The Bible Study Program (audio): Recent Episodes
Miller Avenue Church
With a large crowd gathering, Peter points back to King David, who foresaw that the Messiah would be resurrected and that what the crowd witnessed—the tongue speaking and praise of the apostles—was the work of the Holy Spirit.
Peter defends the accusation that the “tongue speaking” is due to drunkenness by saying it is only 9 am, then he goes to Joel chapter 2 saying what is seen is prophetic. Then he moves on his first sermon showing that what was observed is a fulfillment of prophesy.
With the gathering of the disciples, the Holy Spirit fell on them and they began to speak in other tongues, which amazed them all. Those non-followers of Jesus thought the speakers were drunk.
The apostles, again met in the “upper room” in a house in Jerusalem where they had often gathered, and Peter stared it was necessary to replace Judas who betrayed Jesus, and the “lot” fell on Matthias, a person who had been with them from the early days.
The Twelve, now Eleven, gathered together, in the presence of Jesus, wanted to know when the kingdom of God would be restored to Israel. Jesus told them to wait in the city until the Holy Spirit would empower them.
Luke, the Gentile author of the Gospel of Luke, educated as a physician, undertakes to write a history of the early church. His first volume is the Gospel of Luke, the only account of Jesus’ life written by a non-Jew.
To conclude his letter to the Ephesians, he urges putting on the full armor of God, from the helmet to the sword, and more. Then the ending, a final greeting, and we see Luke’s care for those who will read his epistle.
Paul urges children, basically those still living at home, to obey their parents, and also exhorts parents to treat their children in a godly manner. In that era, 1st century Common Era, about 1/3 of the population were slaves, and Paul writes so that both master and slave treat each other in a Christlike manner.
Marriage among Gentiles, and it is to these Paul is writing, was a far cry from the original intent of the Creator, which Paul now presents to his Gentile (Greek cultured) readers.
Paul now describes how Christians are to live their lives as children of God, walking in love, and this is “agape” love, this love that led Jesus to die for our sins on the cross.
Paul, writing primarily to Gentile Christians, brings them much of what is presented in Exodus 20 with its 10 Commandments, translating these key points.
One of the most profound passages in all of Paul’s letters, here the basic nature of the church—the Body of Christ—is described, along with its functions.
ministry was casting out demons. Kent Philpott and Mark Buckley, Founding Pastor of Living Streams Church, Phoenix, AZ attempt to familiarize and demystify the topic of demonology based on their years of hands-on experience with deliverance ministry.
Pastor Kent Philpott gives an overview of the Bible — how we got it, what it contains, who wrote parts of it — and concentrates in Part 2 on the New Testament.
Kent Philpott gives an overview of the Bible - How we got it, what books are in it, focusing on the Old Testament in Part 1 of What is the Bible?
The paradox concerning Jesus is that He is both God and human (man) at once. Beyond our ability to grasp this, however, it is clearly laid out in the Scripture, both Old and New Testaments. We see this in His miracles and in His death on the cross.
ministry was casting out demons. Kent Philpott and Mark Buckley, Founding Pastor of Living Streams Church, Phoenix, AZ attempt to familiarize and demystify the topic of demonology based on their years of hands-on experience with deliverance ministry.
ministry was casting out demons. Kent Philpott and Mark Buckley, Founding Pastor of Living Streams Church, Phoenix, AZ attempt to familiarize and demystify the topic of demonology based on their years of hands-on experience with deliverance ministry.
Paul prays that those who follow Jesus in Ephesus and the larger region will understand the depths of love the Father has for all those who are in Christ.
Jesus, crucified, buried on Friday, that day known as “Good Friday,” was raised on the third day, Sunday. He did not raise Himself, but was raised from the dead by God the Father and then appeared first to Mary Magdalene and several other women, then to His disciples.
Paul, a prisoner in a Roman prison, writes to the Church at Ephesus, speaks of the mystery of the Gospel, that word of forgiveness and salvation, now also given to and presented to Gentiles.
Paul explains that Jews and Gentiles are now One in Christ. Paul in Acts 21 is even arrested in the Temple for bringing a Gentile inside it. Now all this has changed as salvation belongs to both Jew and Gentile.
To his readers, both the believers in Ephesus and beyond, Paul makes it clear that no one is forgiven and given the gift of eternal life by anything a person can do. The greatest gift is eternal life, given to us by Him alone.
Paul, while in prison in Rome, about the year 62 AD, has heard of the faithfulness of other churches and sends out a letter to encourage these followers of Jesus.
Paul greets the saints in Ephesus and speaks of the believers blessing they have in Christ, as He chose us to believe in Him. Then proceeds to explain the nature of what we inherit in Christ Jesus.
Luke, the author of Acts, describes the conversion of Saul, later to be known by his Hellenistic name, Paul, which occurs as Saul travels to Damascus in Syria to persecute those there who had believed Jesus was the Messiah sent from the Father.
Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus so that he might bury Him. Given permission, Joseph wrapped Jesus’ body in a linen shroud. Jesus was then buried. This was on a Friday. Saturday went by, then on Sunday morning early, some of Jesus’ women followers were shown His empty tomb.
At noon, Jesus has been on the cross now 3 hours, all went dark until 3pm. Six hours He was on that cross. Following His last breath, the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Mark reports that there were several women close by who witnessed Jesus’ death.
Roman soldiers treat Jesus so very cruelly now that Pilate has allowed His execution. Taking Jesus to the site of where a cross awaited Jesus, and He along with two others sentenced to death, Jesus is placed upon the cross.
Only Pilate, the Roman procurator or chief authority, could have Jesus put to death, thus it was necessary for Jesus’ opponents to bring Him to Pilate, who then allows Jesus to be crucified.
Having gained entrance into the high priest’s house, Peter denies to one of the high priest’s servant girls that he knows Jesus. Then comes the same accusation by other “bystanders.” Then, as Jesus predicted, a rooster crows a second time. Peter was then overcome with grief.
Having been captured in the Garden, Jesus is brought first before Annas, the retired high priest, then Caiaphas, the present high priest, who accuses Jesus being a blasphemer and thus worth of death.
While in the Garden of Gethsemane, on the Mount of Olives, the Jewish leaders arrest Jesus, with a kiss from Judas, and Jesus is led away. However, a young man, identified as Mark, the author of this Gospel, must flee from Jesus’ captors.
Leaving Jerusalem, Jesus leads His disciples onto the Mount of Olives and warns them that they will all fall away from Him, meaning not stand with Him, and He then tells Peter directly that he will fall away, which he denies, and the rest of them (10) say the same.
On the evening prior to His crucifixion, Jesus, in an unknown location in Jerusalem, celebrates the deliverance from Egypt (Passover) with His disciples, and His followers down through the ages have done the same.
Two days prior to the crucifixion, religious leaders plan to kill Jesus, but not during the upcoming feasts; Jesus at Bethany is anointed by a woman with expensive perfume; and Judas Iscariot connects with the religious leaders on how to kill Jesus.
Jesus uses a commonly understood process of a fig tree bearing fruit to speak of the ending of the age and His return. Yet, no will know when this will occur.
(Second time on this passage) Just a brief time before Jesus’ crucifixion Jesus informs His disciples about the ending of the universe and His return to gather His followers up into heaven.
Jesus uses a commonly understood process of a fig tree bearing fruit to speak of the ending of the age and His return. Yet, no will know when this will occur.
On the way to Jerusalem, brothers James and John, via their mother, request of Jesus that they have positions of power when Jesus comes into His kingdom. Jesus then speaks of what it is to be a slave in His kingdom.
Just a brief time before Jesus’ crucifixion Jesus informs His disciples about the ending of the universe and His return to gather His followers up into heaven.
It is now just a couple of days before the crucifixion, and Jesus speaks with four of His disciples about the ending of the age, that moment when Jesus returns.
Within a very short period before Jesus’ crucifixion, He warns against the hypocrisy of the scribes, then, in the Temple area near the places where money was given for the Temple’s upkeep, He sees a widow give all she has, and then foretells the destruction of that very Temple.
A scribe (lawyer) asks Jesus which commandment is the most important. The man is satisfied with Jesus’ answer, and Jesus responds to him very favorably. Then Jesus speaks to an issue regarding King David and the person of the Messiah.
The Sadducees, a political/religious party who denied life beyond death, seek to compromise Jesus by asking a weird question. Jesus clearly and plainly answers their question by pointing out the reality of resurrection.
Tenants, working for the owner of a vineyard, attempt to keep all the produce of the vineyard and it results in their killing of the son of the owner. Then Jesus counters the Jewish hatred of paying taxes to Caesar.
The Fig tree’s withering troubled the Disciples and Jesus wants His follower to remain faithful. Then at the Temple, some of Israel’s leaders challenge Jesus about His actions at the Temple the day previous.
