Mark 11:19-26 (spring AD 30, Tuesday of Passion Week) One principle of understanding what the Bible says is that where possible we should look for the plain reading of the text as the most likely way to understand it. Another principle is that the Bible never contradicts itself; God is the author, and the Bible … More Day 105: Prayer: the sky’s not the limit
John 12:20-50 (spring AD 30, Monday of Passion Week) This is what Jesus said in today’s reading, four days before being crucified: “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour?’ No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!” (v.27-28). … More Day 104: Jesus was troubled
Matthew 21:10-19 (spring AD 30, Monday of Passion Week) Compare these two verses: “When King Herod heard [about ‘the king of the Jews’ having just been born] he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him” (Matthew 2:3, emphasis mine) “When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, ‘Who is this?’” (v.10). A … More Day 103: Jesus disturbs people
Luke 19:28-44 (spring AD 30: Palm Sunday) In the ancient world, when the leader or a city or a nation had won a notable battle, they held have a triumphal parade. The victorious leader would be out in front in a chariot pulled by a team of horses, and behind him would be his army, … More Day 102: Jesus cried over spilt milk
John 11:55-12:11 (spring AD 30, the week before Passion Week) So far we have spent a week’s worth of devotionals covering Jesus’ first couple of years, skipped most of his next 28 years, and then gone through three years of his ministry in 80 days. Starting tomorrow, over the following 36 devotionals we will think … More Day 101: Allowing sinful nature to take its course
Luke 19:11-27 (AD 30) Why did Jesus tell this parable? “because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once” (v.11). He was walking towards the capital with his followers and after three years of increasingly public, popular and startling ministry, many were hoping that … More Day 100: God takes back the gifts that people don’t want
Luke 19:1-10 (AD 30) Zacchaeus may or may not have been chubby like he is in many Sunday School materials pictures, but he definitely wasn’t a sweet guy. He was pretty much a scumbag and admitted it during this story. In Roman-occupied Israel, tax collectors were paid a set and relatively low wage for collecting … More Day 99: Zacchaeus was a scumbag
Matthew 20:20-34 (AD 30) The opposition were bigger than my son’s team, and a couple of them were girls who looked several years older than the allowed age grouping. And they were violent. For the first half of the game our boys couldn’t quite believe a.) how much they were being kicked and b.) how … More Day 98: Service is leadership is service
Matthew 20:1-19 (AD 30) ‘Do you feel ignored by your network operator? Do they only chase after new business? Do they even care about you? Come to us and we’ll give discounts to our loyal customers. Come join the XYZ Network family…’ etc… That’s been a common advertising tack over the years, playing on your … More Day 97: God’s justice is better and his mercy is bigger than yours
Matthew 19:16-30 (AD 30) (A paraphrased, relocated version of today’s passage:) A Young, Important (and oddly pushy) Man (YIM) and a Pastor were at a dinner party… YIM: ‘You’re a religious, Bible teacher guy, I’m a really good guy. You can probably confirm this for me: what good thing, religious ritual, whatever…do you think I … More Day 96: Young, important and oddly pushy
Paul T Reynolds 