THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 16:9-14 “Jesus appeared to them (and) rebuked them for their lack of faith.” (Mark 16:14) Today I sense the Lord asking me about my faith. Not about the doctrines I claim to believe, but about my confidence in Him. Here the disciples could not believe the impossible, the unseen. Like Thomas, “Unless…
Author: Norm
How does Jesus speak to me?
I recently spoke on the idea that Jesus still speaks to us, by His Spirit, in our hearts. I described what happened to the disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35). The spiritual ‘heart burn’ was how I described the Spirit of Jesus speaking to their hearts. This is something that I personally experience when…
The Easter Joke
THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 16:1-8 “Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen!” (Mark 16:6) By calling this the Easter joke, I’m not saying the resurrection is JUST a joke. The joke is on Satan, who thought he had won. Mark seems to end his version of Jesus’ life with a quick ‘punchline’ conclusion. The…
Hearing Jesus (even through bad sermons)
(Sermon preached on Sunday, September 17, 2017, at Maranatha Chruch, Cambridge) Read through Luke 24:13-35. As you read this passage, reflect on how the disciples eventually knew it was Jesus speaking to them. Is it possible that Jesus is speaking to us – like He did these disciples – and yet we are unaware of it?…
Right here, right now – praise!!!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Psalm 65 “Where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy.” (Psalm 65:8) Every moment and every location has God all over it. Jesus came to reconnect us to God, to knowing and being with God… always. With Jesus, I can experience loving fellowship with God as my Father… everywhere….
Grace better than violence!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Nehemiah 13 “I beat some of the men and pulled out their hair.” (Nehemiah 13:25) Nehemiah resorts to violence to smarten the people up. But does it work; does physical discipline root out bad behaviour? Violence cannot cure the heart; nor can it establish God’s kingdom. Not even Jesus could fix the temple…
The sound of rejoicing!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Nehemiah 11-12 “The sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far away. (Nehemiah 12:43) Have you ever heard the “sound of rejoicing” like this? When’s the last time you experienced the sound of believers rejoicing? Not just an amplified sound system, not just a large group singing. I’m thinking of a truly…
Is this how I am known?
THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 15:42-47 “Joseph… who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God.” (Mark 15:43) Mark describes this Joseph as one waiting for the kingdom of God. Many Jews trusted that God would one day restore His people as a mighty kingdom. Joseph had hoped Jesus was the one, but now his hopes are…
Me, a righteous son?
THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 15:38-41 “Surely this man was the Son of God!” (Mark 15:39) This non Jewish soldier sees something God-like in Jesus. We assume he means that Jesus is divine, but is this what he’s saying? Consider Luke’s version, “Surely this was a righteous man.” (Luke 23:47) My sense is that these phrases mean the…
Breathe in me, breath of God!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 15:33-37 “With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.” (Mark 15:37) These words make me think when God first created humans. “God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.” (Genesis 2:7) Right now I am breathing the breath of God, the breath of life. I do this every day, and take it…