The day after Jesus and His disciples arrive at Bethany, they head for Jerusalem and on the way, Jesus goes to a fig tree, finds no fruit on it, and then states it will ever have fruit. Then on to the Temple where Jesus “cleanses” the Temple by driving out those who take advantage of worshippers.
On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus with His disciples and many others heals a man—Bartimaeus who is blind. Then Jesus continues on His way.
Show 2 of 2: In the midst of an explosive revival of many different kinds of spiritual and dangerous psychic occult practices, Pastor Kent Philpott warns that involvement can lead to demonic possession. Kent shares stories of his fifty years of personal experience casting out demons— hundreds of times, event virtually!—with people all over the world.
Show 1 of 2: In the midst of an explosive revival of many different kinds of spiritual and dangerous psychic occult practices, Pastor Kent Philpott warns that involvement can lead to demonic possession. Kent shares stories of his fifty years of personal experience casting out demons— hundreds of times, event virtually!—with people all over the world.
On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus begins to tell for the third time that He will be condemned to death and delivered to the Gentiles by the Jewish religious leaders.
A rich young man approaches Jesus and asks what he could do to receive eternal life. Jesus explains it is a giving up of all things, at which, the man walks away, sadly. The Twelve then question Jesus as to what He meant.
Jesus, moving to the area across from Jerusalem, east of the River Jordan, is asked about the issue of divorce, which was a major topic of the day. Also, was the fact that Jesus welcomed children to come to Him, which was a problem for His disciples.
Three sections, the disciples argue about which of them is the “greatest,” then, in regard to someone outside their circle is casting out demons in Jesus’ name, and then a stern warning about being tempted to sinning.
Following the return of Jesus, along with Peter, James, and John, they return to the 9 apostles who struggle with casting a demon out of a boy, which Jesus proceeds to do. Then, for a second time, Jesus states that He will be killed yet would rise.
Jesus, taking only Peter, James, and John with Him, ascend up a high mountain, likely Mt. Hermon, near Damascus, and there appear to Him Elijah and Moses. Then a voice from heaven announced that Jesus was His beloved Son.
Traveling north of Galilee, Jesus asks His disciples who people say that He is, and Peter, likely speaking for the Twelve, says that He is the Christ. Then Jesus states that He will be killed but would rise again, whereupon Peter rebukes Jesus, who then turns and rebukes Peter.
It was not enough for the Pharisees that Jesus did great miracles; they demanded more. Jesus then warns against the influence of both the Pharisees and Herod, which were backed by the Sadducees; then Jesus heals a Gentile man in a rather unusual manner.
While in the region of Tyre and Sidon, a deaf man, who can barely speak, is brought to Jesus who then heals him, which astonishes the crowds. Then Jesus again feeds thousands, this time 4,000 people.
Two stories: first Jesus counters the thinking and practice of the Pharisees and Sadducees, who revel in appearances and actions and asserts that what comes out of a person and not what goes into a person is what matters. Then the account of a Greek woman, in the region of Tyre and Sidon, who implores Jesus to heal her little daughter who has a demon in her.
Jesus’s popularity continues to grow, and any who touched even the fringe of His garment are healed. In stark contrast now, the Pharisee religious leaders accuse Him of disregarding the traditions and commandments which they hold in high regard.
Two stories: one of Jesus feeding 5,000 people who had come to hear Him with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish and with 12 baskets of fragments left over. Next, the twelve apostles see Jesus walking on water.
Mark takes us through the conclusion of the work of John the Baptist and how a new wife of Herod Antipas, ruling in Galilee, wanted to have John killed.
Having returned to His hometown, Nazareth, and while teaching in the local synagogue, Jesus is not respected, and this amazed Him. He then sends out the twelve, two by two, and they report doing healings and casting out demons.
Jesus returns to Galilee and is greeted by a large crowd, in which is Jairus, a leader in the synagogue and whose daughter is near death. He wants Jesus to heal her. On the way to where the young girl is, a woman with a 12-year long illness touches Jesus’ garment and is healed.
Crossing the Sea of Galilee, heading for its eastern shore, a fierce wind with mighty waves comes up, and Jesus calms this, which staggers His disciples. Then on shore, a demon-possessed man comes to Jesus, who expels the demons from the man who is restored to his right mind.
Following the account of how concerned Jesus’ mother and brothers were are four parables and a statement that no one puts a lamp under a basket thus not allowing the light to shine.
Jesus appoints 12 of His disciples to send out to preach and cast out demons. Then He is accosted by scribes from Jerusalem who accuse Him of being in league with Beelzebul, the prince of demons.
In a synagogue in Galilee on a Sabbath, Jesus heals a man with a withered hand while Pharisees were present. Jesus moves to the Sea of Galilee and casts demons out.
The Pharisees, in their attempt to disparage Jesus, point out that John the Baptist and his disciples fasted but Jesus’ followers did not. Then, in regard to Sabbath observances, they point out that Jesus’ disciples ate seeds of grain as they walked through the field, which the Pharisees considered forbidden work.
Mary Magdalen and the “other Mary” visit the tomb where Jesus’ body had been placed and are greeted by an angel who announces that Jesus has been raised from the dead. Also comes a report of the conspiracy of Jesus’ opponents saying that Jesus’ body had been stolen.
John was the only apostle of Jesus present at the crucifixion, along with Mary the mother of Jesus. He saw Jesus’ dying and death, including when His side was pierced with a spear and so saw blood and water gush out of Jesus’ side.
A paralytic, dropped through the roof of Jesus’ home, is healed as Jesus saw the faith of the paralytic and those who opened up the flat roof. Next Jesus calls Levi, a despised tax collector, to follow him. Levi is otherwise known as Matthew.
Still early on in Jesus’ ministry, He engages in three distinct acts: healing those who are ill—in this case, Simon Peter’s mother-in-law—preaches His message, and heals a leper.
At the outset of His ministry following His baptism and the demonic temptation in the wilderness, Jesus calls to Himself four disciples and then promptly in a synagogue casts an unclean spirit out of a man.
Mark presents four events in the early stages of Jesus’ ministry that begins with John’s baptizing, Jesus’ baptism by John, followed by a demonic temptation, and then Jesus sets out on His work.
Who is Mark? When was the Gospel written and to whom? Why no story of the birth of Jesus? Then the opening statement of Mark and his quote from the Prophet of Isaiah.
Paul urges the Galatian Christians to “walk by the Spirit” rather than focus on keeping of the Law of Moses, including circumcision. Rather they are to turn away from the works of the flesh and rather be led by the Spirit.
In the Galatian churches, which Paul had established, there were those who demanded that the Gentiles there should be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses. Paul presents salvation by grace and not by works of the Law.
Paul looks back to the Book of Genesis to show that Isaac, the second son of Abraham but the one God promised to him by Sarah, would be born of the promise of the Messiah. This promise was to come through Isaac and not from Ishmael, the son of Hagar.
Paul urges the Galatian believers in Jesus to stop following the Mosaic Law, since trying to keep it would undermine their trusting in the work of the Son for salvation.
Paul brings the argument that the Law of Moses was not the promise that was to come but was only serving until the coming of Jesus the Messiah, so that we would be saved by means of grace and not the keeping of the Law.
Paul confronts the Galatian Christians and asks whether they received the Spirit of God by keeping the Law or by faith. He then instructs them that those counted as righteous and forgiven will live by faith alone and not by the keeping of the Law.
When Peter came to Antioch Paul directly opposed him, because he had sided with Judaizers, those Jewish believers who believed the Law of Moses must be kept by all. Paul stated that salvation was by faith alone and not by the keeping of the Law.
After 14 years had passed since Paul’s conversion, he traveled to Jerusalem with Barnabas and met with Peter and the other elders, who affirmed Paul’s work and gave the two the “right hand of fellowship.”
No Other Gospel: Paul condemns the outside influence from those who taught that Christians must continue following Mosaic Law, and he saw it as actually deserting God and turning to another gospel. Paul Called by God: Paul lets the Galatians know what happened to him after the Gospel he preached was given to him by God, and that it was known that he was no longer persecuting those who believed Jesus to be the Messiah.
The apostle Paul greets the church at Galatia and states his apostleship is by the will and purpose of God the Father and Jesus Christ and extends grace and peace to them.
Jesus appears to the “eleven” disciples, following His appearance to the two disciples on the Emmaus road and to Peter. He is seen, heard, and touched by the disciples. He then states that these great truths are to be presented by His followers to the world. At that point, after blessing them, He is carried or rises up into heaven.
Two of the early followers of Jesus are heading to Emmaus, NW of Jerusalem, after Jesus’ crucifixion, and He suddenly appears to them and walks and talks with them to Emmaus where He reveals His identity to the two men then immediately disappears.
