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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

EASTER: Growing up with death

By Charles S. (Chuck) Kelley Jr. NEW ORLEANS (BP) - My childhood was different than most. I grew up in the home of a funeral director. For the first years of my life, we literally lived in the funeral home itself in an apartment above the family rooms, casket room and chapel. Far earlier than most, I learned an essential truth about life: Death is inevitable for all. My father handled funerals for the elderly and the young, the healthy and the sick, the wealthy and the poor, the unknown and the famous, including a service for the Big Bopper, whose huge hit "Chantilly Lace" made him a household name until a plane crash ended his life. Some deaths were expected and natural; others were shocking and tragic. The causes of death varied widely, and the timing of death was often unpredictable. But whatever the cause or whenever the timing, death was, is, and ever will be the experience of all who live, whether we like it or not. Many seek to avoid this truth, but none can avoid its reality. I walked into the back of the funeral home very early one Saturday morning during high school and saw the name Walter Portius on the board listing those who passed away overnight. We were in class together on Friday morning, but he died … [Read more...]

Easter Reflections – Day 29

As Easter approaches, the Baptist Message team invites you to pause daily from the hustle and bustle of life to focus on the days leading up to Easter or Resurrection Sunday. Join us in this challenge to read through the Gospels to get a greater understanding of Jesus’ birth, ministry, death and resurrection. Day 29: John 7-9 (NKJV) ========================= (John 7) Jesus’ Brothers Disbelieve 7 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in Judea, because the [a]Jews sought to kill Him. 2 Now the Jews’ Feast of Tabernacles was at hand. 3 His brothers therefore said to Him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing. 4 For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” 5 For even His brothers did not believe in Him. 6 Then Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil. 8 You go up to this feast. I am not[b]yet going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully come.” 9 When He had said these things to them, He remained in … [Read more...]

The ironies of the trial and crucifixion of Jesus

By Waylon Bailey Everyone who has been a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ for any length of time is well acquainted with the trial and crucifixion of our Lord. Jesus gave Himself freely and voluntarily to atone for our sins. While we know this wonderful fact, there are other areas that are striking in their truthfulness and ironic in the way it was carried out. What are these ironic situations? First, notice the irony of Simon of Cyrene carrying the cross of Jesus when the other Simon (Peter) had proclaimed so loudly that he would never forsake Jesus. Second, notice the irony of God using the words of skeptics and mockers for good. Pilate put a plack on the cross of Jesus saying, “This is the king of the Jews.” The leaders of the people mocked Jesus saying, “He saved others, let him come down from the cross and save himself.” Could God have used these statements as a way to convict the criminal that Jesus was indeed the Messiah and that He could save him as He had saved others? Third, notice how all creation mourned as the light of the world gave Himself for the sins of lost humanity. The three hours of darkness pointed to the darkness of the people of Jerusalem and the Roman soldiers who had God with them In … [Read more...]