John 7 and 8 If you plant a kernel of wheat in the ground, it cannot grow without tender care. Nicodemus was given that kernel with the words “you must be born again.” [Jn 3] Now, it is months later, and that kernel of faith has been growing in small incremental steps. Will it pass […]
Matthew 18 The disciples wanted to know who was the greatest so Jesus took a little child and said, here is the true test of greatness: “become like little children,” or you will not ever enter the kingdom of heaven. Pride stands in the way of greatness. Be ye humble like this child. And again, […]
Mark 9; Luke 9:28-62; Matthew 17 From Glory to Earth. Recently Wm. Shatner, better known as Capt. Kirk of the TV series Star Trek and the spaceship Enterprise said: “To see the blue color [of the atmosphere] shoot by like that; Down there is mother, comfort – and up there is death.” The disciples experienced […]
Mark 8 The truth of the matter is this: “For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom” [1Co 1:22], so it is no wonder that the Jewish religious leaders arrive to argue with Jesus and to test him. Had they been there earlier, they would have seen a miraculous sign of the multiplied loaves and fishes, instead, […]
Mark 7, Matt 15 “Rules of Men and Rules of God” We are caught up in men’s rules: do thus and so because if you don’t, you won’t reach heaven. Martin Luther was caught in that vicious cycle. When he was at the Vatican, he crawled on his knees in penance. Later, he would read […]
John 6 Today we are bombarded with trinkets, gifts, and so on and in fact so much that we have become the “gimme” generation, and this is not new. In John 4, Jesus meets a Samaritan woman and dialogs with her about living water. She says, “Sir, give me this water so that I will not be […]
Mark 6; Luke 9:1-17; Matthew 14 A Faith Test When you look about and see the tasks before you, do you become overwhelmed? I wonder if that is why Jesus gave his power to the 12 and sent them out. There was so much to be done and so little time. So he sent them […]
Matthew 9 and 10 Jesus spent a fair amount of time walking among the people, listening to their conversations. He saw those paralyzed both physically and spiritually. He saw a desperate father in need of direction when all around him was collapsing. He encountered religious leaders who could not or would not see the helpless, […]
Mark 4-5; Matthew 8:14-31 To Leave the Results to God Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would” bring good news to the afflicted; bind up the brokenhearted; proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners;” [Isa 61:1] Yet, some did not experience those blessings because Satan, the master deceiver, had one goal: to blind “the minds […]
Luke 8 and Matt 13 Ever go back to your high school reunion? If you have, you come away with ideas and thoughts about those four years. They walked with you, sat beside you in class but after high school, some stayed behind, and others went a different path. It was true for Jesus as […]