It is now the third day after the crucifixion, early on Sunday, and a number of women intend to anoint Jesus’ body per custom, only to find the tomb empty. They go to where the apostles are staying, relate what they saw, and the eleven do not believe them, but Peter rushes to the tomb.
Pilate calls the leaders of Israel together tells them that he finds no fault in Jesus, but they protest and cry out that they want Him crucified and want Barabbas to be freed, which was a custom at the time of the Feast of the Passover.
Jesus’ enemies, chief priests and scribes bring Jesus first before the Roman official Pilate then the son of Herod the Great, this Herod ruling in Galilee and Perea, to find a means to kill Jesus.
Jesus is now held by a combination of Roman soldiers and members of the religious establishment who treat Him badly, and then in front of the Sanhedrin, the religious authorities, who try to see if Jesus claims to be the Messiah.
Arriving with Roman soldiers and representatives from the chief priests and Pharisees (see John 18), Judas identifies which one is Jesus with a kiss. Jesus is then taken to the home of the high priest. Peter gets inside and proceeds to deny that he knows Jesus three times.
Once before, Jesus sent His disciples out, and they were to take nothing with them—no money, extra clothes, or more. Now He sends them out, but they are to take provisions, even a sword. Jesus warns them of danger ahead, then He moves off to the Mt. of Olives to pray. This is the last night of Jesus’ earthly ministry.
Following the Lord’s Supper in the Upper Room, a dispute begins among the disciples as to which of them is the most important, and following this Jesus says that Peter will deny that he is a one of His disciples.
In the “upper room” Jesus leads in the celebrating of the Passover, and as He does, He institutes or establishes what will become known as the Lord’s Supper. And at the conclusion of it, Jesus He affirms the reality of a betrayer.
Here is the tragic story of Judas, one of the Twelve, who plots how to betray Jesus and who then meets with chief priests and the scribes on how to do this. Jesus then makes arrangement for celebrating the Passover with His disciples.
Just hours now from Jesus’ going to the cross, He gives His last parable, or illustrative comparison, using a fruit tree, a fig, and other trees. When the leaves appear, it indicates summer is near, and this is looking back to His previous accounts of the destruction of the temple and the city of Jerusalem. He warns His followers to take care not to be overcome by terrible and frightening events they will experience.
Just a day or two before Jesus will be crucified, He again relates those events that are coming for the nation of Israel: the destruction of Jerusalem, including the Temple; yet He also points forward to His return.
Despite the incredible beauty of the Temple, Jesus says it will be completely destroyed, and that throughout history there will be wars between nations and the peoples of the world.
Some Jewish religious leaders, the Sadducees mainly, claimed that they were the sons of David and thus were the Messiah. Then Jesus speaks of the Scribes, the very powerful religious leaders, and in contrast Jesus points out a widow who gave all the money she had.
Jesus’ opponents hope to entrap Jesus and bring the Roman authorities down on Him by asking Him about paying taxes to Caesar. This story is followed by a question from members of the Sadducees, who ministered at the Temple and only accepted as authoritative the first five books of Moses and thus denied a resurrection. They ask what would happen to a woman who had a series of husbands. To whom, they ask, would she belong in the resurrection?
The fictional story of a man who planted a vineyard, left the area, and put others in charge, sharecroppers likely. Then they dealt dishonestly and cruelly with the servants the owner sent to receive payment.
Jesus,Gospel of Luke,1 Timothy,Bible,The Authority of Jesus Challenged,Making Shipwreck
Jesus arrives at Jerusalem riding a colt and is wildly welcomed by the people there. However, the Pharisees take exception to the acclaim accorded Him by His disciples. Jesus then bursts into tears, knowing what will happen to the city. Then Jesus enters the Temple for the second time to drive out those who sell animals and cheat the people.
Many local people were bringing their children to Jesus, and His disciples did not approve of this. Jesus uses this to teach. Then a rich ruler approaches Jesus and asks Him what he must do to have eternal life.
In the first parable, Jesus speaks of the importance of prayer, saying we need to continue seeking God. The second parable contrasts a self-righteous Pharisee who prides himself for his religiosity with a despised tax collector who prays, “God be merciful to me, a sinner.”
Jesus, with His disciples present, is asked by some Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come. They could not recognize that in Jesus’ presence the kingdom was present right there but that it would reach fulfillment in a future time.
Jesus is now on His third and last trip to Jerusalem, likely on the eastern side of the Jordan River. He is met by ten lepers who appeal to Him to heal them. He does, and only one returns to thank Him.
Three stories wherein Jesus lets His disciples know they will be tempted to sin and to beware of causing others to sin. He states that if others sin, they are to correct them, even over and over. The disciples request that Jesus increase their faith, and He replies that even a tiny amount of faith works. Then he reminds them that with Him being their master/Lord, His disciples are to do their work without expecting special treatment.
Regarding marriage and divorce, Jesus looks to Genesis 2:18–25 and then tells a story, either an actual event or a parable, of a rich man (named Dives in the KJV) and a miserable and poor man, both who died, the rich man going to hades and the poor man to Abraham’s side or heaven.
Following Jesus involves all of our living, and here the focus is how we relate to wealth. He makes clear that we are to be faithful with money, and that we cannot serve both God and money.
Jesus is accused by religious types of eating with sinners and even tax collectors, the worst of the worst, whereupon He tells three parables about finding that which is lost. Here are the first two of these parables.
The third “parable” is about a father who allows his youngest son to take his portion of the family inheritance and the reaction to this from both the father and the older son.
Even the healing of a human being was not to be done on a Sabbath Day, but Jesus did. Then followed parables designed to both wake up and critique the common practices of the Pharisees.
Great crowds are following Jesus and the Apostles while on their way to Jerusalem. Jesus now issues strong warnings about what it would mean to be His follower. He uses the word “hate” regarding even parents and family in order to highlight His message.
Jesus continues His journey to Jerusalem, even though the warning that Herod, son of Herod the Great, wants to kill Him. Jesus then utters the lament over Jerusalem, which shows His love for the nation Israel.
Jesus and His disciples are heading to Jerusalem for the last time. He tells about a tiny mustard see and a bit of leaven, both of which are tiny but produce large and grand results. Then a theme found in John 10—Jesus announces He is the door, indeed a narrow door, the only route by which one must enter the kingdom of God.
Three stories: 1) the necessity of repenting of our personal sin, 2) the fig tree, a symbol of the nation of Israel, being given another opportunity to repent, and 3) the Pharisees and their ideas of what work is allowed on the Sabbath.
Three pericopes: 1) Jesus is indeed the Savior, yet He brings division even in families, 2) religious leaders are unable to grasp what is then occurring, and 3) it is vital to settle with an accuser.
Jesus alerts His followers that they must be ready, awake, and alert to do the work of a servant. The result of this is that Jesus will actually be the servant who takes care of them.
Jesus encourages His followers to seek first His kingdom and thereby avoid the anxiety that they would otherwise experience
While the Pharisees are strongly opposing Him, Jesus alerts His followers that they too will be attacked, but they need not be fearful, for these opposers cannot prevent them from their salvation, and thus they are to preach His word fearlessly.
Many thousands are “pressing hard” on Jesus now, when a man asks Jesus to adjudicate between him and his brother regarding an inheritance from his now dead father. Jesus proceeds to use a parable to present the reality of what is really important in our living.
Three woes, or things in the future that are dreadful, Jesus expresses to both Pharisees and lawyers (also termed scribes), thus six woes all together. These religious leaders have no idea what it means to reject Jesus and His message.
Three brief pieces, one of a woman who praised Jesus’ mother, thus Jesus Himself, a story about Jonah who had been sent to preach in Gentile Nineveh, and the need to let the light of Jesus shine into the darkness.
Jesus’ opponents, who witnessed His casting out of demons, accused Him of being in league with the Satanic kingdom. Jesus strongly defends His ministry and warns that false casting out of demons results only in worse demonic possession.
Two stories here, first Jesus in the home of Mary and Martha, and Martha complains about her workload while Mary is listening to Jesus. Then, a second rendering of The Lord’s Prayer, different and shorter than the prayer in Matthew 6.
Jesus appoints 72 (70?) out to cities He is about to visit and proclaim the coming of the kingdom of God. He warns they would be like lambs amid wolves. And dire consequences for those who reject the message of the 72. These pairs of sent ones return and report that even demons are subject to them.
Jesus rejoices out loud that the Father has hidden the truths of grace from all, has chosen to reveal to these disciples. Then comes the story of a Samaritan who, at great cost, rescues a Jewish man.
While heading for Jerusalem, toward the conclusion of Jesus’ ministry, Jesus allows and approves someone other than a called disciple to cast out demons, would not allow dire consequences to fall upon the population of a Samaritan village that rejected Him, and spelled out the high cost of being His follower.
