They are mindless, the prophet wrote, utterly without a clear thought in their heads. Otherwise, how in the world could they look at this perfectly good log, get so much good use out of it – thanks be to God who provided that log – then worship what’s left of it?!
Isaiah 41: Three, Three, and Three
The Lord turned to God’s people and gave them three exhortations, three promises, and three reasons to believe. The physical promises of land and prosperity were to a specific people, the descendants of Abraham, Israel. From this perspective, God is keeping these promises to this day, as miraculously, Israel is once again a nation located on the very land God promised to Abraham. But the apostle Paul said that spiritually, these promises are intended for all those who know Abraham as their spiritual father, who have been grafted into the nation of Israel as God’s people through faith.
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Advent Meditation: Living Water
Zechariah’s prophesy of salvation foreshadowed Jesus’s proclamation on the temple steps, “Let anyone who believes in me drink … out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.”
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Isaiah 12: Joy
From the first patriarch, Abraham, to every person mentioned in the Hebrews Hall of Faith, to Peter, to Paul, to the apostle John and the Revelation given him by Christ, it is the reconciliation of all things in Christ that held their attention.
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Minor Prophets: Zechariah’s “Millennium”
The last post envisioned future warfare and Christ’s fearsome appearance, This week looks at a possible view of the Millennium, and restored creation.
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Gospel of John: Water From the Rock
It was the eighth day, the Sabbath of the Sabbaths, for on this day the land had become theirs, apportioned among the tribes, as foretold. Already in the distance, the temple trumpets sounded from each parapet.
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Gospel of John: Food
John made it clear it was the woman who testified about Jesus, and the whole town was her harvest, not the disciples.’ Oh yes, they would reap the harvest. But she was the sower Now Jesus would rejoice with this woman as her entire town came out to meet Him.
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Gospel of John: “Τί ζητεῖτε;”
The way John told this story—and remember, the timing of things was important to John—it was at the very moment of the woman’s statement about the coming Messiah, and Jesus’ declaration of “YHWH/I AM the very one, speaking to you right now” that the disciples arrived.
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Gospel of John: Truth
Here was One who could truly behold her true self, who accepted her for who she truly was, who admired her character, and honored her dignity, who understood the courage it took for her to choose truth when it held the potential to hurt her, or to render her disqualified to receive the gift this man had to give.
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Gospel of John: Living Water
There was no missing the metaphor. “Living water” was something Jesus bestowed that would spiritually enliven the person receiving it and living it out.
