Hello, friend. Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread. Our devotional today

titled Heroes, Tyrants, and Jesus, was written by Marte-Han. Beethoven was angry. He'd intended to name his third symphony, the Bonaparte. In an age of religious

and political tyranny, he saw Napoleon as a hero of the people and champion of freedom. But when

the French general declared himself emperor, the celebrated composer changed his mind. Denouncing his former hero as a rascal and

tyrant, he rubbed so hard to erase Bonaparte's name that he left a hole in the original score.

Early believers in Jesus must have been disappointed when their hopes of political reform were

dashed. He'd stirred hopes of

life without the tyranny of Caesar's heavy-handed taxes and military presence, yet decades later,

Rome still ruled the world. Jesus' messengers were left with fears and weakness. His disciples

were marked by immaturity and infighting.

But there was a difference. The Apostle Paul saw beyond what remained unchanged. His letters began,

ended, and overflowed with the name of Christ. Christ resurrected. Christ with a promise to return in power. Christ

in judgment of everything and everyone. First and foremost, however, Paul wanted believers in

Jesus to be grounded in the meaning and implications of Him crucified. The love expressed

in Jesus' sacrifice

made him a different kind of leader.

As Lord and Savior of the world,

His cross changes everything.

The name of Jesus

will forever be known and praised above every name.

Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from Paul's writings to the

Corinthians in 1 Corinthians chapter 2, verses 1 through 10.

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