A man who has an only son approaches Jesus and asks Him to heal this son who has been troubled by evil spirits. After an awful display of demonic activity, Jesus casts the demons out of the son. Then Jesus, for the second time, tells His disciples that He will be delivered into the hands of men. Following this announcement, Jesus rebukes His disciples, who were arguing amongst themselves as to who was the greatest among them.
Jesus, taking only the inner three—Peter, John, and James— climbs up into a mountain. Suddenly, two people are present with Jesus: Moses and Elijah. A cloud appears from which are heard the words, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to Him.”
For the first time, Jesus tells His disciples that He will be rejected, killed, and then be raised. This astounding announcement is followed by Jesus’ invitation to take up His cross and follow Him, and of those who do, He will never be ashamed.
Jesus now sends out The Twelve, who have been with Him for several years, giving them healing power, including the casting out of demons. Herod (Antipas) hears about Jesus, whom some say is John the Baptist, whom Herod had beheaded. When the day was closing with thousands still on the mountainside with Jesus, a great miracle of multiplication of food takes place. Jesus later asks the disciples who the crowds say that He is.
While Jesus is preaching and teaching in Galilee with large crowds following Him, a man pleads with Jesus to heal his daughter. At the same time, a woman who had an issue of blood for twelve years touches Jesus and is healed. Then a message arrives that the man’s daughter has died and that Jesus need not continue any further.
Jesus and the disciples sail east at the top of the Sea of Galilee, and upon landing, Jesus encounters a man who is naked, homeless, and living wildly. Jesus casts a whole legion of demons out of this man then allows them to enter a large herd of pigs, who then stampede into the sea. The man, now healed and in his right mind, wishes to remain with Jesus.
A light is not placed where that light cannot be seen, and the ministry of Jesus must not be hidden. At one point, Jesus’s mother and brothers come to see Him, but the crowds make it impossible. Jesus takes this opportunity to say that those who follow Him are His brothers and sisters. Sometime later, as Jesus and the Twelve are crossing the Sea of Galilee, a strong wind and high waves come up, and Jesus calms the storm.
Luke mentions several women who accompanied Jesus while He was doing ministry in Galilee, and among them is Mary Magdalene. Following that is considered the most important of all Jesus’ parables, the Parable of the Sower. Jesus, after telling this parable, talks about the purpose of parables.
Jesus has been invited to the home of a Pharisee, and while all the guests recline at table, a known sinful woman enters uninvited and washes and anoints Jesus’ feet. The Pharisee loses appreciation and respect for Jesus for allowing this. Jesus defends the woman and declares her to be forgiven.
Jesus, with His disciples, came across a funeral procession and that of a young man leaving then his widowed mother alone. Jesus touches the bier the dead man was laying on and he came alive. Then messengers sent by John the Baptist, now in a Roman prison, ask Jesus if He was the one to come, the Messiah, or should they look for another.
A Roman centurion had a favorite servant who was near death. He heard about Jesus and His healings and sent a delegation of Jewish leaders to Jesus to ask Him to come and heal his servant. Jesus does, yet at a distance.
A good tree and a good person, a bad tree and an evil person–these are similar. The followers of Jesus are to be like the good tree. In addition, building a life that will be solid rather than weak and vulnerable—this is the comparison of following the words of Jesus or not.
Jesus warns His disciples against judging and condemning others. Rather we are to forgive and give to those in need. Our work is to deal with our own sinful ways rather than concerning ourselves with other people’s sinful ways.
No one ever spoke like Jesus, who even told His disciples to love their enemies. Not only that, but to do good to those who hate them, bless those who curse them, and pray for those who abuse them. Revolutionary indeed!
A beatitude is a declaration of blessedness, and here Jesus names four of these, following these He goes on to name four woes, which are the very opposite of the four beatitudes.
Jesus and His disciples are walking along a field of grain on the Sabbath, and the disciples pluck off heads of the grain and eat them. Religious leaders witness this and accuse Jesus of breaking the law of not working on the Sabbath. Then, on another Sabbath, in a synagogue, Jesus heals a man and is accused again of working on a Sabbath.
After praying all night, Jesus called His disciples and chose from them twelve whom He designated as apostles, meaning the sent ones. Later, when He came down from the mountain where He had been, great numbers of people came to Him and He healed then all and cast out demons.
Jesus finds Levi (Matthew) sitting at a tax booth and says to him, “follow me.” And Levi does just that, and then proceeds to host a “great feast,” and among the guests are other tax collectors (publicans), a much-despised people group. Of course, the Pharisees and scribes are offended that Jesus would allow such to be around Him. They then test Him about the issue of fasting, which was a feature of their religion.
While teaching in a house, people from all over have converged on Jesus to hear Him teach. Four men, carrying a paralyzed man on a small bed, unable to reach Him any other way, lower him from the roof, having removed ceiling tiles. Jesus heals and forgives the paralytic man, and the scribes and Pharisees are outraged that Jesus would announce the forgiveness of sin.
A man with leprosy approaches Jesus and seeks healing. Jesus touches the man, and the healing takes place right then. Jesus instructs the man to go according to the Law to a priest and follow the commandments. The healing brings swarms of people to Jesus who then teaches and heals. Then Jesus retreats to a remote place to pray.
Crowds besieged Jesus while at the Lake of Gennesaret, so He gets into a fishing boat to separate Himself from the crowds. Later a large catch of fish is made, due to a miracle of Jesus. At that point Jesus calls James and John Zebedee as well as Simon Peter to be with Him as disciples.
Leaving the synagogue in Capernaum, Jesus enters the home of Simon Peter, whose mother is very ill, and Jesus heals her. This event, becoming known, brings many to Jesus for His healing touch. People seek Jesus out, but He states He must visit other towns.
After departing from Nazareth Jesus travels to Capernaum, the home of Andrew, Peter, James, and John. He is invited to bring a teaching at the synagogue there. Present there was a man who had an unclean demon, which recognized who Jesus was. Jesus would cast the demon out of the man and the onlookers were amazed at His power and authority.
Jesus returns to Galilee where a report about Him has spread throughout the surrounding country. Back home in Nazareth, He attends a worship service at the synagogue and is initially accepted, but when He begins to speak well of two Gentiles, the crowd rises up and attempts to throw Him off a cliff.
Just prior to the onset of Jesus’ public ministry is the three-pronged temptation by Satan in the wilderness. Satan is acutely aware of who Jesus is and what He will do. Satan also knows that Jesus could, in fact, succumb to temptation and offers three false promises, all of which Jesus rejects.
Luke’s genealogy begins with Joseph, Mary’s husband, and is traced back all the way to Adam, who is called “the son of God” meaning God created him as the Genesis account says. Matthew’s genealogy begins with Abraham and seems to be a ‘legal’ descent.
Around the year AD 26 or 27, John, the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth, begins his ministry of announcing the coming of the Messiah, in fulfillment of the prophecies of Isaiah (see Isaiah 40:1–5) and Malachi (see Malachi 3:1–5). To prepare the way then of the Coming One, a person was to be immersed in water.
Mary and Joseph came to Jerusalem, as was their custom, for Passover and this time twelve-year-old Jesus also came along. On the return home to Nazareth, it was discovered that Jesus was missing. They returned to Jerusalem and after a time found their Son talking with the leading religious experts.
Mary and Joseph, as faithful Jewish people, bring the baby Jesus to the Temple to do for Him as the Law prescribed. While there, a righteous and devout man, Simeon, took the baby Jesus in his arms and described the ministry that lay ahead. Then Anna, aged 84, also bore witness to the holy child.
The birth of Jesus as seen by the Shepherds in the field hearing the angels' announcement.
John is born to Elizabeth and on the eighth day is to be circumcised, at which time the child would be given a name, usually by the father. However, Elizabeth intervenes and says the child’s name is to be John, and all wondered “what” this child would be. Zechariah then utters what is known as The Benedictus, from the first word in the Latin Vulgate. The core of the prophesy is that God has intervened to raise up a Savior, and child John would prepare the way for this Savior.
Mary, now pregnant, leaves Nazareth to visit her relative Elizabeth who is living with husband Zechariah in Judea. As Mary enters the home of Elizabeth, the unborn child “leaps” for joy thus indicating the miraculous events unfolding. Mary then sings a song of praise known as The Magnificat, the word that comes first in the Latin version of the Greek passage.
Six months following Gabriel’s announcement that Elizabeth would conceive a son, he appears to Mary, living in Nazareth of Galilee. He tells her that, though she is a virgin, she will also conceive a son, who would be Son of the Most High. Mary acknowledges this revelation by referring to herself as a “servant of the Lord.”
