SCRIPTURE: John 12:27-36 “Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out.” (John 12:31) When Satan tempted Jesus (Luke 4:5-6), he claimed he was given authority over this world. And yet we know Adam and Eve were originally given authority (Genesis 1:26-28). Who made Satan prince of this world……
Am I with Jesus?
SCRIPTURE: John 12:20-26 “We would like to see Jesus.” (John 12:21) Though some people are disillusioned with the church, most still are open to Jesus. As Jesus-followers, we need to help people connect to Jesus – not build walls. Through His death, He saves many, and they in turn become seed for planting. “Unless a kernel of…
A different kind of king
SCRIPTURE: John 12:12-19 We do not live in a time when kings are appreciated, or wanted. We prefer democracy, after centuries of failed monarchies and tyrannies. But we are discovering that all of these share a common weakness: humans. Human nature is the flaw that ails all levels of humanity. “Blessed is the king of Israel!”…
Seeing your life through God’s eyes
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 119:25-48 “Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.” (Psalm 119:37) Many people spend their lives climbing ladders. But at life’s end, will they discover they climbed the wrong ladders. We waste so much energy on ‘worthless things’ and ‘vain pursuits’. What really matters, is what I am living…
The Lord causes disasters?
SCRIPTURE: Amos 1:1-5:17 “When disaster comes to a city, has not the Lord caused it?” (Amos 3:6) When a judge sends a murderer to prison, is the judge to blame? Yes, the judge directs (causes) the punishment, but they are not to blame. The consequences of murder are the blame of the murderer, not the judge. Amos is…
No more excuses
SCRIPTURE: John 12:1-11 “You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.” (John 12:8) Some people use these words as an excuse not to address the problem of poverty. But the real issue is that they are looking for excuses not to love. It was the same for Jesus; it’s not…
Avoiding the press?
SCRIPTURE: John 11:54-57 “Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the people of Judea.” (John 11:54) Jesus is not simply avoiding trouble, He is avoiding premature trouble. He is a dangerous person in a dangerous time, He could touch off a ‘revolution’. He is not this kind of messiah, but this is the kind of messiah the…
Little did he know…
SCRIPTURE: John 11:45-53 “Better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.” (John 11:50) As an occupied nation, Israel was at risk whenever someone claimed to be king. People were talking about Jesus, about the miracles He performed. The religious leaders are worried, rumours of a rebellion would lead Rome…
Believing is seeing
SCRIPTURE: John 11:38-44 “If you believe, you will see the glory of God?” (John 11:40) I believe God CAN raise a dead person to life. But I normally do not believe that God WILL raise a dead person. For some reason, God doesn’t go about raising dead people on a regular basis. God does do it for…
Listening to my counsellor
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 119:1-24 “Your statutes are my delight; they are my counsellors.” (Psalm 119:24) A counsellor is someone who helps us on our journey through life towards wholeness. The sacred writings (‘graphe’, scriptures) of the bible (‘biblos’, books) do this too. The bible is not a science textbook, nor is it an ‘answer book’ for all our…