To the watching world, it seemed as though God had abandoned these two prophets to their foes. At last, or so they must have thought, God’s opponent had gotten the upper hand. What glee! What giddy excitement! But also what despair.
Revelation 11: Prophets Raised from the Dead
As I read these words in Greek (slowly) I could feel this starburst of fascination and horror spreading throughout my chest, with pinpricks all over my head and arms as my hairs stood on end.
Isaiah 26: The Dead Shall Rise
Perhaps praying about the two paths drew Isaiah’s mind to the kings of Israel and Judah, for they represented those paths—the road of righteousness and the way of the wicked.
Acts Wednesday: Chapter 1, Proof of Truth
One of my favorite books opens with the true story of an attempted murder case against a guy named James Dixon. Dixon was arguing with his girlfriend through the front door, so someone called the cops to break it up. When the police officer arrived, the girl’s father came to the door, there was a fight, the officer intervened, … Continue reading Acts Wednesday: Chapter 1, Proof of Truth
John 11: Jesus Develops Martha’s Faith
I read a book a while ago called, Where Is God When Bad Things Happen? Written by Luis Palau. As you can imagine from the title, the author talks about the traumas and tragedies that you and I experience in life, and why God seems to allow them. Where was God? What was God doing? What is God doing? That’s what Martha and Mary were wondering in this story, and probably Jesus’s disciples, too.
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: Thomas Had Doubts
It was seemingly impossible for Thomas to accept Jesus' resurrection without some empirical proof. Doubt can be a good thing, because it makes us think. Doubt is one foot lifted, poised to move forward or backward.
Gospel of John: Garden to Garden
John 20 moves backwards through Genesis 2-3, restoring each of the ruptured relationships caused by humankind’s rejection of God: the reign of death, the rule of man over woman, and the broken bond between God and humanity.
Gospel of John: Mary of Magdala
All four Gospel accounts describe Mary’s faithfulness and courage, a major financial supporter and patron of Jesus’s ministry, one who remained with Jesus at the foot of his cross until his death, and the first to arrive at his tomb the morning of his resurrection.