... then proceeds to tell us the rest of the story: "Mary Magdalene went and said to the disciples, 'I have seen the Lord'; and she told them that he had said these things to her (John 20:18)." How fitting it is that on this great festival of Easter, the Bible readings assigned by the church should be so powerful as they are today. Take off your shoes, people; you are on holy ground (see Exodus 3:5; Joshua 5:15). Today's texts capture that holy moment ...
... Word of God for the Church Today (Cottageville, Minn.: The Liturgical Press, 1974), p. 159. 14. Augustine in Jo. XLIV 1-2; PL 35; 1713-14. 15. Brown, op. cit. p. 380. 16. Brown, op. cit. p. 381. 17. Marsh, op. cit. p. 382. 18. Brown, op. cit. p. 373. 19. Marsh, op. cit. p. 384. 20. Redding, op. cit. p. 99. 21. Arthur John Gossip, The Gospel According to St. John, The Interpreter's Bible, Vol. VIII (New York: Abingdon-Cokesbury Press, 1952), p. 615. 22. Marsh, op. cit. p. 379. 23. Marsh, op. cit. p. 376-77.
... the lullaby together. [Or you could have them listen to a musical rendition of the Magnificat done by famous composers like J. S. Bach, John Rutter, or my personal favorite, Andrew Carter's "Mary's Magnificat" sung by The Choir of King's College, Cambridge in this YouTube clip ... necessity for the “oppressed [to] go free” (Luke 4:18). All these images were set forth in the lullaby sung to him while he was in the womb. In today’s gospel text both John the Baptist and Jesus got the messages they would ...
... scriptures being fulfilled in him and by him, most notably as he taught in the Nazareth synagogue (Luke 4:21). And Jesus, along with Luke and Paul, use the word to signal something that is complete, even at capacity (see, for example, John 16:24; Acts 2:2; Philippians 4:18-19). Children associate the familiar tune of “Pop Goes The Weasel” with a jack-in-the-box toy. As they crank the handle and the music plays, they come to recognize the approaching moment — an expectation that is at capacity in the ...
... May 6, 1954, Roger Bannister became the first man in history to run a mile in less than 4 minutes. Within two months, John Landy eclipsed the record by 1.4 seconds. On August 7, 1954, the two met for a historic race. As they moved into ... heart, "... not (to) be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret... your Father who sees in secret will reward you" (v. 18). I know that some of us are from different backgrounds, and I respect that. Yet scripture says that we are people of a joyful countenance not ...
... , though, that things have changed because of Easter. Jesus talks about the gift of the Holy Spirit that he is giving his followers (John 14:16-18). But what good will that do us? How has the gift of the Holy Spirit made us different from the old selfish sinners ... no more, but you will see me; because I live, you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you (John 14:18-20)." "You are in me," he says, "and I am in you." Just as Jesus is in the Father, so the believer and Jesus have a similar ...
... great your sins are. God loves you. Now. In this very instant. Believe it and it is yours. Believe it and eternal life is yours. Believe it and you are born again, born again with a new kind of life that triumphs even over death and the grave. In John 3:17, 18, we read: For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. He who believes in him is not condemned; he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of ...
... who fits one of these categories. A fool is: The loud mouth who loves to hear himself talk, and forces others to do the same. (Prov. 18:2) The hot-tempered bully who thinks anger, violence, and the bigger gun proves his manhood. (12:16; 14:16) The egotist who believes he is ... and Kenneth M. Durham, Living Wisely in a Foolish World (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1992), 101. 7 John Blanchard, ed., Sifted Silver (Durham, England: Evangelical Press, 1995), 106. 8 Charles W. Colson, Life Sentence (Lincoln ...
... for God's family - that is fellowship. You were created to become like Christ - that is discipleship. You were shaped to serve God - that is ministry. V. You Were Made For A Mission As it says in John 17:18, "In the same way You gave Me a mission in the world, I give them a mission in the world." (John 17:1, MSG) You need to understand the difference between a "ministry" and a "mission". Everybody needs a ministry in the church, but also a mission in the world. Your ministry is your service to believers in ...
... the Baptist was probably the voice in the wilderness spoken of in Malachi 4. Herodias, the wife of Herod, did not like John as he was a possible threat for her quest for power. This was not the first time such a power grab had been attempted in scripture. All of the commentaries consulted refer to King Ahab’s marriage to Jezebel in 1 Kings 17-18. She tried to promote her false gods of Baal. Elijah the prophet called out both Ahab and Jezebel about this idolatry. Here again was a monarch who was willing ...
... name “The Book of Glory.” A highly significant prologue opens the gospel (1:1-18), and an epilogue obviously written by another party and added after the initial gospel was completed (ch. 21) brings it to a close. Following Mark’s lead, the synoptic gospels clearly identify the final meal that Jesus shared with his disciples as a Passover celebration. Strangely, for all the other symbolism in the fourth gospel, John clearly steers away from that connection here in chapter 13. Why? The answer appears ...
... now and can't answer the phone. Otherwise, we probably aren't home and it is safe to leave us a message. - Hi. This is John: If you are the phone company, I already sent the money. If you are my parents, please send money. If you are my Financial ... out, both yourself and these people who are with you, for the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone.'" (Exodus 18:13-18, NASB) I want you to see that Moses' stress was honestly earned. Sometimes we get stressed out because we procrastinate and we don't ...
... words, "No Fear," on the back of cars driven by young men with their caps turned around backwards. I have seen "No Fear" emblazoned on T-shirts. I don't know about you, but the first time I saw those words, "No Fear," I immediately thought of 1 John 4:18: There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. I thought, isn't it wonderful, these kids are so sophisticated in the Bible. Then somebody told me that that is not what "No Fear" refers to. Which caused me some trepidation, because some time ago ...
