Category: Bible Insights

Reflections and meditations about the Bible by Peter DeHaan, PhD.

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Two to Emmaus

Two to Emmaus...and the Mysterious Stranger: Jesus

…and the Mysterious Stranger

Today’s passage: Mark 16:12–13 and Luke 24:13–18

Focus verse: As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them. (Luke 24:15)

John doesn’t mention that two of Jesus’s followers make a trip to Emmaus.

While Mark mentions this briefly, Luke gives us the full story. And a most delightful story it is. It’s so packed with interesting details that we’ll take the next several days to cover it.

Luke tells us that the same day of Jesus’s resurrection, two of his followers head for the town of Emmaus. This is the only passage in the Bible to mention Emmaus.

All we know about it is that it’s seven miles (10 kilometers) from Jerusalem. It would take about three hours to walk.

One of the two men is Cleopas. The Bible doesn’t tell us any more about him either. But at least we know his name, which is more than we can say for his traveling companion.

As they walk along, they talk about what’s on their mind. Jesus, the man they followed as the expected Messiah, died. This single predominant thought preoccupies them.

Like Mary Magdalene, they wonder what to do next. This may even be why they’re headed to Emmaus. It might be where they’re from. At the very least, they have friends or family there.

How dejected they must feel as they plod along on their journey.

And as they walk, Jesus comes up alongside them and joins them on their trip. But they don’t recognize him.

It may be they don’t see him because they don’t expect to. In their mind he is dead. Or perhaps his appearance in resurrected form is different enough to confuse them. Or maybe Jesus blocks them from seeing who he really is.

Regardless, he asks what they’re discussing.

They stop walking, their faces downcast. Incredulous, Cleopas asks the man if he’s the only one visiting Jerusalem who doesn’t know what happened.

By design, a Roman crucifixion was a public event. They wanted everyone to know what happens to dissidents and troublemakers. This knowledge would serve as a most effective deterrent for anyone who wanted to oppose Roman rule.

In addition, Jesus was a public figure. Surely everyone in the area knew of his crucifixion—everyone, that is, except for this mysterious stranger.

Questions:

  • How do we respond to someone we meet who doesn’t know about Jesus?
  • How do we react when our life takes an unexpected turn, as it did for Cleopas and his friend?

Prayer: Jesus, when we don’t know what to do, may we always turn to you.

Celebrate the resurrection of Jesus and his return to heaven in The Victory of Jesus. The Victory of Jesus is another book in Peter DeHaan’s beloved Holiday Celebration Bible Study Series. Get your copy today.

Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

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Returning to the Tomb

Seek Jesus: Who Will Roll Away the Stone?

Who Will Roll Away the Stone?

Today’s passage: John 20:1, along with Matthew 28:1, Mark 16:1–3, and Luke 24:1

Focus verse: Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb. (John 20:1)

With the Sabbath over, Mary Magdalene can again do manual labor. She returns to Jesus’s tomb, intending to anoint his body.

She and the other Mary prepared spices before the Sabbath, rested on the Sabbath, and now she’s ready to complete her work on the first day of the week.

Mark gives us the most detail about what happens.

He writes that besides Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James (possibly also called the other Mary) and Salome go with her. It’s early in the day, with the sun having just risen.

As the trio makes their way to the tomb, a critical concern occurs to them. “Who will roll away the stone from the tomb?”

Who indeed.

Just two days earlier, the women stood there watching Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus place Jesus’s body in the tomb and roll a large stone in front of the entrance.

Did the women forget this important detail until this moment? Or did they realize it and decide to keep their concern to themselves? Perhaps each one hopes one of the other two has a plan to remove this obstacle.

But the three of them are no match for this massive stone. They won’t be able to move it by themselves. Unless someone else does this for them, they cannot complete their mission. This would make their preparations and journey in vain.

Despite not knowing what they’ll do, however, they press forward.

Do they expect to find someone there to help them? Do they pray God will provide a solution to their dilemma? Might they have a backup plan if they can’t get to Jesus’s body this morning?

Whatever the case, they proceed. What other choice do they have? They can’t quit. Jesus deserves better.

Questions:

  • When have we planned something without considering the obstacles we would face?
  • How do we react when we find a stone blocking our path?

