Jesus Gives 5 Traits Believers Will Have Today’s passage: Mark 16:15–18 Focus verse: “And these signs will accompany those who believe . . .” (Mark 16:17) Mark also records Jesus’s parting remarks to his disciples. This passage is not well known. It’s mostly ignored. I don’t recall ever hearing a sermon about it. The likely reason is that […]
The Alpha and Omega Today’s passage: Revelation 22:12–16 Focus verse: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” (Revelation 22:13) This passage in Revelation records Jesus’s words, and it’s his final teaching in the Bible. As such, it deserves our careful attention. Jesus comes with his reward, […]
Focus on Jesus and Don’t Worry about Others Today’s passage: John 21:20–23 Focus verse: When Peter saw [John], he asked, “Lord, what about him?” (John 21:21) After restoring Peter into a right relationship with him, Jesus adds a cryptic line that implies Peter will die by crucifixion when he is older. This must make Peter […]
Discover How Jesus Fulfills Old Testament Prophecy Today’s passage: Luke 24:44–47 Focus verse: Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. (Luke 24:45) After Jesus appears to the disciples, Luke records additional details not found in John’s account. The risen Savior begins with a polite I-told-you-so reminder to his disciples of what […]
Today’s passage: Luke 24:19–24 Focus verse: “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people.” (Luke 24:19) Jesus pretends he doesn’t know what the men on the road to Emmaus are talking about. Though I’m uncomfortable saying that Jesus plays dumb, that’s essentially what he does. “What things?” he […]
Jesus Did Not Come to Abolish the Law and the Prophets Too many people who read and study the Bible focus on the New Testament and dismiss the Old as no longer relevant. Yet we are wise to embrace the Old Testament. When we do, we’ll develop a greater understanding of God and who he […]
Jesus Has Risen! Today’s passage: John 20:1, along with Matthew 28:2–4, Mark 16:4, and Luke 24:2–3 Focus verse: Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. (John 20:1) John, Mark, and Luke all simply write that when Mary Magdalene and her friends arrive at the tomb, […]
A New Heaven and a New Earth Today’s passage: Revelation 21:1–8 Focus verse: Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. (Revelation 21:1) We receive John’s vision of a new heaven and a new earth with much excitement. The original version, courtesy of God’s […]
We’ve Lost Christmas as a Spiritual Celebration. Let’s Not Lose Easter Too Recently some groups have banned Easter egg hunts—not the activity but the name. Concerned pundits decry this as political correctness gone awry or the timid majority kowtowing to the vocal minority. Although “spring egg hunt” sounds lame, this new label doesn’t dismay me. […]
Without Good Friday, There Would be No Easter At one time, my dad received his paycheck every other week, on the last day of the workweek. With a smile, he called each of these paydays good Friday. (And he called the other Fridays Passover!) Dad enjoyed good Friday twenty-six times a year. Some years the […]