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Monthly Archives: September 2014
John 14:15-31 — Never alone
One thing my five year old daughter used to do quite often, and even does now from time to time is to crawl into my wife’s and my bed and snuggle in between us. And when we ask why, she’ll … Continue reading
John 14:15-31 — If we truly love Jesus
This is one of those passages that would probably make many people turn their heads if they really thought about it. Jesus says to start off, If you love me, you will obey what I command. (15) Think about that a … Continue reading
John 14:12-14 — Powerful promises
Jesus made some pretty amazing promises here. The type that make you say, “Really? Are you serious?” Jesus said, I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even … Continue reading
John 14:7-11 — To see and know God
How can we possibly know God? How can we know what he is like? Obviously, when we’re talking about an invisible God, there can only be one answer: if he chooses to reveal himself. God first revealed himself through direct contact, … Continue reading
John 14:4-6 — The Way
This is the one passage that provides such a stumbling block to so many people in the world today. Many people simply refuse to believe it because the implications of what Jesus said are so deep, and they are simply … Continue reading
John 14:1-3 — What’s waiting for us
As I said in my last blog, the disciples were both stunned and troubled by what Jesus had just told them. First he told them he was leaving and they could not follow, and then he told them that they … Continue reading
Matthew 26:31-35; Mark 14:27-31; Luke 22:31-34; John 13:36-38 — A God who knows our weakness, and accepts us anyway
When Jesus told the disciples that he was leaving for a place they could not follow, it must have really troubled them. He was their teacher, and they couldn’t imagine life without him. As usual, it was Peter who spoke … Continue reading
Posted in Gospels, John, Luke, Mark, Matthew, New Testament
Tagged acceptance, betrayal, denial, forgiveness
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John 13:31-35 — That the world may know
With Judas now gone, Jesus begins his final address to his disciples before the cross. And to this bickering, prideful group, he said, A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must … Continue reading
Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-26; Luke 22:14-20 — Pictures of the cross
The Old Testament is rich with pictures of Christ. And in this passage, we see the fulfillment of them in Christ. The disciples were having the Passover meal, and after the first cup of wine, Jesus pulled out a piece … Continue reading
Matthew 26:20-25; Mark 14:17-21; Luke 22:21-23; John 13:18-30 — Betrayal
As I’ve mentioned before, harmonizing these passages is a little tough. One question is whether Judas participated in the first communion. Luke seems to imply so, while the other gospel writers seem to say Judas didn’t. It’s just my opinion, … Continue reading
John 13:6-11 — Getting our feet cleaned
One more point from this story before I go on. As Jesus went to wash Peter’s feet, Peter exclaimed, No…you shall never wash my feet. (8) When Jesus replied that Peter would have no part with him if he refused, Peter then went … Continue reading
John 13:1-17 — The ultimate servant
The Bible is full of pictures concerning Jesus and his work on the cross, starting from God’s promise of someone to come stomp on the serpent’s head even while getting his heel struck in the process, to Abraham’s sacrifice of … Continue reading
Luke 22:24-30; John 13:1-17 — True leadership
Trying to harmonize the gospel accounts at this point is a little sticky. I get the impression that things were not always told in chronological order and that there were little asides thrown in. This passage in Luke, in my … Continue reading
Matthew 26:1-19; Mark 14:12-16; Luke 22:7-13 — Room for the master
Jesus’ final public appearances (of his own volition, anyway) are now over. And he now knows that the time of his arrest and crucifixion is close at hand. But before that happens, Jesus prepares to have one last meal with his … Continue reading
Posted in Gospels, Luke, Mark, Matthew, New Testament
Tagged last supper, prepared, ready
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Matthew 26:1-16; Mark 14:1-11; John 12:1-11 — True love, false love
Here we see a stark contrast in love. One person’s love came from the heart. The other’s came only for what profited him. Jesus was in Bethany having dinner at the house of a man named Simon. Lazarus, Mary, and … Continue reading
Matthew 25:31-46 — How we treat others
Jesus finishes his dialogue on the end times with this last story. And it talks about the final judgment following the tribulation. At that time, God will judge the nations, separating the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from … Continue reading
