(REFLECTIONS ON John 3:1-21) There are levels to this game is a phrase meaning that something simple may actually go deeper than we initially realize. It is a phrase often used by people that are viewed as more advanced, skilled, experienced, or strategic than others — and we may not even realize how deep it goes. […]
(REFLECTIONS ON John 2:13-25) 16b “Take these things away; stop making My Father’s house a place of business.” In the Old Testament (Ref. Deuteronomy 16:16), God commanded all Israelite males to appear before the Lord in Jerusalem (the place which He chooses) three times a year. One of those times was for the Passover (Feast of […]
(REFLECTIONS ON John 2:1-12) The first miracle of Jesus, turning water to wine, a miracle where people discuss why Jesus called His mom “Woman,” saying “My hour has not yet come,” and discuss the Jewish custom of purification. There are even jokes told that the participants of the banquet were already so drunk, that they didn’t […]
(REFLECTIONS ON John 1:43-51) When Nathanael heard from Philip that they had found the Messiah—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph, Nathanael responded, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” What did this mean? What was wrong with Nazareth, and what was wrong with the Messiah coming out of Nazareth? Nazareth was a small, rural […]
(REFLECTIONS ON John 1:29-42) When John the Baptist saw Jesus in verse 29 he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” However, afterwards in verse 31 he said, “And I did not recognize Him, but so that He would be revealed to Israel, I came baptizing in water.” How […]
(REFLECTIONS ON John 1:19-28) When John the Baptist, the one God called to baptize with a baptism of repentance appeared in the wilderness, the Jews sent priests and Levites to him from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” Was this just out of curiosity? No, it was actually an official investigation of this man, John […]
(REFLECTIONS ON John 1:1-18) 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being. 14 And […]
(REFLECTIONS ON Deuteronomy 3:21-29) When we see the name Moses, what do we think of? Growing up in a Christian home and having attended Sunday School as a child, when I think of Moses I think of his loving mother and sister, a baby protected by God, a man growing in power in Egypt, a man […]
(REFLECTIONS ON 1 John 2:18-29 ) The relationship between the Father and the Son, that is God and Jesus Christ, is an important one. We can’t separate the two and choose one and not the other. However, for many that believed in God, believing that Jesus is the Christ was difficult for them to accept. In fact, […]
(REFLECTIONS ON Galatians 1:1-10) As we read Paul’s letters in the New Testament, we must keep mind that Paul’s writings addressed different questions, issues, and challenges that the churches faced during his time. They were specific, problem solving, but also in God’s amazing and mysterious ways, transcend time and space. Although they are very personal letters […]