And how were the disciples going to make any impact on the world plunged into deepest darkness, when even after following Jesus night and day for three years, struggled to really understand His teaching?
Gospel of John, The Life is in the Blood
Jesus delivered what was very likely his most offensive sermon every preached. It would cost him the majority of his disciples, and act as a turning point in his public ministry.
2 Peter 1: Transfiguration
Jesus’ glory was not reflected light, he was radiating light from within himself. He was a man, yet from his inner being flowed the shekinah glory of Jehovah God.
Gospel of John: Witness to Death
Swoon theories are like urban myths. When examined, the actual facts disprove the myth, but the myth keeps getting repeated. So, the writers of the gospels—and especially John—were careful to document the reality of Jesus’ physical death and his physical resurrection.
Gospel of John: His Last Breath
Why did Jesus cry out the first line of Psalm 22? I found two very different ways of understanding this moment, and it all rests on the nature of the Trinity.
Gospel of John: The Sayings of Christ
John must have been there to hear everything Jesus said, and those words must have sunk deep into John’s soul. Over the centuries, these words were gathered lovingly by the church to become the Seven Sayings of the Cross.
Gospel of John: The Cyrenian and the Daughters of Jerusalem
John briefly references the story of Simon from Cyrene (Found in Matthew, Mark, and Luke), and omits the story of the daughters of Jerusalem (found only in Luke). For John, the significance of Jesus’s journey from the Gabbatha to Golgatha is found in his continuing intentional drinking of the Father’s cup. He had a mission, and he would complete it, as any brave and mighty king would do.
Mary of Magdala
In this twenty minute talk, we’ll first follow Mary through the years she was a student and supporter of Jesus, then we will spend most of our time in the Garden with Mary at Christ’s empty tomb, and end with a deeper understanding of ourselves as members of the Body of Christ.
Gospel of John: First Sight
One of the Gospel of John's continuing themes is the weaving of the first three chapters of Genesis with the telling of Christ's story. Because of this, I have woven more overtly those chapters with these crucifixions scenes.
Gospel of John: A Street Called Straight
After John's chiasm come seven vignettes that describe the crucifixion of Christ. This is the segue.