“It is finished” These last words of Jesus are really one word in Greek… “tetelestai” Is it a word of surrender? A word of resignation? We are tempted to hear it that way. And right now, many of us are tempted to think that way. After all, we don’t know how long this unusual season … Continue reading
“I thirst” These words of Jesus bring us face-to-face with the fullness of his humanity. The extraordinary suffering he is experiencing has left him dry and parched; he is thirsty. Any human being having experienced the cruelty of crucifixion would be thirsty. The fullness of Jesus’ divinity does not diminish the fullness of his humanity. … Continue reading
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Of all the words from the cross, this is the most painful to hear. It is a completely honest cry of lament, lifted from the opening phrases of Psalm 22. In this moment of extraordinary agony, Jesus enters fully into the darkest places of human experience, … Continue reading
“Woman, behold your son; son, behold your mother” Among Jesus’ words from the cross are words of provision for his mother and a disciple whom he loves dearly. As he dies, he models a sacrificial concern for his mother and a tremendously close friend. When we listen to Jesus speak these words, we are called … Continue reading
By Paul Baxley We are at the beginning of a most unusual Holy Week. Even in the midst of the global coronavirus pandemic, we Christians are called to remember the final hours of Jesus’ life, so that the Holy Spirit may bring those events powerfully into our present circumstances so that we can experience grace, … Continue reading
“This day, you are with me in paradise” Jesus’ second words, spoken to a thief on another cross, are spoken across a terrible boundary of physical separation and social distance. Jesus and this thief cannot touch each other. We cannot even be certain that by position they can see each other. But the thief reaches … Continue reading
“Father, forgive them; they know not what they do” Jesus’ first spoken words during the darkness of Good Friday are words of indescribable grace. He offers forgiveness to those who crucify him, affirming that they don’t really know what they are doing. These are also powerful words of grace for us to hear early in … Continue reading
A Statement from CBF Executive Coordinator Paul Baxley on the 2020 CBF General Assembly April 2, 2020 By Paul Baxley Today the Governing Board of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship approved my recommendation that this year’s General Assembly be transitioned from a traditional in-person gathering at the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta to a virtual experience. These … Continue reading
While it won’t (and shouldn’t) appear on the list of “essential businesses” that are a part of so many of the shelter in place ordinances these days, the church is essential business. The ministry of the church given by the Triune God is always essential. In this moment, the Holy Spirit is calling us to … Continue reading
The following is a statement from CBF Executive Coordinator Paul Baxley: Tomorrow morning, March 25, Christians across the world are being invited to set aside time to recite the Lord’s Prayer as an affirmation of the unity of the Global Church in the face of the COVID-19 global pandemic. Tonight, I join the World Council … Continue reading
