Truth For Life Program
Alistair Begg Devotional
C. H. Spurgeon Devotional
One-Year Bible Reading Plan
Audio PlayerAs we look forward to celebrating Easter, it’s important to examine the significance of the crucifixion. Consider what Christ’s death on the cross signified to the Father, to man, and to Jesus Himself. That’s our focus on Truth For Life with Alistair Begg
From the Sermon
God’s Providence in the Death of Jesus Christ
Acts 2:1–47, Acts 4:1–37 Sermon • Includes Transcript • 43:24 • ID: 3080
Audio PlayerThe Kingdom and the Cross
When Jesus arrived in Jerusalem on the first Palm Sunday, He was a king on a donkey, a king without a palace, a king without a throne—a king with no apparent kingdom. It rapidly became abundantly and controversially clear that Christ had come as the suffering king whom the Scriptures had foretold, not as the triumphant king whom people wanted.
Many who admired Jesus on that day in Jerusalem eventually discarded Him. They said, I don’t want any suffering. I only want victory. I only want power. I only want rule. Not much is different today. We often ignore what we don’t like in Jesus’ ministry and content ourselves with Jesus the great example, Jesus the problem-fixer, Jesus the guru, or Jesus the political reformer.
But God’s kingdom centers on the cross: “I decided to know nothing among you,” says Paul, “except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2, emphasis added). In other words, we will never understand Jesus—never truly know Him, never really love Him, never actually be in His kingdom—until we understand that the entrance to and the heart of Christ’s kingdom is His death and resurrection. It is the means by which we come into it and the pattern by which we live in it.
A renewed culture comes about not because we transform institutions and policies but because that cross-centered kingdom transforms human hearts. Never in history has a revival been sparked by political activity; it has always resulted from Christians praying, preaching, pleading, and living as Christ calls us to live. The world will only ever be changed when we ourselves are changed.
God’s kingdom is a cause great enough to live for and great enough to die for. Do you want to give up your small ambitions and give yourself to God? Then give up championing a political cause as a means of safeguarding the health of the church or your society or of making revival happen. Instead, go somewhere where nobody knows Jesus and tell them. Maybe it’s your office. Maybe it’s your neighborhood. Or maybe it’s Tehran, Jakarta, or Algiers. It could be anywhere, for God is everywhere and is needed by everyone. Give up living by the maxims of the systems of this world and follow the King who tasted death before He entered His glory (Luke 24:26).
Believers have the immense privilege and the incredible challenge of offering the good news of God’s kingdom to a society that fears death and knows little of true life. That is no easy commission, and heeding it may very well cost you dearly in this life. But no one who gives much for Jesus has cause to regret it, now or through all eternity.
How is God calling me to think differently?
How is God reordering my heart’s affections — what I love?
What is God calling me to do as I go about my day today?
Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ
18jNow it happened that as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him. And he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” 19And they answered, k“John the Baptist. But others say, lElijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen.” 20Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, m“The Christ of God.”
Jesus Foretells His Death
21nAnd he strictly charged and commanded them to tell this to no one, 22osaying, p“The Son of Man must qsuffer many things and rbe rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on sthe third day be raised.”
Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus
23And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him tdeny himself and utake up his cross vdaily and follow me. 24For uwhoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25wFor what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? 26For xwhoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed ywhen he comes in zhis glory and the glory of the Father and of athe holy angels.
Devotional material is taken from the Truth For Life daily devotionals by Alistair Begg, published by The Good Book Company, thegoodbook.com. Used by Truth For Life with permission. Copyright © 2021, 2022, The Good Book Company.
Jesus Our Counselor
He poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors.
Why did Jesus cause Himself to be enrolled among sinners? This wonderful condescension was justified by many powerful reasons. By doing so He could better become their advocate. In some trials there is an identification of the counselor with the client, nor can they be looked upon in the eye of the law as separate from each other. Now, when the sinner is brought to the bench, Jesus appears there Himself. He stands to answer the accusation. He points to His side, His hands, His feet, and challenges Justice to bring anything against the sinners whom He represents. He pleads His blood, and pleads so triumphantly, being numbered with them and having a part with them, that the Judge proclaims, “Let them go, deliver them from the pit, for He has provided a ransom.”
