“But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with His finger. When they went on questioning Him, He straightened up and said to them, ‘If any one of you is without sin, let him be first to throw a stone at her’” (John 8:6-7). It is not known what Jesus wrote on …
Day 19 – The Temple Courts: Casting the First Stone Read More »
“Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes” (Matthew 11:21). Once it was an important city, but today it lies in ruins. In Jesus’ day, Korazin was part of the …
Day 20 – Korazin: The Danger of Knowing Too Much Read More »
“Jesus had to go through Samaria” (John 4:4) Geography helps us understand this story: In Jesus’ day there were three regions stacked on top of one another. There was Galilee in the north, Samaria in the middle, and Judea in the south. The easiest and quickest way to get to Galilee from Judea was to …
“Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God in a loud voice. He fell on his face, giving thanks to Jesus. And he was a Samaritan” (Luke 17:15-16) There were ten lepers cleansed Luke tells us, but only the one came back to give thanks. The story …
“Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as He made His way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, ‘Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?”’ (Luke 13:22-23) We can never tire of asking this question, can we? This last presidential election raised the question once again. The golden Trump has put …
Day 23 – In the Villages: How Many Will Be Saved? Read More »
“Yes, Lord she said, “but even the dogs eat crumbs that fall from their master’s table” (Matthew 15:27). This episode takes place in “the region of Tyre and Sidon” (v.21), two Gentile cities located north of Israel in Phoenicia, in modern day Lebanon. They were often condemned in the Old Testament because of their association …
“When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” Is this not a strange question? Surely, he wants to be made whole (healed). Or maybe not. Jesus had come to Jerusalem during one of the yearly feasts. …
Day 25 – Pool of Bethesda: Do You Want to Get Well? Read More »
“For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.” (Mark 8:35). Beloved, you have to make up your mind sooner or later. That is true always, isn’t it? You can think about a job offer for a while, but eventually you’ve …
“And He was transfigured before them, and His face shone like the sun, and His clothes become white as light. Matthew 17:2 Sometimes chapter division comes in bad places. This is a good example of that. At the end of Matthew 16, Jesus reveals to His disciples the truth about His coming crucifixion. Peter flatly …
“Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, ‘I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24) They called it one of the greatest upsets in the history of March Madness. It happened on March 16, 2012 when the Lehigh Mountain Hawks played the Duke Blue Devils. To say Duke was heavily favored is putting …
Day 28 – Down from the Mountain: Suspend Disbelief Read More »