... words, "No Fear," on the back of cars driven by young men with their caps turned around backwards. I have seen "No Fear" emblazoned on T-shirts. I don't know about you, but the first time I saw those words, "No Fear," I immediately thought of 1 John 4:18: There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. I thought, isn't it wonderful, these kids are so sophisticated in the Bible. Then somebody told me that that is not what "No Fear" refers to. Which caused me some trepidation, because some time ago ...
... these places to those for whom he has prepared them." When the other ten disciples heard about it, they became angry with James and John. So Jesus called them all together to him and said, "You know that the men who are considered rulers of the heathen have power ... , outspoken critic of the idol-worshiping Baal priests had just won a monumental battle for good against evil at Mt. Carmel. (1 Kings 18:20-40) He had challenged the Baal priests to a showdown. "You call on your gods and I will call on the Lord," ...
... portrayed the [so-called] ˜trial' of Jesus before His own people; the record of John chapters 7-12 makes clear that they have in effect [already] tried and condemned Him." (2) Think of what Peter is feeling and experiencing that first Good Friday. He follows his beloved teacher and Messiah out into the Kidron valley to a garden to pray. Judas knows they are going there and he brings a "detachment of soldiers together with police" (Jn 18:3) to arrest Jesus. Peter is prepared to protect his Lord. He is not ...
... in this little community that Jesus was a part of, where shalom was often broken, there was a lot of rivalry and envy and "who's going to be number one?" One day, John 13:11 says, Jesus took off his robe, put a towel around his arm, took a basin of water and washed the feet of his friends. Jesus knew about robes. We're told in Matthew 27:18 that Pilate knew why the religious leaders handed Jesus over to him. Because of envy! Pilate knew it was because of jealousy they handed over Jesus. They gave him to the ...
... a considerable time. (Barclay, Daily Study Bible. p. 12) So Moses was said to be on the mountain with God for forty days (Exodus 24:18) It was for forty days that Elijah went in the strength of the meal the angel gave him (I Kings 19:8) That was some ... says that it was two men who deliver the message to the women. Matthew is the only one who says that it was an angel! And John caps the climax by insisting that it is Jesus Himself! I have a feeling that most of the “angels” that you and I will ever meet ...
... 5, “Problems of Anxiety,” 109-146, and on depression, David B. Biebel & Harold Koenig, New Light On Depression (Grand Rapids, MI: 2004). 3. New York, NY: Touchstone, 1978, 15-17. 4. 6:30b, 8:26, 14:31, 16:8, 17:20. 5. 1 John 4:18. 6. Bruce Wilkinson with Brian Smith, Beyond Jabez (Portland, OR: Multnomah Press, 2005), 147-148. 7. Quoted in Michael Green, Matthew (Waco, TX: Word, 1988), 86. 8. PreachingToday.com search under Matthew 6:25-34. 9. David Dockery & David Garland, Seeking the Kingdom (Wheaton ...
... to fetch." But: "When I pray for my children at night, my affection for each is the same. I suspect that's how God must feel, too. For God, every child is a first born." (As quoted in John M. Buchanan, "Orphans No More," sermon preached May 9, 1999, Fourth Presbyterian Church, Chicago, IL.) In the Deuteronomy 32:18, we're instructed to "remember the Rock from when you were hewn." Or "You were unmindful of the Rock that bore you; you forgot the God who gave you birth." So let's remember for a moment: From ...
... revealed through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus ..." (2 Timothy 1:9-10). Is this not the same as the poetic teaching of John 1:14: "And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only ... by Satan who seems to be the ruler of this world. (See for example John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11; 17:15-17; 2 Corinthians 4:4.) There is that marvelous scene in Revelation 18 where, at the consummation of history, not everyone is happy. The scene describes political ...
Matthew 16:21-28, Matthew 17:14-23, Matthew 20:17-19, Matthew 26:1-5
Sermon
Lori Wagner
... Resurrection (8:31-33; 9:30-32; 10:32-34) Luke’s Witness to Jesus’ Prophecies of His Death and Resurrection (9:18-22; 9:44-45; 12:49-50; 18: 31-34) John’s Witness to Jesus’ Prophecies of His Death and Resurrection (7:12-24; 12:20-36; 13:31-14:7; 16: ... . He shows them in as many ways as he can, raising a child, raising Lazarus, leading them to witness his Transfiguration. He even, as John tells us, goes so far as to call out to heaven, so that all present would hear God’s voice blessing him. He tells ...
... Salvation Known Psalm 103: Praise the Lord My Soul Psalm 135: God’s Signs Paul Preaches: Christ Crucified Is Our Wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:18-31) The Story of Gideon’s Conversations with God and the Sign of the Fleece The angel of the Lord came and sat down under ... is confused, not because he is disloyal, but because he is very loyal. He wants to follow Jesus. He wants to know what to do (John 14:1-6). And still…he wanted to touch and see. Was it that he didn’t trust Jesus? No. It’s because, he doesn ...
... you are willing to meet these three conditions. I. Must Be Confident In God's Power "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him." (I John 5:14, NKJV) Now the word confidence is a word that literally means, "freedom of speech". Originally, it was a political term and it referred to the ... was a direct answer to prayer. Sometimes God's answer is delayed. Isaiah 30:18 says, "But God is not finished. He is waiting around to be gracious to you. He is gathering strength to show mercy to you. God ...
... lay down our lives for one another. How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action" (1 John 3:16-18). The early Jerusalem church put it into practice: "All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need" (Acts 2:44-45). You and I are called to make this ...