Our Lord Jesus was numbered with the transgressors in order that they might feel their hearts drawn toward Him. Who can be afraid of one whose name appears on the same list with us? Surely we may come boldly to Him and confess our guilt. He who is numbered with us cannot condemn us. Was He not entered in the transgressor’s list that we might be written in the red roll of the saints? He was holy and written among the holy; we were guilty and numbered among the guilty. He transfers His name from that list to this dark indictment, and our names are taken from the indictment and written in the roll of acceptance, for there is a complete transfer made between Jesus and His people.
All our condition of misery and sin Jesus has taken; and all that Jesus has comes to us. His righteousness, His blood, and everything that He has He gives us as our dowry. Rejoice, believer, in your union to Him who was numbered among the transgressors; and prove that you are truly saved by being clearly identified with those who are new creatures in Him.
Devotional material is taken from Morning and Evening, written by C. H. Spurgeon, revised and updated by Alistair Begg. Copyright © 2003, Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.org. Used by Truth For Life with written permission.
Daily Bible Reading for March 30
Laws for Burnt Offerings
1aThe Lord called Moses and spoke to him bfrom the tent of meeting, saying, 2“Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, cWhen any one of you brings an offering to the Lord, you shall bring your offering of livestock from the herd or from the flock.
3“If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall offer da male without blemish. He shall bring it to the entrance of the tent of meeting, that he may be accepted before the Lord. 4eHe shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it shall be faccepted for him gto make atonement for him. 5Then he shall kill the bull before the Lord, and Aaron's sons the priests shall bring the blood hand throw the blood against the sides of the altar that is at the entrance of the tent of meeting. 6Then he shall flay the burnt offering and cut it into pieces, 7and the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire on the altar and iarrange wood on the fire. 8And Aaron's sons the priests shall arrange the pieces, the head, and the fat, on the wood that is on the fire on the altar; 9but its entrails and its legs he shall wash with water. And the priest shall burn all of it on the altar, as ja burnt offering, a food offering1 with a kpleasing aroma to the Lord.
10“If his gift for a burnt offering is from the flock, from the sheep or goats, he shall bring a male without blemish, 11land he shall kill it on the north side of the altar before the Lord, and Aaron's sons the priests shall throw its blood against the sides of the altar. 12And he shall cut it into pieces, with its head and its fat, and the priest shall arrange them on the wood that is on the fire on the altar, 13but the entrails and the legs he shall wash with water. And the priest shall offer all of it and burn it on the altar; it is ja burnt offering, a food offering with ka pleasing aroma to the Lord.
14“If his offering to the Lord is a burnt offering of birds, then he shall bring his offering of mturtledoves or pigeons. 15And the priest shall bring it to the altar and wring off its head and burn it on the altar. Its blood shall be drained out on the side of the altar. 16He shall remove its crop with its contents2 and cast it nbeside the altar on the east side, in the place for ashes. 17He shall tear it open by its wings, but oshall not sever it completely. And the priest shall burn it on the altar, on the wood that is on the fire. It is a burnt offering, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord.
The Resurrection
1eNow on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that fthe stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, gthe one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and hwe do not know where they have laid him.” 3iSo Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. 4Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5And stooping to look in, he saw jthe linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7and kthe face cloth, which had been on Jesus'1 head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. 8Then the other disciple, lwho had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9for as yet mthey did not understand the Scripture, nthat he must rise from the dead. 10Then the disciples went back to their homes.
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
11But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12And oshe saw ptwo angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13They said to her, q“Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, r“They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14Having said this, she turned around and ssaw Jesus standing, tbut she did not know that it was Jesus. 15Jesus said to her, u“Woman, why are you weeping? vWhom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be wthe gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic,2 x“Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to ymy brothers and say to them, z‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to amy God and your God.’” 18Mary Magdalene bwent and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.
