trying to find His way
Peter sees the withered fig tree Jesus cursed, and is surprised.Jesus responds to Peter’s surprise by talking about prayer.Prayer itself is not a thing, it is a label for things we do.Prayer is opening our heart to God – our praise, our hopes, our gratitude, our requests.It is the expression of a heart that hopes…
At one time Jesus says, “whoever comes to me I will never drive away.” (John 6:37)And yet here Jesus drives away people from the temple (v.15).He is driving away those who were driving away others.These temple merchants, with the temple permission, were making it hard for others.They charged excessive prices for the sacrificial animals. The words…
This story seems odd and somewhat unsettling.Is Jesus losing His temper because He is ‘hangry’?How could He expect figs if it was not the season for figs? Figs were a were a staple in the Middle East during Jesus’ time.They were considered a symbol of prosperity.They were one of the fruit listed as produce in…
What would cause people to erupt in joyful praise like this?They were rejoicing in the good news, the gospel of the kingdom. “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.” “After John was put in prison, Jesus went into…
I’ve always wondered how Jesus knew the donkey would be there.My personal belief was that Jesus did not know everything.Jesus acted fully as a human, like us; He didn’t have extra God-powers.He performed miracles just like other humans, with God’s help.He promised that His disciples could do even greater miracles, with help (John 14:12).Jesus emptied Himself…
Bartimaeus was persistent, despite being rebuked.His desperate hope in Jesus was greater than the discouragement of others.He did not let the crowds (the majority) take his eyes off Jesus.Their rebuke only intensified his desperate prayer.It was this desperate faith that Jesus is talking about. This is the kind of faith that I want.As I consider…
We have been reflecting on the radical message and method of Jesus.The Jesus Way is NOT like the human way, the way of our fallen world.Adam and Eve (humanity) were put in charge of God’s world – the kingdom of God.They were designed to live, to lead and to love like God.They were given power…
The priests were God’s assigned servants to connect the people to God.The teachers of the Law were God’s communicators of His revealed message.These were the shepherds of Israel, those who cared for God’s sheep.To be delivered into their hands was a good thing – they worked for God.Hmmm, it doesn’t seem to work out like…
Why does Jesus say it is hard to enter the kingdom of God?Isn’t it as easy as believing in Jesus.Yes… and yet no.It depends on what you mean by ‘believe’.To believe is about more than just agreeing with some ideas.To believe in Jesus is to trust in Him and His teaching.It means to entrust ourself…
This man wants to inherit eternal life.For the Jews, this meant life in God’s restored kingdom of Israel.This man wanted to make sure he was going to be part of the kingdom.The Jews knew that lawless, disobedient people would not be in that kingdom.This man was doing his best to be good enough, to obey…