John 3:22-36 (AD 27) The earlier part of this chapter helped us understand that ‘belief’ in a Biblical context is wrapped up in the idea of actively following, and being in a relationship with Jesus based on faith and repentance. Hot on the heels of that understanding, John the Baptist underscored the glorious promise and … More Day 20: An urgent matter
John 3:1-21 (AD 27) – Part 2 When I direct people to our house, the last part of my instructions vary. To one person I might say, “Turn right towards the supermarket”; to another, “Turn left when you get to the supermarket roundabout”. I will then tell them to get on to a specific road, … More Day 19: Bible vs. the Bible?
John 3:1-21 (AD 27) – Part 1 Christians tell people that in order to be saved they need to repent of their sins, which is exactly what Jesus preached (Matthew 4:17). However there are often objections – even offended ones – at the exclusivist notion of repentance being necessary. Becoming a Christian is only a … More Day 18: Picking your belief
John 2:13-25 (AD 27) There’s belief, and there’s belief, and they’re not the same thing. We have them here, one after the other, for contrast. Verse twenty-two tells us that whilst the disciples didn’t understand the reference at the time, they “believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken” (v.22) after the resurrection. … More Day 17: When belief is not belief
John 2:1-12 (AD 27) Not a healing, not a massive spectacle, not a resurrection. The first miracle of Jesus’ public ministry was making alcohol at a badly-catered wedding. Wedding celebrations could go on for many days and everyone would be steadily drinking wine, with the good stuff coming out first and then a few days … More Day 16: Do whatever he tells you
John 1:35-51 (AD 27) It started so well, didn’t it? The disciples’ walk of faith began with quotes such as: Andrew heard John the Baptist say, “Look, the Lamb of God!” (v.36) Andrew told Peter, “We have found the Messiah” (v.41) Phillip told Nathanael, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, … More Day 15: The Truth was staring them in the face
Luke 3:21-4:13 (AD 27) If only all of our temptation experiences went like this. Luke, focused on establishing Jesus’ identity, deliberately put the baptism and genealogy of Jesus together. Passage no.3– the back-to-back-to-back of who Jesus is – opens with Satan, in epic futility, attacking Jesus’ idea of his own identity. Here’s the sequence: 1a.) … More Day 14: Satan didn’t understand Jesus
Luke 2:40-52 (AD 7-8) Those of you with the attention span of an accountant and the breadth of perspective of a hungry eagle will no doubt have noticed that we skipped about ten years. Actually, God did, when he inspired the writing of the Bible. Why? Because he didn’t need us to know anything about … More Day 12: Be like teenage Jesus
Matthew 2:13-23 (4 BC) I can’t begin to imagine the fear and anxiety in parents, with their first child still a toddler, in fear for his life and theirs. Joseph and Mary knew that not only did King Herod want them dead, but everyone around them was a potential betrayer. Two to three years earlier … More Day 11: Jesus the refugee
Matthew 2:1-12 (4 BC) How many Magi were there? We don’t know. Were they kings? Most likely not. Did they visit Jesus in the stable? No. Was Jesus a baby when they visited him? Unlikely – he was probably a toddler by the time they met him. (Note: when Herod wanted to make sure he … More Day 10: Disturbed
Paul T Reynolds 