The Cleansing of the Temple. “So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the Temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the Temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the furniture of those who sold doves. And he would not allow anyone to carry wares through …
The Baptism of Jesus. “One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River. As Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens splitting apart and the Holy Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved …
The Ascension. “Then Jesus led them to Bethany, and lifting his hands to heaven, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and then they could no longer see him. Jesus was taken up into heaven and sat down in the place of honor …
The Transfiguration: Talking It Over. “Jesus went on to say to his disciples: ‘I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Kingdom of God arrive in great power!’ Six days later Jesus took Peter, James and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone…” (Mark …
The Temptation of Christ. (Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-13). Pushed. The Gospel of Mark doesn’t mince words. “The Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness.” (Mark 1:12). The Holy Spirit didn’t passively encourage Jesus to go into the wilderness. The Spirit didn’t lead Jesus by the hand into temptation. The fact is, the Holy Spirit drove …
Boy in the Temple. “Jesus is our childhood pattern; Day by day, like us he grew.” (C.F. Alexander, 1874). (Luke 2:39-51). Many of us believers are doing our best to follow Jesus, to love and to trust in him. But we actually don’t know much about his life. His first twelve years are a mystery, and …
Grand Entrance: Palm Sunday. (Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:28-44; John 12:12-19). All regular church goers are well aware of Palm Sunday. The service is a beloved part of the yearly liturgy, and it occurs the week before Easter Sunday. Palm Sunday is a triumphant service of beautiful hymns and the waving of palm branches. Many …
Beware: Don’t Corrupt the Children. “He put a child in the middle of the room. Then, cradling the little one in his arms, Jesus said, ‘Whoever embraces one of these children as I do embrace me, and far more than me – God who sent me… Woe to anyone who is the downfall of one …
6. Sensing God: Seeing His Body Work. All Christian believers trust in the obvious fact that Jesus had a real human body. As St. John said in 1 John 1:1, “We saw Him with our own eyes!” Thousands of people literally saw Jesus. They saw Him at work and at rest. They saw Him around …
5. Sensing God: Touching with the Hands of Jesus. “Then they brought babies and small children to Jesus that He might touch them, bless them and pray for them. But when the disciples saw it, they rebuked those who brought the children. But Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not forbid …
4. Sensing God: Hearing the Voice of the Lord. The Word is meant to be heard. Silent reading is alien to how the Hebrew Bible, or the New Testament for that matter, was meant to be communicated. But unfortunately, Christians have largely forgotten or ignored their Jewish roots. The common way in Christian circles is …
3. Sensing God: Tasting the Feast of Yahweh. “Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who trust and take refuge in Him. (Psalm 34:8). The only way to taste God is to try trusting in Him, to make even a small effort to take refuge in Him. Once one gets a …