Jesus Appears to the Disciples
19cOn the evening dof that day, the first day of the week, ethe doors being locked where the disciples were ffor fear of the Jews,3 Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, g“Peace be with you.” 20When he had said this, hhe showed them his hands and his side. Then ithe disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As jthe Father has sent me, keven so I am sending you.” 22And when he had said this, he lbreathed on them and said to them, m“Receive the Holy Spirit. 23nIf you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”
Jesus and Thomas
24Now oThomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin,4 was not with them when Jesus came. 25So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, p“Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”
26Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. qAlthough the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, q“Peace be with you.” 27Then he said to Thomas, r“Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28Thomas answered him, s“My Lord and my God!” 29Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? tBlessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
The Purpose of This Book
30uNow Jesus did many other signs vin the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31wbut these are written so that you may xbelieve that Jesus is the Christ, ythe Son of God, and that by believing zyou may have life ain his name.
1mBetter is a dry morsel with quiet
than a house full of feasting1 with strife.
2A servant who deals wisely will rule over na son who acts shamefully
and owill share the inheritance as one of the brothers.
3pThe crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold,
qand the Lord tests hearts.
4An evildoer listens to wicked lips,
and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
5Whoever mocks the poor rinsults his Maker;
he who is sglad at calamity will not go tunpunished.
6uGrandchildren are vthe crown of the aged,
and the glory of children is their fathers.
7Fine speech is not wbecoming to a fool;
still less is xfalse speech to a prince.
8yA bribe is like a magic2 stone in the eyes of the one who gives it;
wherever he turns he prospers.
9Whoever zcovers an offense seeks love,
but he who repeats a matter aseparates close friends.
10A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding
than a hundred blows into a fool.
11An evil man seeks only rebellion,
and ba cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12Let a man meet ca she-bear robbed of her cubs
drather than a fool in his folly.
13If anyone ereturns evil for good,
fevil will not depart from his house.
14The beginning of strife is like letting out water,
so gquit before the quarrel breaks out.
15He who hjustifies the wicked and he who icondemns the righteous
are both alike an abomination to the Lord.
16Why should a fool have money in his hand jto buy wisdom
when he has no sense?
17kA friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for adversity.
18One who lacks sense gives a pledge
and puts up security in the presence of his neighbor.
19Whoever loves transgression loves strife;
he who lmakes his door high seeks destruction.
20mA man of crooked heart does not discover good,
and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity.
21He who nsires a fool gets himself sorrow,
and the father of a fool has no joy.
22oA joyful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit pdries up the bones.
23The wicked accepts qa bribe in secret3
to rpervert the ways of justice.
24sThe discerning sets his face toward wisdom,
but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
25nA foolish son is a grief to his father
tand bitterness to uher who bore him.
26vTo impose a fine on a righteous man is not good,
nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.
27Whoever wrestrains his words has knowledge,
and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
28Even a fool xwho keeps silent is considered wise;
when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.
1Therefore, my brothers,1 whom I love and jlong for, kmy joy and lcrown, mstand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.
Exhortation, Encouragement, and Prayer
2I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to nagree in the Lord. 3Yes, I ask you also, true companion,2 help these women, who have labored3 side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, owhose names are in the book of life.
4pRejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5Let your reasonableness4 be known to everyone. qThe Lord is at hand; 6rdo not be anxious about anything, sbut in everything by prayer and supplication twith thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7And uthe peace of God, vwhich surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9What you have learned5 and wreceived and heard and seen xin me—practice these things, and ythe God of peace will be with you.
God's Provision
10I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length zyou have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be acontent. 12I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and bhunger, abundance and cneed. 13I can do all things dthrough him who strengthens me.
14Yet it was kind of you eto share6 my trouble. 15And you Philippians yourselves know that fin the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, gno church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. 16Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. 17hNot that I seek the gift, but I seek ithe fruit that increases to your credit.7 18I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, jhaving received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, ka fragrant offering, la sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 19And my God mwill supply every need of yours naccording to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20To oour God and Father be pglory forever and ever. Amen.
Final Greetings
21Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. qThe brothers who are with me greet you. 22rAll the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar's household.
23sThe grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
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