• Today's reading (April 20): John 20-Acts 4 beginning here.
• Tomorrow's reading (April 21): Acts 5 beginning here.

"Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves know—this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men" (Acts 2:22,23).

Many of you have read the allegory about a drawbridge operator who took his son to work one day. The boy went to fish as his father was working. He then fell into the gears of the huge drawbridge where he was trapped. Just as a passenger train loaded with people was rapidly approaching the bridge the operator had to make an agonizing decision. He could stop lowering the drawbridge to save his son or proceed with the lowering which would result in the most certain death of his son, but save the lives of those on the train. A video has been made about this and we will link to it below. It is a very touching illustration of the father who sacrificed his son to save the lives of others.

However the illustration falls short in a vitally important way (though I hesitate to write critically about an intriguing illustration that has surely touched many lives). In the drawbridge illustration the critical decision the drawbridge operator had to make was not planned, but rather forced upon Him spontaneously. This was certainly not the case in regard to the death of Christ nor His Father’s decision in sending His only begotten Son into the sin-sick world.

In our daily text Peter begins his sermon on the day of Pentecost. Just over 50 days prior to this significant day he had witnessed the very crucifixion he is now describing, though due to his denial of Christ it was likely from a distance. The nails used in the crucifixion of our Savior were likely iron spikes five to seven inches long.

In the daily text the action of crucifying is taken from a Greek word that appears only once in the entire New Testament and literally means “to impale.” How indescribably horrible this form of death was.

Peter, who earlier was filled with fear, now boldly preached to the mixed crowd: "This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men."

Bible teacher James M. Boice writes that the emphasis of the Scriptures is upon this being the work of God, who by it was accomplishing salvation for all who would believe on Christ. This is why Jesus is referred to as "the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world" (Revelation 13:8).

"It was God the Father who sent the Lord Jesus Christ to the cross. This tells us that the death of Jesus was no accident, but rather the accomplishment of God's plan of redemption, devised even before the universe was created. It is why Jesus came. It was for others. The death of Jesus, thus planned by God, was for others, which means that it was substitutionary or vicarious. Paul says that it was 'for our sins.' Death is God's punishment for sin; its consequence. But Jesus had not sinned and therefore did not deserve death. That He did die was because He was dying in our place as our sin-bearer."

Watchman Nee, a Chinese follower of Christ was persecuted for his faith and died in prison in 1972. He was a prolific writer but a single note found under his pillow after he died powerfully summarizes the simple essence of his faith: "Christ is the Son of God. He died to atone for men's sin, and after three days rose again. This is the most important fact in the universe. I die believing in Christ."

Let us remember the One who was crucified on the cross and His great act of atoning sacrifice on our behalf. Let us live faithfully for the One who died in our place!


Be encouraged today,


Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer:  Jesus, we can’t fully comprehend the depth of Your sacrificial death where we view sin at its worst testing redemption to its utmost. But we are living testimonies that redemption passed the test and, like the grave clothes left behind at the tomb, we leave behind the grave clothes of our former life dead in its transgressions and sins. Our hope is restored as we experience life through You, our resurrected Savior, who was the sin offering poured out for us. You gave all so that we could be forgiven and anticipate glorious eternal life beyond the grave. We thank You for it. Amen.

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Today's mention of Watchman Nee brings to mind our friend Nigel who along with his wife Laifong were the very first recipients of daily encouragement on October 21, 1996.  Nigel has an interesting association for students in Christian literature. His grandmother's sister was married to Watchman Nee. We still hear from Nigel occasionally and rejoice that they are in faithful service to the Lord. They have been on the list ever since the beginning of this ministry and I reckon they have received nearly 4,000 daily messages! They live in the Boston area and are shown with their son Caleb. Laifong is from Malaysia and they met at Chi Alpha, a Christian campus ministry, while in graduate school at Princeton. Both have earned scientific doctorates; Nigel's in electrical engineering and Laifong's in molecular biology. They attend the Boston Worship Center where Nigel has been an elder and they also have a Bible Study in their home.

"The Bridge"  Video  This is a powerful video of the allegory referred to in the message. It is a very well-done and touching presentation lasting just over 9 minutes with majestic background music and captions (no spoken words).

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We visited with Mike Brickley at a meeting yesterday. Mike is the president of a wonderful ministry known as the The Pocket Testament League. The main focus of this ministry is the power of individual Christians reading, carrying and sharing God's Word. I first met Mike about 10 years ago when he was the speaker at a meeting I attended. I recalled his main theme from that message was that we all have an expiration date and we need to use our time on this earth wisely. He gave a presentation to the Board at one of the companies we serve as chaplains regarding sharing the Gospel Of John booklets which they had recently acquired.

Following our company visit we stopped by to visit with Raymond McGallicher, who at 93 is the oldest member in our church, though a shut-in for many years. Our friends Jesse and Wilma Dourte joined us as we visited together, sang a few hymns, and then Jesse prayed for Raymond.  He testifies that he is ready to be with the Lord any day, should the Lord call him home. Jesse was Raymond's pastor some 40 years ago so this was a special occasion as they hadn't reconnected for many, many years.

We stopped by Root's Country Market on the way home and saw a friend and former neighbor from when we first moved to Lancaster County 10 years ago. Rene is from Honduras and lived in the farmhouse next to us when we rented. He is shown with his wife Karla and sons Hector and Alexander (yet in hiding for another month).

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On Sunday April 3 we began a forty day program of reading through the New Testament and we encourage Daily Encouragement Net readers to consider joining in as we read/listen through the entire New Testament in 40 days. (At this point we suggest starting at the reading for the current day and then reading the portions you hadn't read when the 40 day period is over.)

These readings take about 30 minutes per day. Prior to each message we will provide a direct link to the Scripture portion to be read and listened to each day and for the next day. (and several links for the weekend daily readings).

The daily encouragement message for each weekday during the forty day period will be based on a portion of the text in the Bible reading for that day (or, on Mondays this may also be from a Scripture portion read over the weekend.)

Here is a page where you can download the entire Bible to your computer in a variety of versions.

Here's an overview of the plan I have prepared with practical tips (pdf)

Here's a schedule for the entire 40 day reading period along with discussion questions. This is especially suitable to bookmark during this period as it contains links that will open directly to the passage to be read for the day.

The reading links open to Bible.is, an online Bible with audio player and additional apps that you may find useful. For those who may prefer the KJV it is available. For international readers there may even be a version available in your native language. Just click the small tab directly below the Bible.is logo on the top left to see available versions. 

This Bible reading plan is a partnership of Daily Encouragement Net and Faith Comes By Hearing, a ministry which provides Bible listening resources all over the world. We will share more about this ministry in future messages.

Join our Daily Encouragement Bible reading group on Facebook. You can read and listen to the material directly on Facebook.

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"Tortured For His Faith" We would highly recommend this book which is available to Daily Encouragement readers for the month of April free of charge! It is tremendously inspiring and will stir you to faithfulness in the face of persecution.  It will also create a greater hunger for the Bible as a result of reading it.  Merely go to this page and fill out the form on the lower part of the page. Indicate that you are a daily encouragement reader and request the book in the comment box. (Don't forget to include your mailing address.)

Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne.

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