An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.

In great anguish he prayed even more fervently; his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

No one takes my life away from me. I give it up of my own free will. I have the right to give it up, and I have the right to take it back. This is what my Father has commanded me to do."

When buried, it is ugly and weak; when raised, it will be beautiful and strong.

Instead of this, of his own free will he gave up all he had, and took the nature of a servant. He became like a human being and appeared in human likeness.

He was humble and walked the path of obedience all the way to death--- his death on the cross.

In his life on earth Jesus made his prayers and requests with loud cries and tears to God, who could save him from death. Because he was humble and devoted, God heard him.

For Christ died for sins once and for all, a good man on behalf of sinners, in order to lead you to God. He was put to death physically, but made alive spiritually,

"All the people of Israel, then, are to know for sure that this Jesus, whom you crucified, is the one that God has made Lord and Messiah!"

then you should all know, and all the people of Israel should know, that this man stands here before you completely well through the power of the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth---whom you crucified and whom God raised from death.

Salvation is to be found through him alone; in all the world there is no one else whom God has given who can save us."

By our baptism, then, we were buried with him and shared his death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from death by the glorious power of the Father, so also we might live a new life.

For we know that Christ has been raised from death and will never die again---death will no longer rule over him.

And so, because he died, sin has no power over him; and now he lives his life in fellowship with God.

For Christ died and rose to life in order to be the Lord of the living and of the dead.

and how very great is his power at work in us who believe. This power working in us is the same as the mighty strength

Christ rules there above all heavenly rulers, authorities, powers, and lords; he has a title superior to all titles of authority in this world and in the next.

The church is Christ's body, the completion of him who himself completes all things everywhere.

For this reason God raised him to the highest place above and gave him the name that is greater than any other name.

and all will openly proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

For Christ died for sins once and for all, a good man on behalf of sinners, in order to lead you to God. He was put to death physically, but made alive spiritually,

who has gone to heaven and is at the right side of God, ruling over all angels and heavenly authorities and powers.

When I saw him, I fell down at his feet like a dead man. He placed his right hand on me and said, "Don't be afraid! I am the first and the last.

I am the living one! I was dead, but now I am alive forever and ever. I have authority over death and the world of the dead.

Yet we who have this spiritual treasure are like common clay pots, in order to show that the supreme power belongs to God, not to us.

there are many enemies, but we are never without a friend; and though badly hurt at times, we are not destroyed.

Throughout our lives we are always in danger of death for Jesus' sake, in order that his life may be seen in this mortal body of ours.

It is true that we live in the world, but we do not fight from worldly motives.

The weapons we use in our fight are not the world's weapons but God's powerful weapons, which we use to destroy strongholds. We destroy false arguments;

Someone will say, "Paul's letters are severe and strong, but when he is with us in person, he is weak, and his words are nothing!"

So when I came to you, I was weak and trembled all over with fear,

All I want is to know Christ and to experience the power of his resurrection, to share in his sufferings and become like him in his death,

This is a true saying: "If we have died with him, we shall also live with him.

If we continue to endure, we shall also rule with him. If we deny him, he also will deny us.

It was the power of his name that gave strength to this lame man. What you see and know was done by faith in his name; it was faith in Jesus that has made him well, as you can all see.

Since we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.

And so, because he died, sin has no power over him; and now he lives his life in fellowship with God.