April 30, 2023
“In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1 NLT). John began his gospel as Moses began the Torah, with the words, “In the beginning…” This signaled the lofty aspect of John’s gospel that clearly proclaimed Jesus as God’s Son. Using the Greek λόγος (logos
December 11, 2022 | John 1:1-18 |
Do you have sense of mystery this Christmas season? Or have you lost the sense of mystery you had as a child? Wouldn’t you like to rediscover the sense of mystery this Christmas?
Some of life’s greatest mysteries have to do with origins. Like the origin of the universe, or the origin of life, or of intelligence. But why would we consider such mysteries at Christmas? The gospel according to John opens up with one of the most amazing and mysterious prologues in the Bible. For in John’s gospel, he revealed the mystery that Jesus Christ was the Son of God come in the flesh. We can rediscover the mystery of Christmas by considering what John revealed about Jesus.
July 3, 2022 | John 17:20-26 |
We live in a competitive and divided world today. The list of things that divide us has outgrown what might unite us. Aren’t you tired of the division? What would it look to see or be a part of a group of people who are united and willing to work together for a common purpose?
Did you know that one of the last prayers that Jesus prayed on earth was that we would be unified and willing to collaborate in proclaiming the gospel to the whole world? It’s true. He prayed it that night in the Garden. In the 17th chapter of the gospel of John, he recorded one of Christ’s final prayers for believers that the Father would make them one with Him and with one another, so that the world might believe in Him. We can recognize Christ’s prayer that we collaborate as one, so that the world might believe.
June 2, 2022
THE LAST LIVING APOSTLE After Jesus told Peter the manner in which he would someday die for his witness, he asked about John’s future. Peter asked, “What about him, Lord?” The Lord responded that he shouldn’t worry about the plan God had for John’s future. He should focus on following Jesus, not on what happens
June 1, 2022
THAT YOU MAY BELIEVE As the apostle John closed his gospel, he gave its purpose statement, namely, that his gospel was written that its readers might believe. Believe what? First, believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ, the Anointed One, the fulfillment of God’s promise to redeem humanity. He is the Son of
May 30, 2022
BEHOLD THE MAN! The Roman governor of Judea, Pontius Pilate, brought Jesus out to stand before the accusing crowd. He had been scourged, beaten, mocked, and spit upon. A crown of thorns was pressed down upon his bruised brow and a purple robe thrown across his torn and bleeding shoulders. He stood silently before his
May 29, 2022
HOW MUCH DID JESUS KNOW ABOUT WHAT HE FACED? When the soldiers came in the cover of darkness with torches blazing and swords clanging, Jesus and his disciples might’ve easily escaped. Instead, Jesus fully realized that this was the moment for which he had come, so he stepped into the open to meet them. What
May 27, 2022
DON’T LET TROUBLE CAUSE YOU TO STUMBLE IN YOUR FAITH The NLT translates the Greek word, “skandalizo,” as “abandon your faith.” It’s not a bad dynamic interpretation of the word. The word’s literal meaning is to put a stumbling block or impediment in the way, upon which another might trip and fall. But what
May 25, 2022
ANOTHER ADVOCATE Jesus sought to comfort His disciples by explaining that although He must return to the Father, He would send “another Advocate” to be with them always. The Greek word translated, “Advocate,” is “Paraklētos,” which literally means, “one called alongside.” It might also be translated, “Helper” or “Comforter.” Jesus identified this “Advocate” as the
May 24, 2022
ARE YOUR QUESTIONS FOR UNDERSTANDING OR DEBATE? Some would say that the member of the Twelve named Thomas was slow to believe. But would we have Christ’s response without his questions? Jesus was not offended by the question, but was pleased to answer, knowing that Thomas was honest in his inquiry. For unlike the Pharisees,