Prayer: Father God, when we face obstacles on the path you give us, fill us with the needed courage—and the faith—to persist.

Celebrate the resurrection of Jesus and his return to heaven in The Victory of Jesus. The Victory of Jesus is another book in Peter DeHaan’s beloved Holiday Celebration Bible Study Series. Get your copy today.

Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

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How to Find Strength in God

find strength in God

David Found Strength in God When His Men Wanted to Kill Him

When David and his men return from battle, they find that the Amalekites had raided their base, taken their families, and stolen all their belongings. David’s men are mad, and they blame him.

They’re so inflamed with anger that they talk about killing their leader. How does David respond?

He finds strength in God.

Though I’ve been in difficult situations and encountered people who hated me, no one’s ever threatened to kill me, so I can’t fully understand David’s situation.

But I can comprehend his response. David seeks to find strength in God. That’s all he needs to get through the situation.

If strength in God was all David needed when he faced people who wanted to kill him, we can also find strength in God for the difficulties we encounter.

But what does that mean? How can we find strength in God?

Through Trust We Can Find Strength in God

When we have a relationship with God, we have a history we can draw from when things get difficult. We know how he’s helped us in the past and that gives us confidence that we can trust him to help us with the present—regardless of the situation.

Through Faith We Can Find Strength in God

Coupled with trust is faith. By faith and through faith we can hold on with certainty that God will provide for us. He will never abandon us or fail us.

He will give us what we need, when we need it. Faith gives us an assurance, a certainty, that we can place our hope in him, and he will never let us down.

Through Prayer We Can Find Strength in God

We can seek God in prayer, asking him to strengthen us when we are weak, when we are needy, and when we are afraid.

If we talk to God on a regular basis when things are good, this gives us confidence in approaching him when things are difficult.

Yes, God hears and responds to our pleas in desperation, even if that’s the only time we seek him, but how much easier this is when we share all our life with him through prayer.

Find Strength in God

We can find strength in God when we need him. This isn’t hard. It involves trust, faith, and prayer. And the more often we find our strength in God, the easier it becomes.

We can turn to God and seek him when we face life’s difficulties. We can find strength in God.

[Read through the Bible this year. Today’s reading is 1 Samuel 29-31, and today’s post is on 1 Samuel 30:6.]

Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

Bogged Down Reading the Bible?

10 Essential Bible Reading Tips, from Peter DeHaan

Get the Bible Reading Tip Sheet: “10 Tips to Turn Bible Reading from Drudgery to Delight.”
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​Enter your info and receive the free Bible Reading Tip Sheet and be added to Peter’s email list.

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Easter Sunday

Read What Scripture Says about Jesus's Resurrection

He Has Risen!

Today’s passage: John 20:1–18

Focus verse: Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” (John 20:18)

Jesus dies. His body is prepared for burial and his human shell is placed in a tomb. A large stone seals the entrance.

But this isn’t the end. In many respects, it’s the beginning. Three days later, he rises from the dead. Here’s what happens:

After his death, Jesus’s body is laid hastily in the tomb before the start of the Sabbath. With the Sabbath now over, Mary Magdalene heads to the tomb early the next morning, while it’s still dark.

When she arrives, she’s shocked at what she sees. The stone that blocked access to his tomb is no longer there. This isn’t what she expected.

She runs to tell Peter and John (the disciple Jesus loved) what she assumes happened: “They’ve taken Jesus’s body from the tomb, and I don’t know where they put him.”

Peter and John run to Jesus’s grave. John gets there first and peers inside. When Peter arrives, he goes right in. The burial cloths are there, but Jesus’s body is gone.

Seeing for themselves, they believe what Mary said—that his body is gone—and they leave.

Mary, however, stays at the tomb, tears flowing. She sees two angels inside. They ask her why she’s crying. “They’ve taken my Lord away, and I don’t know where they moved him.”

Jesus—now very much alive—walks up behind her. “Why are you crying?”

She assumes he’s the gardener and asks where he moved the body.

Jesus calls her by name. “Mary.”

She turns to him and cries out in relief.

