'Jesus' Tagged Posts (Page 5)
Daily Devotions
John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” vs. 4 Mark 1:1-4 When Mark wrote his gospel, very likely the first of the four we have in the New Testament, he didn’t include any stories about angels or shepherds or the birth of a baby in Bethlehem. Perhaps he hadn’t heard of such things. But he does know about John the baptizer and his ministry in the wilderness of Judea, and…
Daily Devotions
But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day.” vs. 8 2 Peter 3:8-10 Climate change has been accelerating in recent years and there is continuing debate around the world about what needs to be done. Some say that the survival of humanity is at stake, and that unless drastic steps are taken to eliminate the use of fossil fuels there will…
Daily Devotions
Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come.” vs. 33 Mark 13:32-37 The emphasis on keeping alert in the apocalyptic teaching of Jesus is puzzling to some. They wonder why it’s so important to keep awake, and why the sleeping would be excluded when the faithful are gathered into the kingdom. We’d expect that if the Lord returns in clouds with multitudes of accompanying angels there’d be such a stir that even the dead would…
Daily Devotions
So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates.” vs. 29 Mark 13:24-31 We don’t need to be particularly alert to know that Christmas is near. Black Friday with all its sales and promotions has come and gone. All the best trees have already disappeared from the well-lit lots on the strategic corners near shopping centers. Yards are being decorated with blow-up sleighs and reindeer–men and women are risking their…
Daily Devotions
God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” vs. 9 1 Corinthians 1:7-9 The faithfulness of God has been so woven into the fabric of the universe that we often don’t even see or recognize it. It’s just there: the sun rises, the earth continues on its journey through space, the rains and snows come, and life flourishes in spite of our careless stewardship. Most of the time we don’t…
Daily Devotions
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” vs. 3 1 Corinthians 1:3-6 Paul began his letters to the congregations by wishing them God’s grace and peace and his words have found their way into worship liturgies as an ultra-familiar part of the ritual. Preachers frequently begin their sermons in the same way, almost as a signal to folks in the pews to settle down and start listening because the homily is about to…
Daily Devotions
Yet, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.” vs. 8 Isaiah 64:1-9 The prophet was no fool. He knew that the people of Israel had not been living up to divine standards. In fact, no one was even praying anymore and even good deeds were no more than filthy rags. So he recognizes that the Lord has a right to indignation, and may be…
Daily Devotions
And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’” vs. 40 Matthew 25:37-45 There are a growing number of believers around the world who are beginning to refer to themselves as Matthew 25 Christians. For them that closing parable in chapter 25 of Matthew’s gospel is the defining teaching of Jesus’ entire ministry. In their estimation…
Daily Devotions
for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” vss. 35-36 Matthew 25:31-46 Matthew concludes his account of the teaching ministry of Jesus with a parable depicting the last judgment. All nations are gathered before the throne…
Daily Devotions
I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ… may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you…” vss. 7-8a Ephesians 1:15-23 Paul doesn’t seem to have known the people that he was writing to, but he has certainly heard of their faith, and he regularly includes them in his prayers…
Daily Devotions
Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan.” vss. 15-16 Luke 17:11-19 The ten lepers were not healed instantaneously. Jesus had only told them to go and show themselves to the priests, and it was as they were on the way that healing came. And then only one of them came back to give thanks…
Daily Devotions
But you, beloved, are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief; for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness.” vss. 4-5 1 Thessalonians 5:1-5 Like other followers of Jesus in the mid-first century Paul was looking for the Day of the Lord, which he understood as the imminent return of Jesus. But as he wrote to his friends in Thessalonica, he described…