During the days of Herod the Great, from 5 to 6 BC, a priest named Zechariah is serving at the Temple in Jerusalem and doing the once-in-a-life honor of serving at the Altar of Incense. He is greeted by the angel Gabriel who announces that his barren wife Elizabeth will conceive a child who will be a forerunner to the Messiah.
Continuation of the Luke #1 show: Luke’s Gospel is dedicated to one Theophilus, either to a real person or to all who are friends or lovers of God. Luke states, in one long sentence, that many have made an account of the days of Jesus, he has undertaken this as well so that others may have an orderly rendering of the life and ministry of Jesus. In addition, the opening five verses of John’s Gospel are briefly discussed since the term Logos, or Word, is the way that John reaches out to the Graeco-Roman world much the same as what Luke is attempting.
Luke’s Gospel is dedicated to one Theophilus, either to a real person or to all who are friends or lovers of God. Luke states, in one long sentence, that many have made an account of the days of Jesus, he has undertaken this as well so that others may have an orderly rendering of the life and ministry of Jesus.
The building of the Tower of Babel, meaning the gate of God, and what is known as a ziggurat, is an attempt to gain power by building a strong fortified city. The result, however, is that corruption would increase in the earth. Instead, God brings confusion, in Hebrew a word that is only one letter different from the word babel.
Noah, his family, and the animal kingdom are saved from the flood in the ark Yahweh instructs Noah to build. And in the rainy heavens is a sign—a rainbow, which promises a covenant by which never again will God judge by means of a flood.
Here we encounter the “sons of God, the Nephilim,” and the “men of renown.” Though variously understood, the passage details, in broad strokes, a growing corruption upon the earth, which eventually, over long ages, leads to a judgment by water.
In the conclusion of their discussion, Kent and Mark quote several passages from the Gospels that quote Jesus on what hell is like and who/what it is designed for and why all Christians have mixed feelings about this Biblical and doctrinal truth.
“The book of generations” begins this chapter and details the descendants of Seth all the way to Noah. The line of Cain is supplanted by that of Seth, through whom would eventually be the seed of woman who would bruise the head of the serpent.
What is hell and why does everyone, Christians and non-Christians alike, have a hard time coming to grips with this core reality?
First born of Adam and Eve, Cain becomes a fugitive and a wanderer after killing his younger brother Abel. Future generations live in cities and develop various complex skills such as the making and playing of musical instruments. With the birth of Adam and Eve’s third son, Seth, people began to “call upon the name of the LORD.”
The result of the Fall begins with a “curse” upon the snake, this creature indwelt by Satan itself, yet is introduced also because the seed or offspring of the woman will deliver a death blow to the offspring of the snake.
The story is set in the Garden of Eden, where a demonically possessed serpent challenges the woman to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and succeeds to get her and also the man to fall and break the Creator, LORD God, Yahweh Elohim’s command not to eat. The result is shame and guilt.
In a second account of the creation of man and woman, the LORD God—in the Hebrew, Yahweh Elohim—creates the man "ish" and the woman "ishah" in a garden paradise (Eden) that contains both the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.
In what is considered by most scholars and theologians, our passage is the first of two accounts of the creation of the entire universe. The word for God is, in the Hebrew, Elohim in this account. It is a plural form, El being the singular, and is used to describe majesty and power. After creating all there is and declaring it all “good,” God rested from creating, which resting is prophetic and points to the finished work of Jesus on the cross.
Last of Kent's series on Hebrews. To close this incredible letter the author pens perhaps the most beautiful benediction ever written by a human hand. It is well worth being memorized and meditated over, and often. And the final greetings are filled with the grace.
In the beginning, before there was time and space, the Creator God, and out of nothing at all, spoke the universe and all that is in it into existence. And the “Word,” the Logos, was there at the beginning and nothing was made without Him.
At the conclusion of Hebrews, a letter written to Jewish Christians living toward the end of the first century, likely in small house churches in Rome, urging them to live holy lives, to strive for those things that bring peace and gladness.
At Sinai, Moses received the Ten Commandments, and God was present in awe and majesty so much so that even Moses was afraid. But now we have come to Mount Zion, the-set apart as the assembly, the Church, and despite the reality that the entire universe with come to an end, in Christ we have a Kingdom that cannot be shaken.
Faith, that mysterious gift, is the assurance and conviction of things not seen, as it demonstrated by so very many as recorded in our Hebrew Bible beginning with Abel, then Noah, Abraham, Sarah, and so many others. And all of these continued in faith despite much abuse and oppression. These inspire those of us who are not followers of Jesus to continue on until the end of all things.
One long sentence in the Greek, uses the previous heroes of the Faith beginning with Abel and through the prophets. These surround the Christian like a cloud of witnesses, and as these were faithful despite great odds, followers of Jesus are urged on in their struggle all the while looking to Jesus.
The author of Hebrews calls upon his/her readers to examine their position in Christ and exhorts these not to waver but remain strong in their faith and this during a time of severe strain likely brought on by persecution from Rome.
Jesus, when the true high priest appeared He did what no Aaronic high priest could do. The shedding of His own blood brought complete forgiveness of all manner of sins. This “new covenant” mediation work, namely Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, is the only source of salvation.
The Law of Moses established the sacrificial system, which served only as a prophetic “shadow” of that which was to come. The shedding of the blood of bulls, goats, and lambs looked ahead to a once and for all sacrifice, the new covenant, whereby sin would be removed forever.
This section the author describes the Tent in the wilderness, its two different sections, the “Holy Place” and the “Most Holy Place.” The furnishings of the two places are presented, but not in complete detail. The ministry of the Levitical priests however, are only a shadow of what would be revealed in the ministry of Jesus.
The writer of Hebrews references the Prophet Jeremiah, who in the 31st chapter of his prophecy where he speaks of “new covenant” that will be established with the house of Israel and Judah. A “new covenant” because God will write His Law on the heart of His own.
Melchizedek, king of Salem, his name meaning king of righteousness, blessed Abraham, and Abraham gave tithes to Melchizedek as one would to a priest. The Messiah Jesus is a high priest after the order of Melchizedek, which is superior to that of Aaron and thus to the Levitical priesthood.
The Levitical priesthood is inadequate, because it is not eternal and the priests were not without sin. Jesus, however, is eternal and is without sin, and thus is likened to Melchizedek who was not descended from Levi like Jesus who is from the tribe of Judah.
Recalling God’s calling to Abraham and the promises made to him, so then those trusting for salvation in Messiah Jesus have an even greater promise, which is unchangeable and guaranteed.
Seven of Jesus’ disciples are at the Sea of Tiberius (Galilee), Peter, Thomas, Nathaniel, the two sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples. These have fished all night and caught nothing. At day break Jesus appears on the shore and has prepared breakfast for them. After that, Jesus and Peter go for a walk and Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves Him more than the others. Peter responds yes, and the third time acts frustrated. Jesus repeats three times that Peter is to feed and tend His sheep. Following Peter and Jesus is another disciple, likely John the author of the Gospel, and it is cleared up that Jesus did not say that he, John, would not die but would be alive when Jesus returned. So John ties up loose ends.
From the incredible 18 verse prologue, which presents that the Logos, the Word, has become flesh. This Word is God in person, and all who would believe in this Word would become children of God. This Word is Jesus, who begins His ministry by being baptized by John the Baptist, calls disciples, and goes about the work of ministry, will signs and wonders following. Also in John are the seven I Am sayings. The last half of the Gospel is devoted to the last week of Jesus’ ministry, which includes long teaching sessions in the Upper Room in Jerusalem, the beautiful prayer in the Garden, the betrayal, arrest, conviction, crucifixion, and resurrection. The Gospel closes out with a breakfast at the Sea of Tiberius, and a conversation with Peter.
The evening of the resurrection, Jesus suddenly appears to the disciples; Thomas is not there, but Luke tells us others are also present. He announces: “Peace be with you.” He then displayed His wounds, hands and side, to His followers so that they know it is really Him and that He is right there present. Thomas is not there but upon being told of the events announcing he will not believe until he sees for himself. One week later he gets that chance and expresses that indeed Jesus is his Lord and God. Then the writer, John, gives us a summary of his Gospel and makes it clear he wrote it that others might also believe in the risen Christ.
John mentions only Mary Magdalen coming to the tomb where Jesus is buried, early on Sunday morning, but the other Gospel writers mention other women are also present. Mary, upon finding the large stone covering the tomb was not in place, runs to tell Peter and John what had happened and supposing that thieves had taken the body. Later, after Peter and John leave, Mary remaining at the tomb turns to see who she thinks is a gardener caring for the the tombs. But it is Jesus, the risen Lord and He says, “Mary” and instantly Mary knows this person is Jesus.