Jesus tells her to go and tell the disciples he’s alive and will soon return to his Father in heaven. In doing so, Jesus tasks Mary to deliver the most important message throughout all history. “Jesus is alive! He has risen from the dead!”

Though her culture doesn’t accept a woman’s testimony, Jesus doesn’t care. Mary will serve fine as his messenger.

This makes her the first missionary to tell others the good news about Jesus, that he has risen.

We call this day Easter when we celebrate his resurrection from the tomb. A better label is Resurrection Sunday.

On this first Resurrection Sunday, Jesus is victorious over the finality of death. This proves his mastery over the grave. Through this resurrection power he provides, we, too, can rise from the dead. And if we follow Jesus, we will.

Then we’ll live with him and Father God forever.

Questions:

  • What can we do to celebrate what Jesus did when he died and rose again?
  • How can we best tell others about him?

Prayer: Jesus, may we celebrate your victory over death when you rose from the dead. May we tell others the good news.

Celebrate the resurrection of Jesus and his return to heaven in The Victory of Jesus. The Victory of Jesus is another book in Peter DeHaan’s beloved Holiday Celebration Bible Study Series. Get your copy today.

Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

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Saul Squanders What God Gives Him

Saul squanders

Even If God Sets Us Up for Success, We’ll Fail If We Don’t Obey Him

God’s chosen people, the nation of Israel, ask for a king. This isn’t what God wants, but he gives them what they request. He gives them a king.

At God’s direction, Samuel anoints Saul as king, appointing him ruler over God’s people and their nation.

To prove this is God’s doing, Samuel makes three prophetic promises to confirm that God’s hand is in this. They all happen.

The final one is that the Holy Spirit will empower Saul, and he will prophesy. Then God will change him into a different person, presumably a person ready to lead well and keep them focused on God.

The Holy Spirit does indeed come upon Saul, he prophesies, and his heart changes. Samuel presents Saul to the people with the confirmation that there is no one like him in the entire nation.

This means Saul is unique and equipped to be king, Israel’s first king (1 Samuel 10:1, 6, 9, 24).

God gives Saul a promising start. He’s poised to lead well. But despite God’s provision. Saul squanders what God gave him.

Instead of trusting God and instead of doing what Samuel—Saul’s spiritual guide—tells him to do, he worries and grows impatient.

He ignores Samuel’s instructions, and even worse, he disobeys God’s law.

And it only takes a few chapters in 1 Samuel for this to occur. Saul repeatedly shows he’s not the man God wants as king. By the time we get to chapter 15, God has enough of the disobedient king.

God tells Samuel, “I’m distressed I made Saul king.

He’s not following me anymore and doesn’t do what I say” (1 Samuel 15:10-11). Later Samuel confronts Saul and tells him that because he rejected God’s words, that God rejects him as king (1 Samuel 15:23).

Though Saul had a great start as king and was positioned to be a great one, his lack of trust in God and disobedience causes his downfall. Despite what God gave him, Saul squanders God’s favor and doesn’t finish well.

[Read through the Bible this year. Today’s reading is 1 Samuel 8-10, and today’s post is on 1 Samuel 10:1, 6, 9, 24.]

Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

Bogged Down Reading the Bible?

10 Essential Bible Reading Tips, from Peter DeHaan

Get the Bible Reading Tip Sheet: “10 Tips to Turn Bible Reading from Drudgery to Delight.”
​
​Enter your info and receive the free Bible Reading Tip Sheet and be added to Peter’s email list.

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What Does the Bible Say About Easter?

Each Gospel Account Confirms that Jesus Rose from the Dead

Read What Scripture Says about Jesus’s Resurrection

Happy Easter! And Happy Resurrection Day!

Today is the time when we remember—and celebrate—Jesus overcoming death and rising from the dead.

Each gospel account of Jesus in the Bible tells us about Easter:

Matthew

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. 

“Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him’’ (Matthew 28:5-7).

Mark

“Don’t be alarmed,” [the angel] said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him” (Mark 16:6).

Luke

“Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!

Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again’” (Luke 24:5-6).

John

Simply confirms that the tomb where Jesus’ body lay was found to be empty, John simply records that he then appeared to Mary Magdalene, ten of the disciples, and lastly to Thomas, thereby confirming his resurrection from the grave (John 20).

