Genesis 3:4 - The serpent said, "You surely will not die"

"You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."

And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

Commentary

Today marks a notorious holiday in the New Orleans area known as Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday. Traditionally, it is the last day to indulge-and often overindulge-before Ash Wednesday starts the sober weeks of fasting that come with Lent. Known for it's sexual decadence, drunkenness, and hedonism, the Mardi Gras festival is almost saying, "Oh no, we're about to take time to remind ourselves of the God who created us and redeemed us back to him! Quick, let's destroy our identities with sin." Like the Garden of Eden, we keep thinking that God's ways will hold us back - that if we take things into our own hands, we'll be like God, able to discern right from wrong. Mardi Gras stands as a monument of the hostility of our sinful nature to God.

Today's commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, Grace NYC

John 12:16 - At first his disciples did not understand

At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him.

These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.

Commentary

As we approach the season of Lent, it's important for Christians to see that events on the Christian calendar were meant to remind us of what Jesus did during His time on the earth. However your tradition acknowledges this season, let this be a time of reflection of the things written about Him and an understanding of what we have done to Him. We are prone to fall into familiar patterns - even in our spirituality. Yet when we are faced with any Christian season, we are forced to stop and remind ourselves what that season tells us about Jesus. Lent reminds us that the Messiah was tempted in every way like us, yet was without sin. He experienced our temptations so that we could experience His salvation!

Today's commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, Grace NYC