“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” “So the last will be first, and the first last.” “Blessed are you who are poor…” “Love your enemies…” These sayings from Jesus run counter to our cultural values. Each statement causes one to pause and wonder. The statements are somewhat shocking, […]
The Prodigal Son’s behavior was bad. Seriously bad. The first century Palestinian audience, hearing the parable from Jesus’ lips, may have recalled Deuteronomy 21: 18 – 21. 18 “If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his […]
Its late. A layer of thick black paint covers the area around my eyes, including my eyelids. I add black streaks that run from my eyes down my cheeks. In 1976 there aren’t a lot of product options for hair. I borrow a can of cheap hairspray and go to […]
Access to God sounds strange, but the believer has been granted access to God through the blood of Christ. Through Christ, we have a very unique level of permissions. Put another way, Christians are a new Holy of Holies where God’s Spirit resides and provides us with continual access to […]
In part 3 we look deeper into Jesus’ claim, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Consider Hebrews 10:19-22 (ESV) 19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 […]
Again, Jesus’ radical claim to be the way, and the truth, and the life, and that no one comes to the Father except through him means that you, as a believer in Christ, have access to the Father through Christ. Right now. In this section we will examine the Christian […]
Jesus said to him [Thomas, aka doubting Thomas], “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” This is a shocking statement; a politically incorrect statement. A large percentage of folks today will find this claim offensive. However, like Thomas, […]
Jesus is the Bread of Life. The Word, Jesus, nourishes my soul. Believers must take in the Word in order to feed their souls and grow more like Christ. Beyond providing true bread from heaven, Jesus, God has done something very special for us. A new covenant. Look closely at […]
Jesus has just fed 5,000 people with two fish and five loaves of bread. The following day, a crowd remained. They track down Jesus and begin to ask him questions. John 6:31-35 begins with the crowd saying to Jesus: 31 “Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is […]
The food began to arrive. One ton of New York steak and even more potato salad. Pallets of corn and lettuce followed. It was the afternoon before the Hewlett-Packard Divisional summer picnic. Only a year out of college, I had volunteered to make all the food arrangements for feeding my […]