Have a Happy Easter!

Celebrate the resurrection of Jesus and his return to heaven in The Victory of Jesus. The Victory of Jesus is another book in Peter DeHaan’s beloved Holiday Celebration Bible Study Series. Get your copy today.

Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

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Have a Good Friday

Have a Good Friday

Happy Good Friday

Today is Good Friday. Happy Good Friday! Seriously.

Today is the day we remember Jesus’ sacrifice so that we could be made right with God. It stands as the ultimate sacrifice to end all sacrifices.

For many people, Good Friday is a solemn day, in which we take time to gratefully recall how Jesus was mistreated, abused, and ultimately killed—for our benefit to make us right with Father God.

The intensity of his suffering is powerfully captured in Mel Gibson’s 2004 movie, The Passion of the Christ. If you’ve not seen it, today would be an ideal time to do so. And if you have seen it, today would be a perfect time to watch it again.

Fortunately, the story doesn’t end with Jesus dying on the cross or even dead and buried in the tomb.

In two days we will joyfully celebrate Easter, commemorating when Jesus overcame death, painting the picture of what is in store for all who follow him.

Easter, better called Resurrection Sunday, remembers Jesus defeating death by rising from the dead.

It is in knowing what happens next, that I can say, Happy Good Friday! Though it wasn’t a happy day for Jesus, it is a happy day for us.

Thank you Jesus for who you are and what you did to save us these many years ago.

Discover more about celebrating Jesus and his passion to save us in Peter’s new book, The Passion of Jesus. It is part of the Holiday Celebration Bible Study Series.

Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

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Jesus’s Triumphal Entry

On Palm Sunday We Celebrate Jesus's Triumphal Entry.

Today’s passage: Matthew 21:7–11, Mark 11:7–11, Luke 19:35–38, and John 12:12–16

Focus verse: The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” (Matthew 21:9)

Having secured the colt for him to ride, the disciples lay their coats on the donkey as a makeshift saddle for Jesus. Mark and Luke tell us that no one had ever ridden the colt.

Therefore, the animal has never carried anything on its back and would instinctively buck if someone tried to mount it. Yet Jesus climbs on with no problem.

As Jesus rides into Jerusalem, the people spread their coats on the road, a traditional gesture worthy of a king (see 2 Kings 9:13). Those without a coat cut branches to lie in the road (see Leviticus 23:40).

Only John says these branches are from palm trees. Even so, we call Jesus’s triumphal entry Palm Sunday.

Jesus’s grand entry into Jerusalem parallels that of a victorious king returning from battle, riding on a donkey, which signifies him coming in peace. Jesus likewise rides into Jerusalem. The people hail him as their king.

They call out their praises to Jesus. “Hosanna to the Son of David!”

Though we now think of hosanna as proclaiming praise, the word means “save,” as in “save us” or “Lord, save us” (see Psalm 118:25).

The people see Jesus as their Savior. However, they perceive him as a physical savior, a military hero who will rescue them from Roman oppression. They don’t understand he is a spiritual savior who will rescue them from sin’s oppression.

“Blessed is he who comes in the Lord’s name,” they shout (see Psalm 118:26). “Hosanna in the highest heaven.”

Mark gives us a fourth line: “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” While Luke adds, “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

As this grand procession approaches Jerusalem, they create quite a stir. This grabs the people’s attention. They ask in amazement, “Who is this?”

The throng responds, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee” (see Deuteronomy 18:15).

Luke adds that the Pharisees implore Jesus to silence the people’s adoration. He doesn’t. Instead, he says that if the people keep quiet, the stones will instead cry out in praise of him (see Habakkuk 2:11).

Mark includes another detail. He says that after his triumphant entry into Jerusalem, Jesus goes to the temple courts and looks around. But since the day is late, he leaves.

What he sees there, however, foreshadows what we’ll cover later on.

What none of the accounts mention is the two disciples returning the donkey and her colt after Jesus’s triumphal entry. I’m sure they do, but confirmation would be nice.

Questions

  • What have we borrowed that we need to return?
  • How do we better trust Jesus as our Savior?

Prayer: Jesus, may we follow you as our Savior. May our praise be as exuberant now as what we read in today’s passage.

