1. Jesus cries on the cross for us. He suffers and cries and dies in our place. He is forsaken by his father so we don’t have to be.
  2. What might Christians of the Reformation tradition think of claims like these about the nature of salvation?
  3. The drama of Scripture is about God renaming us by bringing us into his image-bearing family once again. And it would take “a name above all names” to accomplish it.
  4. What if sin was truly removed and what if the one who took it from us had the power to conquer it’s curse and spit in the face of death?
  5. This is the prelude of Easter. Is a dead Jesus still resting in the tomb? No!
  6. It’s scary to share my struggle and to show that I have cracks because once I’ve shown my cards, I open myself up for judgment.
  7. Unprompted, without any warning, for no reason at all, without any instigation say, "I love you." And that will wash over your parents like a beautiful absolution.
  8. Ash Wednesday's purpose is not to motivate our resolve to redouble our efforts to do better.
  9. His love for you is so deep that in his mercy, while you were yet a sinner, God sent his only begotten Son to die for you.
  10. Rightly distinguishing between law and gospel, as Paul helps us see in 2 Corinthians 3, is, quite literally, a matter of life and death.
  11. Even as he was dying, the heart of God poured itself out for the sake of sinners.
  12. God gives us the power and authority to proclaim the forgiveness of sins to burdened sinners who entrust us with their pain, guilt, and defeat.