THE STORY OF JESUS: John 5:41-47 “I do not accept glory from human beings…” (John 5:41) What does it mean to give glory to someone? It is to praise, honour, celebrate, or boast about them. Everyone lives for an audience; we want to feel loved and valued. We seek love and value, because that is what we…
Students of Jesus – not the bible!
THE STORY OF JESUS: John 5:31-40 “These are the very Scriptures that testify about me! Yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” (John 5:40) For many years I was a student of the bible. I studied it, read it in its original language, read commentaries on it. I knew it front to back, and…
Jesus makes the dream come true!
THE STORY OF JESUS: John 5:24-30 “He has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.” (John 5:27) Jesus spoke these words as a human, the offspring of a woman. These words don’t make sense if they refer to His divine nature. As God He does not need to be granted life (v.26)…
Living with God, like God, for God!
THE STORY OF JESUS: John 5:16-23 “Whatever the Father does the Son also does.” (John 5:19) Jesus had a very special relationship with God. Although we are not divine like Him (John 1:1ff), we are human like Him. In this passage, Jesus is describing His fully human life. He lives in perfect fellowship with, and obedience to, God….
The enemy crushed!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Psalm 110 “The LORD says to my lord, ‘Sit at my right hand…” (Psalm 110:1) Who is David, the king, speaking about… who is his lord? Jesus also asks this: “If then David calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?” (Matthew 22:45) One Jewish response is that David wrote this psalm for…
Aiming low, and reaching it!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Ezekiel 22-24 “I tried to cleanse you but you would not be cleansed from your impurity.” (Ezekiel 24:13) In these chapters of wrath and judgment, God is not being petty or mean. Ch.21 describes how corrupt the leaders had become (22:25-29). God constantly tried to help them, to keep them from ruining themselves….
Small steps of compromise!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Ezekiel 19-21 “We want to be like the nations, like the peoples of the world.” (Ezekiel 20:32) As Jesus followers, we always face the temptation to be like the world. When we see others enjoying themselves, we are drawn by illusion of happiness. The problem is, the life of self only offers brief…
Doing what Jesus says!
THE STORY OF JESUS: John 5:1-15 “Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?” (John 5:12) A Jesus follower takes their direction from Jesus. Jesus has rescued and restored us, and we are devoted to what He says. Sometimes He may ask us to do things that others question? ‘You want to…
More than just a miracle man!
THE STORY OF JESUS: John 4:43-54 “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will never believe.” (John 4:48) Jesus is challenging “you people” because of their miracle-focused faith. To them, Jesus was a miracle man… it was all about the miracles. I have met christians who seem to focus on the miracles all the time too….
Just get them talking!
THE STORY OF JESUS: John 4:39-42 “We no longer believe just because of what you said…” (John 4:42) I recall a book on evangelism with the basic message, ‘just get them talking’. The goal is not to talk with people, but to get people to talk to Jesus themselves. As they pray, the Lord relates to them,…