Discover more about celebrating Jesus and his passion to save us in Peter’s new book, The Passion of Jesus. It is part of the Holiday Celebration Bible Study Series.

Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

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Women in the Bible: Jephthah’s Daughter

Jephthah’s daughter

We don’t know the name of Jephthah’s daughter, but we do lament what happened to her, all the while applauding the honorable way she accepts her fate, showing her faith and confidence in God in the process.

Here’s her brief story:

When the elders of Gilead ask Jephthah to lead them into battle against their enemies, he makes a rash vow to God that, upon his successful return, he will sacrifice the first thing he sees as a burnt offering to God.

He is victorious. However, to his dismay, the first thing he sees when he arrives home is his daughter, his only child, who dances in celebration. He laments his foolish promise to God.

Yet, to her credit, Jephthah’s daughter doesn’t protest her father’s carelessness with her life. Instead she confirms he must act. Her only request is a two month delay to mourn her fate with her friends.

Then Jephthah does has he vowed.

What is unclear is if Jephthah literally sacrifices his daughter, something Moses prohibited, or if her life is redeemed for service to God, similar to Hannah’s giving of Samuel to serve God in the temple.

Regardless of what happened, it’s clear Jephthah’s daughter will not enjoy the future she expected, but she willingly accepts the consequences of her father’s promise to God.

We commend her for her pious attitude, all the while being reminded to take care in what we say.

[Read through the Bible with us this year. Today’s reading is Judges 10-12, and today’s post is on Judges 11:30-40.]

Learn about other biblical women in Women of the Bible, available in e-book, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.

Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

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Borrow a Donkey for Jesus

Would You “Borrow” a Donkey for Jesus?

The Teacher Makes a Big Ask

Today’s passage: Matthew 21:1–6, Mark 11:1–10, and Luke 19:28–34

Focus verse: “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me.” (Matthew 21:2)

As Jesus and his followers approach Jerusalem, he sends two of his disciples on a mission. He sends them to borrow a donkey and its colt.

Though they don’t know the reason for this request, he plans to ride the colt into Jerusalem. This will fulfill the Old Testament prophecy that the king will come to them—righteous and victorious—riding the foal of a donkey (Zechariah 9:9).

Jesus doesn’t tell the pair to seek the owner and ask permission first, which seems like the proper thing to do. Instead, he tells them what to say if questioned. This implies they will, in fact, be stopped and quizzed.

When we consider this request in a modern context, what he asks them to do is even more astounding. It would be like Jesus telling us to take someone’s bicycle or even a car.

Certainly, this would be a risky thing to do, as we could be arrested and prosecuted for stealing—for taking what isn’t ours. I’d certainly balk at Jesus’s instruction. I’m not sure I’d be willing to break the law for him.

As for his disciples, they don’t question him. They obey. They are, however, no doubt familiar with the Old Testament law that stipulates the punishment for taking someone’s donkey.

The penalty is to pay back double, to make a two-fold restitution for having a stolen donkey (Exodus 22:4) or being in the illegal possession of one (Exodus 22:9). They are to not even covet—that is, to want—it (Exodus 20:17).

Although Mark and Luke say that Jesus tells them to take the colt, Matthew notes that Jesus tells them to take both the donkey and her colt. This makes sense.

The donkey is trained and will go wherever they lead her, with the colt following along. But the colt alone may fight them for trying to separate it from its mother. So, in this case, they take two donkeys, which would require a restitution of four animals.

Yet, the disciples do as Jesus instructed. And they do so without question or hesitation.

Mark and Luke both mention that people nearby question what the disciples are doing. I suspect they know who owns the pair of animals—and it isn’t the disciples. But the disciples don’t explain.

They say what Jesus tells them to say. “The Lord needs them and will send them back shortly.”

The people accept this.

Questions

  • What does the Lord need us to do?
  • What is our response when God tells us to do something that makes no sense or is even illegal? (Would you borrow a donkey for Jesus?)

Prayer: Lord, may we hear you, listen, and obey—in all situations and at all times.

Discover more about celebrating Jesus and his passion to save us in Peter’s new book, The Passion of Jesus. It is part of the Holiday Celebration Bible Study Series.

Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.