The Breath of Life
“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being” (Genesis 2:7). What is life? Can anyone really describe it? We know that it dwells in us and in our bodies, but is not part of the body. […]
Improper Sources of Authority
The chief priests and elders who confronted Jesus were asking a legitimate question. In Matthew 21:23 they asked, “Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said, ‘By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this […]
The Comforter Promised
John 13-16 is a lengthy account of the night Jesus was betrayed. In essence these four chapters are spent discussing Judas’ betrayal with the result that Jesus would die. He gave His apostles instructions regarding many things during a time which would not likely have been more than 6-7 hours. One of the things He […]
Texas Church Attracts Followers With Beer
In 2013, a Texas church tried something different to attract new congregates. A pub in Fort Worth is home to the Church-in-a-Pub, where members of the Calvary Lutheran Church meet for services and grab a pint at the same time. Calvary Lutheran Church “pastor” Phillip Heinze explained how the idea first came about. “We we’re […]
Test All Things
“Test all things; hold fast what is good” (1 Thess. 5:21). Christianity is not a religion for the gullible. It appeals to man’s intellect and ability to understand right from wrong. God never has expected man to accept any statement at face value. From the beginning, He confirmed His superiority and the truth of His […]
Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled
The passage from which this phrase is taken from is one of the most familiar verses from John. In fact, it is likely only John 3:16 would exceed it in quotation and remembrance. The remainder of that passage continues “… ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions; […]
If I Be Lifted Up
On three different occasions (all in Jerusalem) Jesus spoke of His crucifixion as being “lifted up from the earth.” While the other three gospel accounts record that Jesus predicted beforehand His death by crucifixion, none of them (so far as I can determine) refer to that death as being “lifted up.” When Jesus began His […]
Unveiling the Significance of the Lord’s Supper
Reflection, Proclamation, and Command Recently, I watched a video featuring a Messianic Jewish gentleman interviewing people on the streets of Jerusalem. As expected, many of those interviewed were Orthodox Jews. The interviewer asked them to read Isaiah 53, both in English and Hebrew, and then posed the question of whether anyone in history fit the […]
Why Jesus Washed His Disciples’ Feet
In John 13 there is the account of an incident in Jesus’ ministry which only John records. This account tells of Jesus washing all His disciples’ feet, which was an act of profound humility. The incident occurred when He, with the twelve, was celebrating the oldest feast observed by the Jews, older even than the […]
“Stiffnecked”
In ancient cultures, the ox was commonly used to plow fields and pull carts. These animals were hard to handle under the best of circumstances. When an angry ox stiffened the muscles of his powerful neck, it was difficult or impossible to guide him. Those ancient people began to use the term “stiffnecked” to refer […]