Jesus is now being lead to the site of execution, a place called Golgotha. Though not stated by John, it is just before this is when Jesus is scourged, such a harsh beating that many died on the spot. Jesus was crucified with a criminal on each side of Him. Pilate had prepared an inscription reading in three languages, Hebrew, Latin, and Greek, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” This angered the religious authorities but Pilate refused to take the sign down. Toward the end of the ordeal we find His mother Mary, Mary’s sister, another Mary the wife of one Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. Some commentators say there were only three women, and the disciple whom Jesus loved, clearly John the author of this Gospel, there in front of the cross. Jesus instructs John to care for Mary and for Mary to look to John as her care giver, which corresponds with Jewish life at that time.
John, our Gospel writer, an apostle, describes the death of Jesus. He is present at the crucifixion and is with a small group of women that includes Jesus’ mother, Mary. Due to the coming of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the bodies of the two criminals, and Jesus’ cannot be left out with sunset coming, which marks the beginning of a new day, Jewish time. A soldier, in order to make sure Jesus is actually dead, pierces Jesus’ side with a spear and blood and water flow out proving He is dead. Then Joseph of Arimathea is allowed by Pilate to take the body. Nicodemus, also a member of the ruling council of Israel assists with the burial.
First off Pilate has Jesus flogged. This is thought to be a light punishment and not the dreaded scourging. Putting the Gospel accounts together is seems that Jesus was flogged and taunted and humiliated, but later on, just before being sent to the site of the execution was scourged then. Now comes the crown of thorns and the purple robe. It appears that Pilate his vile treatment of Jesus would be enough to satisfy His enemies, but it is not. After some back and forth, where it is apparent that Pilate finds no reason to execute Jesus, he encounters backlash. Pilate finally gives in and allows Jesus to be crucified.
Following the prayer, Jesus enters the garden to a place there where Jesus and His disciples often went. Judas knew of the location and arrived there with soldiers and officers, some Roman, some Jewish. Jesus approaches the group and asks who they are looking for. Jesus identifies Himself, and for reasons unknown, the armed bank falls back. Jesus does not hide but wants the disciples not be harmed. Peter draws his sword and cuts off the ear of a servant of the high priest, named Malchus. No further trouble emerges. Jesus is brought before the high priest, Annas first then later Caiaphas. Simon Peter had followed the group, and at the entrance proceeds to deny he knew Jesus two times.
Annas, the father-in-law of the official high priest, Caiaphas, is the first to question Jesus. This is taking place early in the morning of Friday, Passover Day, and also known as Good Friday. Annas asks first about Jesus’ disciples then about His teaching. Jesus stands His ground, answers politely and then Annas sends Jesus “bound” to Caiaphas. Peter, still present now inside the gate of the high priest’s compound, is asked again if he is not one of Jesus’ disciples. Peter denies it again, and yet again. Jesus is now brought before Pilate. Pilate asks the crowd what accusation do they have against Jesus. Pilate tries to get the crowd to do with Jesus what they will, but is refused. Pilate moves back into his compound, calls Jesus to himself and asks if He is the King of the Jews. Jesus replies that His kingdom is not of this world.
Jesus continues to tell His disciples that He will be leaving them, leaving the world, and going to the Father. His desire is that they have peace, that is an inner peace, since being in the world they will experience tribulation. Now, hearing this, Jesus’ followers are quick to speak to Him of their loyalty and know for sure that Jesus is sent by God. The Twelve profess faith in Jesus who then tells them that a time is coming when they will be scattered and all go back to their homes. However, He lets them know that He has overcome the world.
The entire chapter is Jesus’ prayer, said somewhere along the road to the Garden of Gethsemane or while yet in the Upper Room, which is overheard by His disciples. To begin, Jesus lifts up His eyes toward heaven, and most think He did so while standing. The focus of His prayer is that the Father would glorify Him, that is, bring Him once again into His presence as He had been prior to the incarnation. Part of the prayer is that His followers would be in unity, would be one. Jesus prays that the disciples will be with Him, and to see His glory that was His before the foundation of the world.
Jesus’ comforting words are spoken either in the Upper Room or while on the way to the garden of Gesthsemane. These will be Jesus’ last words to His disciples prior to His crucifixion. Despite appearances, there will be joy—that settled, peaceful, and hopeful mindset that cannot be perverted by external circumstances. In a “little while” is mikron in the Greek, and this word is used repeatedly by Jesus in the passage. Jesus would leave, then appear, then leave, and then come again. (There are a number of ways of explaining Jesus’ intent here.) When Jesus leaves and His disciples see Him no more, yes, the disciples will grieve, and the world, those who reject His Lordship, will rejoice. But His followers will have joy that they will never lose. Again He invites His followers to pray to the Father in His name, or because of His finished work, His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension.
This passage presents the Triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—in perfect harmony. Jesus, knowing that He is going to the Father, in empathy for His followers, tells them it is to their advantage that He is going away, because the Holy Spirit will be sent to them. And the working of the Spirit is one of convicting or conviction, proving the truth about what is reality. Jesus defines three ways in which Holy Spirit conviction is directed: regarding sin, righteousness, and judgment. The Holy Spirit convicts people of sin who do not believe in Him. Then righteousness because He goes to the Father, and judgment because the ruler of the world, that is Satan, is judged and condemned. These things are not easily grasped nor understood. Also the Holy Spirit will teach them all things, bringing to their remembrance those things He has spoken to them prior.
The author of Hebrews warns those to whom he/she is writing not to fall away, meaning move away from their salvation in Jesus, but rather to move on to a mature position.
A “vine” has long been a symbol of the Messiah for the nation of Israel, both in the Hebrew Bible and for Judaism to this day. Vine images have appeared on Jewish coinage and also by the door of the Holy Place was a golden vine. Here now is the 7th “I Am” saying of Jesus. Jesus is the “true” vine, and the Father is the vinedresser, thus the one who planted and tends the vine to make it fruitful. By abiding in the vine, a branch brings forth fruit, and Jesus’ disciples are the fruit. And, then by being in Jesus, the disciples, followers of Jesus, also bring forth fruit by abiding in Him. Again, Jesus restates His great commandment, that is to love one another as He has loved them.
The world, that is, those people who are not chosen or born again by the power of the Holy Spirit, these will and must hate both Jesus and those who follow Him. And at the same time, followers of Jesus are to bear witness to and about Jesus. The world will love its own, but since Christians are not of this world, they will be hated by the world. Whoever hates Jesus hates His Father also. And because Jesus has done signs, works that no one else did, they are guilty of sin. This hate then is without cause. And the promised Holy Spirit will, when He comes bear witness about Jesus. And Jesus says these things so that His followers will not be troubled by the hatred that is coming.
Here now is the 6th of Jesus’ “I Am” sayings. Here also Jesus summarizes His core teaching. He begins by stating that in His Father’s house is a place for them and He goes to prepare that place. He announces that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and that no one comes to the Father except through or by means of, Him. The disciples press Jesus for more information. He wants them to believe in Him which is the same as believing in the Father. Here again we come upon the mystery of the Trinity. He ends this segment by saying that the disciples will do great works, even greater than He Himself, because He goes to the Father and that they can therefore pray to Him.
The passage begins by Jesus saying that if His disciples love Him they will keep His commandments. And in response, the Father will give them a Helper, a Counselor, an Advocate, the Paraclete. Only those in Christ can receive this Holy Spirit. Jesus also states that loving Him means keeping His commandments, chief of which He had previously spoken, that is, to love on another as Jesus has loved them. And this means that “we” will come to them, indwelling them. And this Helps will teach them all things. He also states that He leaves them with His peace so that their hearts will not be troubled. Then He warns then that the “ruler of this world” is coming.
The Jewish/Gentile congregation is encouraged to enter “his rest” despite the fears that surround them. As a congregation they are encouraged to rest in the finished work of Messiah Jesus.
The writer of Hebrews contrasts angels, Moses, and now Aaron, the first high priest. Indeed, they have a “great high priest” whose work is complete and who now in the place of authority in the presence of God.
Recalling that those lead out of Egypt under Moses did rebel against his leadership and died in the wilderness. The author is concerned that those he/she is writing to will not rebel and thus encourages them to not to move to unbelief.
Not only is Jesus superior to angels but to Moses as well. The Jewish/Gentile congregation the author of Hebrews is writing to, not possessing, perhaps, any Gospels or apostolic letters, has only the Hebrew Scripture and needs instruction.
At the meal where Jesus washes the disciples feet He announces that one among them would betray Him. His followers did not know of whom He spoke. Upon request, Jesus says the betrayer would be the one to whom He gave a “morsel” to. He gave this morsel to Judas Iscariot, whereupon Satan entered into Judas. Jesus, speaking to Judas tells him to go about his business. The other disciples, hearing the words spoken to Judas, yet did not understand. Judas does leave and, then it was night.