Matthew 25:14-30 — Being faithful
The second parable in this chapter goes to the point that Jesus brought up earlier. That we need to be faithful, doing the things that God has called us to do until he returns. In this story, Jesus talks about … Continue reading
Matthew 25:1-13 — Being ready
In this chapter, we see two parables on what Jesus was just talking about, watching for his return and also doing the things he’s asked us to do until he comes. In this first parable, I think it’s easy to try … Continue reading
Matthew 24:36-51; Mark 13:32-37; Luke 21:34-36 — Being ready whenever
There are a lot of people concerned about when Jesus will return. And over the years, many people have predicted when he will come back. I remember back in my high school days, a book came out called, “88 reasons … Continue reading
Posted in Gospels, Luke, Mark, Matthew, New Testament
Tagged being ready, tribulation
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Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 21:5-38 — Until our Lord returns
The Lord talks a lot about the events that will occur before he returns. And the thing that you get from all he says is that things will get worse before he returns. A lot worse. There will be wars, … Continue reading
Matthew 24:1-35; Mark 13:1-31; Luke 21:5-33 — A sign of things to come
I mentioned in my last blog that this is one of the more difficult passages in scripture, and part of the difficulty comes in the harmonizing of it. Jesus had just told the disciples that the temple was going to … Continue reading
Posted in Gospels, Luke, Mark, Matthew, New Testament
Tagged God's words, Jerusalem, rapture, second coming
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Matthew 24:1-2; Mark 13:1-2; Luke 21:5-6 — When our temple becomes corrupt
We now come to one of the more difficult passages in scripture. I want to say straight off that if you’re hoping to get all the answers for what all this means, I don’t have them. There are other people … Continue reading
Mark 12:41-44; Luke 21:1-4 — What God is looking for
After the blistering criticism Jesus gave the Pharisees, he settled back, and quietly started to watch the people walking past the place where offerings were put. A number of rich people walked past, and with great ceremony dumped in large … Continue reading
Matthew 23:29-38 — When we reject those sent to us
Nobody likes to be rebuked. To be told you’re wrong. But how do you respond when you are? The Pharisees followed the long line of their ancestors throughout Israel’s history. Instead of listening and repenting when rebuked, they turned on … Continue reading
Matthew 23:25-28 — Cleaning out the inside
Jesus continues his scathing of the Pharisees and teachers of the law by saying, Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed … Continue reading
Matthew 23:23-24 — Remembering what’s important
It’s really sad the reputation that a lot of Christians have in the world, particularly in the States. Some of it is the natural response of the world to people who love the Lord. Jesus did say that there would … Continue reading
Posted in Gospels, Matthew, New Testament
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Matthew 23:16-22 — Loopholes
I’ve mentioned before the different problems of legalism. Here we see another problem. People who are legalistic tend to try to find loopholes. They may keep the letter of the law (as they see it), but try to find ways … Continue reading
Matthew 23:13-15 — When those who teach are bad
For some reason, one of the English teachers in the Japanese high school I teach at was showing Karate Kid 2 to his students yesterday. I can’t say much for the film, but the one character I really like is Mr. … Continue reading
Posted in Gospels, Matthew, New Testament
Tagged students, teachers, testing everything
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Matthew 23:1-12; Mark 12:38-40; Luke 20:45-47 — A wrong view of leadership
What is leadership? What is leadership not? In a scathing criticism of the Pharisees and teachers of the law, Jesus gives us insight into what true leadership is about. He first warned the disciples and the crowds, The teachers of … Continue reading
Posted in Gospels, Luke, Mark, Matthew, New Testament
Tagged leadership, Pharisees, servanthood
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Matthew 22:41-46; Mark 12:35-37; Luke 20:41-44 — Son of David, Son of God
Perhaps tiring of the hypocrisy of those questioning him, Jesus posed his own question to them that ultimately shut them up. He said, What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he? (Matthew 22:42a) This was an easy … Continue reading
