When Jesus takes time to explain things, it’s time to listen and reflect, not listen and reject. Jesus begins to explain what will happen (16:21). Peter doesn’t like it. Well,…
In Matthew’s timeline, Jesus has just returned from his time of temptation in the wilderness. We’ll get to that in about a month. In the meantime, John had been taken…
Twice in as many days, John the Baptist points to Jesus: “Look, the Lamb of God!” (1:29, 36). Lambs had one purpose in Israel’s relationship with God. We delight in…
Second Thessalonians is short. When I first read through the Bible, it was a real relief finally to get to books that were two pages long. Though brief, this letter…
One of my hardest ministry moments so far was when a very involved member (not here at Bethel) told me that I only appreciated her for what she did, not…
Well, our translation says unless we love Jesus more (14:26). You may remember that Jesus says hate: unless you hate your parents, spouse, children, and life itself, you can’t be…
I pastored a church in Illinois, right out of seminary. A fellow pastor in that presbytery served two congregations. Those of you who remember Rev. Swinney remember that sort of…
Saul didn’t know Jesus. Blind, thrown down in the dust there on the road, Saul calls the one speaking to him Lord (9:5): whoever is speaking to him has authority…
“You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” Life happens, and we wonder what God is up to. What is He thinking? There is…
[With thanks to Leslie Leyland Fields, and Chapter Four of her Crossing the Waters: Following Jesus through the Storms, the Fish, the Doubt, and the Seas (2016).] I don’t ordinarily…