The Scripture has already called us to love God and our neighbor–this in the Law of Moses. Now something entirely new: We are to love each other, in the family of God, as Jesus loved us. Jesus loved us by going to the cross for us, this glorification, that we might be forgiven of our sin. This loving is how others will know they are Jesus’ followers. Peter now speaks up and asks where Jesus is going. Peter says that he will even die for Jesus, whereupon Jesus states that before the night is over, Peter will deny Him three times.
To the Passover pilgrims Jesus cried out that whoever believed in Him actually believed in the Father who sent Him. Not only that, but whoever saw Jesus, saw the Father. Here we find that the core doctrine of the Trinity, though impossible for us to fully grasp, is nevertheless the reality of who God is. Indeed, those who reject Jesus reject the Father as well. Those who reject His words have a judge, and that judge is His own words. And these words were the message that the Father had told Jesus.
This passage introduces Jesus’ “Farewell Discourse” and begins the second half of John’s Gospel. Jesus, rejected by the religious authorities now turns to the new Messianic community. At a meal, some say the Lord’s Supper, others a meal the day before, but during the meal Jesus assumes the role of a servant and washes the disciple’s feet. Here the disciples see their Master and Lord humbling Himself and doing the dirty work, as a message to them for their future roles. Peter objects, at first, but once understanding, wants to be washed head to toe. Thus, this is how the disciples are to treat one another.
Jesus, in ear shot of others, said that He was troubled, knowing His death was imminent, yet He yields to the design and plan of His Father. He then announces that what is to follow is judgment, and even that the ruler of this world, meaning Satan, will be judged and cast out. In the same breath He says that He will be lifted up, meaning crucified. The crowd does not understand, but Jesus urges them to believe what He is saying. At this point Jesus departs and hides Himself, since despite the many signs He had done, still there was massive unbelief, just as Isaiah had prophesied centuries before. Still many of even the religious authorities believe in Him.
Palm Sunday is the day of Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem for the great Passover Feast. He did so along with perhaps as many as 2.5 million others of this pilgrimage feast. Along the road from Bethany to Jerusalem, a two mile stretch, grew palm trees and these were used to celebrate the arrival of Jesus, about whom much was said, including great expectations. He rode, not on a full grown animal, but upon a young donkey whose small stature meant Jesus would have had to hold His legs up off the ground. The event prompted the Pharisees to worry, since it seemed the whole world held Him in high esteem. Then among the throng that came for Passover were some Greeks who approached Philip hoping to gain an audience with Jesus.
Some of those who witnessed the miraculous resurrection of Lazarus believed in Jesus, but some of them did not and even reported to the religious authorities in Jerusalem what had happened. This continuous activity of Jesus alarmed them as it might mean the Romans might come against them because of Jesus. Caiaphas, the high priest, that it would be better for one man to die to prevent an event wherein many would die. In this, Caiaphas became a prophet, though unwittingly, to the crucifixion of Jesus. This was an especially critical moment as great throngs of observant Jews were coming to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast.
Just six days before Passover, Jesus comes to Bethany and there a dinner is given for him; Mary, Martha, and Lazarus are present. Mary anoints the feet of Jesus with costly nard. Judas Iscariot complains that such was a waste since the expensive oil could have been sold and the proceeds given to the poor. Though not stated in John, but in Matthew and Mark’s accounts, Jesus says that what Mary did would be proclaimed to the whole world. Attendant to the anointing, a large crowd of Jews learned that Jesus was nearby, this Jesus who had raised Lazarus from the dead, whereupon His opponents, the Jewish leadership, determined that Lazarus must be killed.
It was not to angels but to Jesus that God subjected the world to come. Indeed, the Creator God has put all things under subjection to Messiah Jesus.
The author assumes that it is possible that some of those to whom he/she is writing may drift away from what had been proclaimed to them about Messiah Jesus.
An unknown author, male or female, writing to a second generation Jewish/Gentile congregation(s) likely in Rome and between 80 and 95 CE. The epistle begins with a declaration about The Supremacy of God’s Son.
By appealing to passages in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) the author quotes passages from the Psalms primarily that show that the Messiah is over all angels.
Mary rushes to meet Jesus as He approaches Bethany. She says to Jesus that if He had been there, Lazarus would not have died; either a rebuke or a statement of faith. The mourners, around Lazarus’ grave, are weeping and Jesus weeps as well. The emotion behind Jesus’ tears is not explained, but we see the human Jesus. Surprisingly, some of the mourners criticize Jesus by saying, He should have kept the man from dying in the first place.Then we see the power of God when Jesus calls Lazarus out of the tomb. This event stirs up even greater trouble for Jesus.
This event is significant in the closing days of Jesus’ earthly ministry. Jesus had close friends in Bethany, 2 miles from Jerusalem, named Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Lazarus was ill thus his sisters, Mary and Martha sent for Jesus. Instead of heading straight for Bethany, Jesus remained where He was for 2 days. When He arrived in Bethany, Lazarus had been dead four days. There were many who had come to grieve with the family. Jesus states to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life” the last of the seven “I am” sayings.
At the Feast of Dedication, or Lights, or Hanukkah, late December, Jesus is walking in the temple when a crowd of antagonists surround Him and demand to tell them if He is in fact the Christ. Jesus counters by pointing to the signs/miracles He has done, which they witnessed and lets that be His answer. The angry reaction leads Jesus to go further and announce that He and the Father are one. This they considered to be blasphemy and pick up stones to kill Him. They stop short, try to arrest Him, but Jesus slips away.
The themes of shepherd and sheep is a familiar one in the Hebrew Bible. “Shepherd” is a Messianic title. Jesus states that He is the Good Sheep, who gathers His sheep, safeguards them, and they in turn will hear His voice and follow Him. All others are thieves and robbers and do not care for the sheep. Thieves come only to kill, steal, and destroy. Jesus knows His sheep and the sheep know Him.
The religious authorities confront the now seeing man and attempt to get him to renounce Jesus. They insist that Jesus is a sinner since He worked on the Sabbath, but the healed man reacts to this and refuses to speak ill of Jesus. He reasoned, how could a sinner do such a miracle. The parents of the man are also grilled. Jesus, later sought the now seeing man out and, and spoke of the blindness of the religious authorities. Opposition to Jesus escalates.
Ancient idea that past sin of a person, even in the womb, or sin of parents, etc., resulted in misfortune down the line. Jesus heals a man born blind, makes clay, puts on the man’s eyes, tells him to go to the Pool of Siloam to wash the mud off. The result is the blind man sees. Trouble arose for both the healed man and the Healer since the event took place on a Sabbath day, and no work, including making the mud. A confrontation then arises between the religious authorities, the healed man, his parents, and of course, Jesus.
Being a descendant of Abraham was a claim to special position and authority for the religious leaders. Jesus now, and using the term, “I Am” to refer to Himself, is thus making a direct claim to deity. He even says that before Abraham was “I am” meaning He is and always has been. This so infuriated His hearers they picked up stone with which to stone Him to death, but Jesus hid Himself.
In the continuing confrontation with the religious authorities who are attempting to cast Jesus into a false light, He tells them that the truth, and He is the truth, alone can set them free. These leaders look to their heritage, descendants of Abraham, for their righteousness. Abraham is their father, they boast, but Jesus says, no, you are actually of your father the devil.
Enemies of Jesus, the religious authorities, hope to compromise Jesus, endanger Him, by bringing a woman caught in the act of adultery. These people want Jesus to agree that she ought to be stoned to death, per the Law of Moses. If Jesus says yes, the Roman authorities would have a claim against Jesus since Rome alone held the power to do this. If Jesus declines, then it would appear as He is in violation of Moses’ laws. Jesus does not answer, writes on the ground, stands and states, “He among you without sin cast the first stone.”
Following the attempt to compromise Jesus in the situation with the woman caught in adultery, Jesus states that He is the light of the world. This is the second “I am” statement and it is a direct claim to be God. It is set against the blindness of those who are envious and jealous of Jesus in that crowds of people attending the Feast of Booths are gathering around Him. He also speaks of His crucifixion and saying that when this occurs, they will understand who He is.
Jesus confounds His hearers as H describes, in brief, what will happen to Himself. Some suppose He will go to the Diaspora, Jews living elsewhere in the Roman Empire. Then, on he last day of Feast, when water drawn from the Pool of Siloam is collected, poured into a funnel which empties the water to the foot of the altar of burnt offering, declares that out of person who believes in Him will flow rivers of living water. Whereupon the people are further confused about Jesus. Meanwhile, the officers sent to arrest Jesus return empty handed. Nicodemus then sides with Jesus saying that Jesus at least should be given a chance to defend Himself. Nicodemus receive the insults of his fellow leaders.
