Monthly Archives: September 2014

John 14:15-31 — Never alone

Posted on September 30, 2014 by

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 →

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John 14:15-31 — If we truly love Jesus

Posted on September 29, 2014 by

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 →

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John 14:12-14 — Powerful promises

Posted on September 28, 2014 by

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 →

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John 14:7-11 — To see and know God

Posted on September 27, 2014 by

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 →

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John 14:4-6 — The Way

Posted on September 26, 2014 by

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 →

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John 14:1-3 — What’s waiting for us

Posted on September 25, 2014 by

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 →

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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

Posted on September 24, 2014 by

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 →

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John 13:31-35 — That the world may know

Posted on September 23, 2014 by

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 →

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Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-26; Luke 22:14-20 — Pictures of the cross

Posted on September 22, 2014 by

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 →

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Matthew 26:20-25; Mark 14:17-21; Luke 22:21-23; John 13:18-30 — Betrayal

Posted on September 21, 2014 by

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 →

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John 13:6-11 — Getting our feet cleaned

Posted on September 20, 2014 by

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 →

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John 13:1-17 — The ultimate servant

Posted on September 19, 2014 by

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 →

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Luke 22:24-30; John 13:1-17 — True leadership

Posted on September 18, 2014 by

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 →

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Matthew 26:1-19; Mark 14:12-16; Luke 22:7-13 — Room for the master

Posted on September 17, 2014 by

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 →

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Matthew 26:1-16; Mark 14:1-11; John 12:1-11 — True love, false love

Posted on September 16, 2014 by

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 →

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Matthew 25:31-46 — How we treat others

Posted on September 15, 2014 by

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 →

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Matthew 25:14-30 — Being faithful

Posted on September 14, 2014 by

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 →

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Matthew 25:1-13 — Being ready

Posted on September 13, 2014 by

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 →

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Matthew 24:36-51; Mark 13:32-37; Luke 21:34-36 — Being ready whenever

Posted on September 12, 2014 by

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 →

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Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 21:5-38 — Until our Lord returns

Posted on September 11, 2014 by

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 →

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Matthew 24:1-35; Mark 13:1-31; Luke 21:5-33 — A sign of things to come

Posted on September 10, 2014 by

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 →

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Matthew 24:1-2; Mark 13:1-2; Luke 21:5-6 — When our temple becomes corrupt

Posted on September 9, 2014 by

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 →

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Mark 12:41-44; Luke 21:1-4 — What God is looking for

Posted on September 8, 2014 by

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 →

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Matthew 23:29-38 — When we reject those sent to us

Posted on September 7, 2014 by

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 →

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Matthew 23:25-28 — Cleaning out the inside

Posted on September 6, 2014 by

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 →

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Matthew 23:23-24 — Remembering what’s important

Posted on September 5, 2014 by

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 →

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Matthew 23:16-22 — Loopholes

Posted on September 4, 2014 by

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 →

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Matthew 23:13-15 — When those who teach are bad

Posted on September 3, 2014 by

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 →

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Matthew 23:1-12; Mark 12:38-40; Luke 20:45-47 — A wrong view of leadership

Posted on September 2, 2014 by

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 →

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Matthew 22:41-46; Mark 12:35-37; Luke 20:41-44 — Son of David, Son of God

Posted on September 1, 2014 by

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 →

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