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…
Today is a day for wrapping up. Next Sunday, I’ll start telling the story from the top once again. What crowns the story, its conclusion and vision, is Christ…
His spirit fills us. Beloved, how beautiful, those words! We feel so full of so many things. Sometimes, it’s fear. Sometimes, it’s anger, resentment. Sometimes it’s love, yes, that’s true,…
There are many place names in the Bible. If we had been born and raised in that part of the world, these names would be like saying Odessa, Laredo, Amarillo,…
All tried to touch him. O, to touch Jesus! I suppose a number of them did. We’re told a lot about Jesus touching others, but we don’t hear as much…
Those listening to Jesus “were all well impressed with him and marveled at the eloquent words that he spoke” (4:22). So far, so good. People often marvel at Jesus in…
The section headings that the translators gave these parts of Luke’s account are telling: “Jesus Begins His Work,” and “Jesus is Rejected.” Here is an encapsulation of what we’ll be…
There are places in the Bible where I read and say, “no, no, that’s too much!” Too hard. I feel like closing the book, right there; I don’t want to…