Mountains of God – The Mount of Temptation. Your saving grace and your righteousness are like the mountains of God.” (Psalm 36:6). Yes, God lives in heaven. But all through Scripture He appears to have a second home here on the earth, in the mountains. God’s personal involvement on mountains deepen the meaning and significance of what …
Healing the Shamed: St. Peter. Please read all four accounts of Peter at his weakest: Matt. 26:69-75; Mark 14:66-72; Luke 22:54-62; John 18:15-18, 25-27). St. Peter is a tough nut to crack. We shouldn’t try to read the mind of anyone, no less someone who lived 2,000 years ago and is as complicated as he is. So …
Healing the Shamed: An Adulteress. “In the middle of Jesus’ teaching in the temple courts, the religious scholars and the Pharisees broke through the crowds and brought a woman who had been caught in the act of committing adultery and made her stand in the middle of everyone. Then they said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, we …
The Death of God. What if we didn’t know the end of the story? What if we didn’t yet know about the empty tomb? Yes, it’s true that Jesus predicted His rising from the dead on a number of occasions with His Twelve. But tell that to the traumatized disciples, who just lost their best …
The Priestly Prayer of Jesus. “When Jesus had spoken these things, He lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, ‘Father, the hour is come.’” (John 17:1). The time to complete His self-emptying has arrived. He is ready to give Himself up, for no one can take His life from Him without …
The Pharisee in Me. “Then Jesus said to the crowds and to His disciples, ‘The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ throne as the authorized interpreters of the Law. So listen and follow what they teach, but don’t do what they do, for they tell you one thing and do another. They tie on …
(1.) On Christ as The Amen. “These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness…” (Revelation 3:14). AMEN: A Hebrew word related to the same root as the word for truth. A positive assent to a truthful statement or prayer; “And all the people gathered as one at the square which was in front of …
Fear Not: Jesus and the Transfiguration. “The disciples were terrified and fell face down on the ground. Then Jesus came over and touched them. ‘Get up!’, he said. ‘Don’t be afraid.’ And when they looked up, Moses and Elijah were gone, and they saw only Jesus.” (Matthew 17:6-8). There was a time when Jesus told His disciples …
Jesus and Sinners: The Two Thieves. Please read this story in Luke 23:39-43. When Jesus was raised on the cross, he found Himself hanging between two thieves on their crosses, one thief on the right and the other thief on His left. The two thieves might have been similar in their criminal behavior, but it appears …
Jesus, Friend of Sinners. “Behold, a glutton and a wine drinker, a friend of tax collectors and especially wicked sinners.” (Matthew 11:19). An Inside look at Levi Matthew’s Banquet for Jesus. Please read the story of Matthew’s party in Matthew 9:10-13, Mark 2:15-17, and Luke 5:29-32. Also refer to Luke 15:1-2 and 19:1-7. LADIES OF THE …
Representing Jesus: The Seventy. “The Lord now chose seventy (or seventy-two) other disciples and sent them ahead in pairs to all the towns and places He planned to visit… When the seventy disciples returned, they joyfully reported to Him, ‘Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!” (Luke 10:1,17). Please read the story …
Representing Jesus: The Twelve. “And Jesus called His twelve disciples together and began sending them out two by two, giving them authority to cast out evil spirits… So the disciples went out, telling everyone they met to repent of their sins and turn to God. And they cast out many demons and healed many sick people, …