Posts with the tag “jesus”

While the Bible begins appropriately, "In the beginning," one Gospel writer takes us to before the beginning. What truths does he reveal about Jesus from this time before time?   Read More

John 3:16 is a favorite verse of many people for it's powerful truths. However, it contains a detail that must be understood by anyone who wants to understand salvation. Let's study it together.  Read More

When the Pharisees attacked Jesus' disciples for picking and eating grain on the Sabbath day, Jesus asked them if they had read about David eating showbread (Matthew 12:3-4; Mark 2:25-26; Luke 6:34). Let's explore His defense and what it says about life-and-death situations.  Read More

"Man of sorrows" (Isaiah 53:3): I agree with Isaac Watts who added, "what a name / for the Son of God, who came." But it wasn't just a name; Jesus became a Man of Sorrows by being "acquainted with grief." What can we learn from the One who came not merely to grieve alongside of but to relieve and save the brokenhearted?   Read More

If you were challenged to open your Bible to an account of Jesus' temptation in the wilderness, would have you have turned to Mark 1? Mark's short account of this event is often overlooked or lumped into the longer accounts. What can be gained from focusing specifically on what he recorded and developing a habit of considering texts in their context first?  Read More

Apart from his discussion of the crucifixion, there are three times when John calls our attention to the our of the day. What reminders do these three hours give?   Read More

The text of Matthew 5:3-12 is often described as The Beatitudes. Do you know what the word "beatitude" means? Hint: It's not just a "beautiful attitude."   Read More

Mark's Gospel is known for its brevity, so why does it begin its account of the deeds of Jesus with an account of His baptism? And what about His baptism was so significant that God the Father spoke in approval? Let's reflect upon Mark's account of the baptism of the sinless Son of God.   Read More

Ironically, since December 25 falls on a Sunday this year, several religious groups will be closing their doors for Christmas, a day that was created to honor Jesus. Could it be that in seeking to honor Jesus, some have missed the point? Let's open our Bibles and consider Christmas.   Read More

Why do we get sick? I don't claim to know all of the answers to this question, but I do know some things God wants us to know when we are sick. Here are some things I shared with my son Ezekiel when he was sick.   Read More

Some professing Christians teach that Jesus was a created being, higher than the angels but with a beginning just like them. Is this right? Let's consider some passages they use to support their belief in context.   Read More

Chris McCandless died after living in the wilderness for less than four months. He tried to escape but thought he was trapped. The saddest part of his story is that the help that he needed was nearby. Is there any help for those who feel trapped in the wildernesses of sorrow and sin?   Read More

You might have heard before that "dead men tell no tales." Well, apparently no one told the author of the book of Hebrews. No, Hebrews doesn't teach that the dead communicate directly with us. But it does say that there is a sense in which Abel and even his blood continue to speak to us. What does Abel's blood say, and what better thing does Jesus' blood say (Hebrews 12:24)?  Read More