Jesus Speaks at the Festival of Tabernacles

Read John Chapter 7 Jesus’s brothers asked him to go to the festival and show the world his powers. They are mocking him at this point, and he tells them no. The Greek word that he uses here meant yet.  He did decide to go, just without his family and in private.  Jesus shows up halfway through and festival and begins to …

Do we really believe anything is possible with God?

On the first Easter, we see the risen Jesus!  Even His closest followers were surprised to see Him alive.  We see God’s power to rise from the dead.  But three days earlier was a dark day.  Even though He had told His followers that He would die and rise again, it was a dark day full of tears and grief at the foot of …

Embracing the Legacy of Faith

Psalm 78:1-8 Give ear, O my people, to my teaching;    incline your ears to the words of my mouth!2 I will open my mouth in a parable;    I will utter dark sayings from of old,3 things that we have heard and known,    that our fathers have told us.4 We will not hide them from their children,    but tell to the coming generationthe glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might,    and the wonders that …

Dwelling in God’s Presence

In the hustle and bustle of life, amidst the noise of our daily routines, there exists a sanctuary of peace and joy—a place where our souls find rest and our spirits are rejuvenated. Psalm 84 paints a beautiful picture of this sanctuary, inviting us to dwell in the presence of the Almighty. The psalmist begins by expressing a deep longing …

When Familiarity Breeds Contempt

Luke 4: 23-30 23 And he said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘“Physician, heal yourself.” What we have heard you did at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.’” 24 And he said, “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. 25 But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the …

Lessons from the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus

Luke 16:19–31 Jesus said, “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. The …

Why Good Friday Matters

John 19:28-30 28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfil the Scripture), “I thirst.” 29 A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished”, and he …

The Torn Veil: A Greater Relationship 

Matthew 27:50-51 50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. 51 And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. Psalm 16:11 You make known to me the path of life;in your presence there is fullness of joy;at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. As Jesus breathed …

Humble Obedience

Matthew 23:1-12 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, 3 so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. 4 They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. 5 They …

Lament to Praise: Trusting God’s Vindication

Psalm 79 O God, the nations have come into your inheritance;    they have defiled your holy temple;    they have laid Jerusalem in ruins.2 They have given the bodies of your servants    to the birds of the heavens for food,    the flesh of your faithful to the beasts of the earth.3 They have poured out their blood like water    all around Jerusalem,    and there was no one to bury them.4 We have become a taunt to our neighbors,    mocked and …