SCRIPTURE: John 20:1-9 “He saw and believed.” (John 20:8) The resurrection was too radical to fake or make up. Why would the disciples all face torture and death for a scam? How could you get so many people to agree to lie about Jesus’ resurrection. It doesn’t take long, when the pressure heats up, for someone to…
Secretly… at night
SCRIPTURE: John 19:38-42 “A disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders.” (John 19:38) Joseph Arimathea fears Jewish leaders, so he is a secret disciple. Nicodemus is a Jewish leader, so he talks to Jesus at night (John 3:2). I recently spoke with an Iranian Christian who told me about Muslims converting in Iran. She…
It is finished!
SCRIPTURE: John 19:28-37 ‘It is finished.’ With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:30) For His whole life, Jesus was under attack. Satan was doing everything he could to get this ‘Adam’ (human) to fail. Every trick in the book was used against Jesus, but Jesus stood firm. Unlike all other sons…
The Jerusalem God loves!
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 122 “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.” (Psalm 122:6) When this Psalm was written, the old covenant temple was built there. Today, the new covenant temple (people whose hearts are open to God) are everywhere. Jerusalem for Christians today is anywhere and everywhere that God is among His people. You might say that Jerusalem is…
An open heart?
SCRIPTURE: Romans 3:1-4:25 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. (Romans 3:28) Paul is saying God accepts us for our open hearts (faith), not for our good deeds (works). When God finally reveals Himself to someone, their true heart condition is revealed. Non-religious people I know are…
God knows my heart
I will look at Romans 1:1-2:29 today, and Romans 3:1-4:25 tomorrow. SCRIPTURE: Romans 1:1-2:29 “God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth.” (Romans 2:2) God is not unfair, mean or extremely picky about our sins and failures. God knows what is going on in our hearts, the good, the bad and the ugly. We tend…
Jesus sees me too
SCRIPTURE: John 19:16-27 “Near the cross of Jesus…” (John 19:25) What would have been doing if you had been near the cross? Fighting over His claims to be king? Gambling for His clothes? Watching with curiosity, or disinterest, or anger, or sadness? Jesus sees all those around Him, and He loves them. Jesus sees His mother, and…
Vote for Jesus!
SCRIPTURE: John 19:12-16 “We have no king but Caesar.” (John 19:15) The religious leaders are pledging loyalty to Caesar. Many religious leaders in Nazi Germany did the same to Hitler. What about religious leaders that side with political leaders today? Christians should be political (i.e. involved in societal concerns). But should they be loyal to political leaders…
What kind of leader am I?
SCRIPTURE: John 19:1-11 “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.” (John 1:11) In Genesis 1, God puts humans in charge of the world. The kingdom of God is this world under humans submitted to God. Anyone with a position of authority or responsibility is a God-appointed leader. According to…
Am I open to the truth?
SCRIPTURE: John 18:37-40 “Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” (John 18:37) I know someone who has concluded that there is no God. This after years of believing, and even experiencing God, by their own admission. It is no coincidence that this corresponds with a change in lifestyle. Without belief in God, he is free…