This week we will be finishing up the book of Matthew and entering into Mark. As you read through the Gospels I know that a lot of this will sound familiar to you who have been Christ followers for a long time, however I would recommend that you not be in a big hurry to read through these books. The foundation of our faith can be found in these pages and it important for us to know what we believe and why we believe what we do! Especially read Matthew 26 and 27 carefully. This is the very moving portrayal of Christ's crucifixion and resurrection. As I was reading through this again this year I was struck by how throughout this entire ordeal Jesus was in complete control. Look at 27:23 where Jesus reveals his betrayer, 27:34 where he predicts Peter's denial, 27: 52-54 where Jesus reveals that he is allowing this to happen, 27:64 where he convicts himself in the Sanhedrin's eyes, 27:11 where he admitted to Pilate that he was King of the Jews, and many more verse show that we follow a God who is in complete control and voluntarily gave himself up to be crucified for our sins. Praise the Lord!