

He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth;
Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent
before its shearers, so He did not open His mouth.

...silent...

Because He had done no violence, nor was there any deceit in
His mouth.

...sinless...

Because He poured out Himself to death, and was numbered
with the transgressors; yet He Himself bore the sin of many, and
interceded for the transgressors.

...Savior...

Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying... "My God, My God,
why have You forsaken me?"

...dejected...in agony...

And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His
spirit.

...human...human...

Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and take word
to My brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they will see Me."

...eager...joyful...

And Jesus... spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given
to Me in heaven and on earth."

...powerful...

"And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

...faithful...

...God...

...God in man, incarnate.




In the temple they are killing the lambs. There
Two hundred and seventy thousand will die. The air
Of Jerusalem has been filled with their bleating
All day, as red-sleeved priests perform their duty of meting
Our death. One by one, white throats are slit.
The temple has the hot, moist smell of blood about it.
A conduit drains from the great brass altar down
To the brook Kidron.
But in the dusk-light of this Thursday, the leaves
Of the olive trees tremble as the wind heaves
And lunges into them. Men approach the blood-swollen creek
And cross this bridge, hurrying toward the shade they seek.
Why has this lone Man stooped at the Kidron before He crosses,
His finger just touching the red water, and pauses,
Pauses?
~Latayne C. Scott



Well might the sun in darkness hide,
And shut His glories in,
When Christ, the mighty Maker died
For man, the creature's sin.

But drops of grief can ne'er repay
The debt of love I owe;
Here, Lord, I give myself away,
'Tis all that I can do!
~Isaac Watts