About the middle of the 7 or 8 day feast, Jesus alone goes to the Temple and begins to teach; He is alone. The religious authorities attack Him by saying He must have two witnesses when Jesus declares that God is His Father. Jesus takes another course by accusing the leaders of breaking the Law of Moses by seeking to kill Him. They say Jesus has a demon as a result. Jesus points out that the leaders break Moses’ Law by working or circumcising on a Sabbath day. Some of the hearers begin to wonder whether the religious authorities actually think Jesus might be the Christ. This generates more confusion about just who Jesus really is.
The last of the Fall Feasts is Booths, otherwise known as Tabernacles or Ingathering, is a 7 or 8 day feast celebrating God’s providing for Israel while in the wilderness following the exodus from Egypt. Jesus’ brothers, James, Jude, Joseph, and Simon, not cousins, but children of Joseph and Mary, urged Jesus to go to Jerusalem for Booths and declare Himself. Jesus declines but goes later alone. In Jerusalem there was much debate as to who Jesus was. Some said one thing, others another. Here we see the typical confusion as to who Jesus really is.
Jesus said that unless one eats the flesh of the Son of Man and drinks His blood no life will be in him or her. The hearers took Him literally and complained it was a “hard saying.” Jesus then urges them not to take offense. But they will believe when they witness His ascension, thus proving His resurrection following His crucifixion. No, they would not then be offended at Him. And if they walk away from Him now, they will miss out. Jesus makes it clear that no one will believe in Him unless it is granted by the Father, a clear reference to the great truth of election.
Now we encounter the first of 7 I Am sayings. The construction of the Greek phrase “ I Am” matches the name God spoke to Moses when Moses asked who it was who was sending him to the Egyptian Pharaoh. (see Exodus 3:13–15) There is bios, or physical life, but then there is zoe, or spiritual life. To “eat” of Jesus gives eternal life. And in this passage we find the statement that only those whom the Father gives to Him will come to Him and these will never be cast out.
Jesus’ use of metaphors abound in the Gospels. He used physical objects to teach spiritual realities. Here His body is likened to bread and His blood to wine. The crowds misunderstood the metaphor. He is pointing ahead to the cross where He would die and His blood be shed. As that which is physical gives life, bios, so does the death of Jesus, His broken body and shed blood bring life that is eternal in nature. To trust in Jesus as Savior is to “ingest” Him and then it can be said that Christ is in us and that we are in Christ.
The miracles stirred up the crowds and they set out to find Him. They found Him in Capernaum, the village Jesus is thought to have moved to. It is noted that Jesus never alluded, in any way, to either the feeding of the 5,000 or the walking on water. They were seeking Jesus for material benefit. But Jesus tells the people to do the “work” of God, which is to believe Him whose He has put His seal. He warns then not to work for that which perishes. Miracles do not yield saving faith. Salvation in Jesus produces something far deeper and more significant.
Two miracles of nature, defying the laws of science. 5000 men plus women and children are feed from one boy’s basket of food. Then 12 baskets of food were left over and collected. When the crowd say the miracle they wanted to make Him king, but Jesus slipped away. Then Jesus walked on water, across the tip of the Sea of Galilee. These are signs as to who Jesus is. The miracles are stated in a simple manner and not trumpeted.
Jesus continues defending Himself by showing that He has witnesses to His claim to be equal with God the Father, witnesses that are needed according to the law that requires two or more. First the Father witnessed to Him, then John the Baptist, then are the works Jesus performs, the signs and wonders, and also the Scriptures, the words of Moses. Jesus concludes the presentation of His witnesses by stating if they do not believe Moses, they will not believe Him.
When the religious leaders hear Jesus say, “My Father,” they accuse Him of blasphemy, since He claims equality with God. Jesus proceeds to identify Himself as equal with God to the point that He says the Father has committed all judgment to Him. He goes on to say that to dishonor Him is to dishonor God the Father. If Jesus’ claims are not true, then He is guilty of blasphemy. Now again Jesus and the religious authorities are in conflict, which will continue.
In Jerusalem was a pool where the ill came hoping to be healed. Jesus finds an invalid man there and asks him if he wants to be healed. The man says he cannot get into the pool quickly enough, and Jesus tells him to get up, take up his bed, and walk. He does, but religious authorities accost him for carrying a bed on the sabbath—a sin. Jesus later finds the healed man and tells him to sin no more. When the religious leaders question Jesus He tells them “My Father is working, and I am as well.”
An official, probably attached to Herod Antipas at Capernaum, had a son who was near death. He travelled to Cana hoping to bring Jesus back so Jesus could heal his son. Jesus responds that unless someone sees “signs” they will not believe. Jesus tells the man that his son will live. The man believes Jesus’ word, starts for home, and on the way his servants tell him his son is recovering, which began at the very time Jesus told him his son would live.
At Jacob’s well near the Samarian town of Sychar, Jesus engages in conversation with a Samaritan woman. The disciples return from the town to find Jesus speaking with the woman, who then rushes back to her town to tell others that she has found someone who may be the Christ. The disciples want Jesus to eat, and He tells them He has food to eat they know nothing about. The food is doing the work the Father has sent Him to do. Citizens of Sychar come to the well, and after seeing and hearing Jesus, they become convinced Jesus is the Savior of the world.
John the Apostle now writes of the ministry of John the Baptist. John continued to baptize, and Jesus began baptizing as well. (Jesus did not baptize, only His disciples. See John 4:2) Over time those following Jesus outnumbered those following John. Envy thus arose amongst John’s followers and the Baptist responded by saying Jesus must increase while he himself must decrease.
After learning that the party of the Pharisees knew of His growing numbers of followers, Jesus leaves Judea and begins a journey to Galilee and in doing so travels through Samaria. The disciples, leaving a “weary” Jesus beside Jacob’s well, go onto Sychar for provisions. A woman of Samaria had come to get water, about noon, and he initiates a conversation with her. Jesus tells her that she could receive “living water” from Him. Jesus proceeds to tell her that she has had five husbands and the man she is now with is not a husband. Shocked, the woman grasps that she is talking with a prophet.
An esteemed Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin comes to Jesus by night for reasons that are not clear. This man, Nicodemus, who will one day become a follower of Jesus, speaks well of Jesus. Jesus, seemingly disregarding usual properties, launches into the fact that to enter the kingdom of God one had to be born from above. What did Jesus mean, when He said, You must be born again? Pastor Kent explains.
Here is the most memorized verse in the Bible: John 3:16. These words of Jesus express the why God sent His Son into the world. Jesus is the light that shines in the darkness, yet we loved darkness rather than the light because our deeds are evil and we fear exposure.
At Passover every male is to make a sacrifice and pay the temple tax. Hundreds of thousands descend upon Jerusalem to do this. Coinage for the tax must be in the proper currency thus money changers will be present, who add on about 12%. Hear what happens when Jesus sees all this corruption and pollution.
This first sign as to who Jesus is occurs at a wedding in a small city 8.3 mils north of Nazareth. Members of Jesus’ family and mother Mary, along with Jesus and at least six of his disciples are part of the wedding party. Hear how Jesus performs his first miracle recorded in the Gospels.
John the Baptist, coming in the spirit and power of Elijah, prepares the way for the arrival of the Lamb of God, that sacrificial offering for sin. John is not the Christ, he is not Elijah of Malachi 4:5, nor is he the prophet of Deuteronomy 18:5 in answer to those Jewish leaders sent to get answers, but John points to another one who is presently among them but whom they do not know. But John knows Him for he saw the Holy Spirit descend on Him. This one does not baptize in water but in the Holy Spirit and fire.
Two men who are with John the Baptist hear John point out the Lamb of God as Jesus walks by. One of these two men is Andrew, while the other is not named (could it have been John the Gospel writer?). They spend time with Jesus and acknowledge that this Jesus is the promised Messiah. Andrew then finds his brother Peter and tells him about Jesus.Then Jesus calls Philip to be His disciple who then testifies to Nathanael (this is likely Bartholomew of the Synoptic Gospels) and tells him he has found the Messiah.
The first five verses of the Prologue of John’s Gospel is presented beginning with a profile of the Apostle John. John’s essential theme is that Jesus is the promised Messiah and Son of God, and that by believing in Jesus there is eternal life. The Logos or Word of God, who is later identified with Jesus, is God in His entirety. John is essentially reaching out to a Graeco-Roman audience who would have acquaintance with the concept of a Logos.
Here we are introduced to John the Baptist who came to bear witness to the fact that “light” was coming into the world and this light is Jesus Himself. (Jesus would later declare that He is the light of the world.) Also all that exists in the created cosmos came through Jesus, and without Him there would be no universe at all. Jesus reveals the very glory of God, glory being the actual presence of God. To see Jesus is to behold God in the flesh.