“He Touched His Ear, and Healed Him”
In the Garden of Gethsemane, a moment of chaos unfolded that would forever illustrate the difference between earthly conflicts and the divine mission of Jesus Christ. As a mob armed with swords approached to arrest Jesus, Peter drew his sword and struck the high priest’s servant, Malchus, cutting off his right ear (Matt. 26:51). Amid the tension, Jesus chose not to retaliate but to respond with compassion: “He touched his ear, and healed him” (Lk. 22:51). This act was more…
“While he was still speaking, the rooster crowed”
It happens every morning across the world. A rooster crows in the early morning as the sun rises—this is as normal and natural as God created it to be. However, there was a morning 2,000 years ago where a rooster’s crow was a miraculous fulfillment of prophecy. It was the morning of Jesus’ crucifixion. Remember, Jesus had spoken to His disciples in the upper room about who would be the greatest in the Kingdom and told them each one would…
“The Veil of the Temple was Torn…”
And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split. (Matt 27:50-51). When one thinks of the miraculous events surrounding Jesus’ crucifixion, perhaps the veil of the temple being torn is not the first one that comes to mind. That said, this event is highly significant in that it symbolizes some very…
“Then they Crucified Him..”
The crucifixion of Christ is the central event of the Gospel, and of world history. Yet, it is also one of the most adamantly denied events in all of history. Some religions teach that Christ was never crucified, others that His crucifixion was a mistake, or that it was a surprise to God, who then had to come up with a “plan B” until Jesus could come back and try again to establish His Kingdom on earth. Yet, Scripture is…
“There was Darkness over all the Earth…”
I magine a sun that refuses to shine at high noon. From the sixth hour to the ninth—twelve o’clock to three—the sky over Jerusalem turned midnight black while the Son of God hung bleeding on a Roman cross. This was no eclipse, no storm; it was the Creator pulling a curtain across the heavens so the world might glimpse the weight of its own guilt. God has always spoken through the heavens. He once draped Egypt in a darkness “that…
The Earth Quaked… and the Graves were Opened
God is a declarer. When God created all things, He was declaring (Ps. 19:1). When He flooded the world, He was making a statement (2 Pet. 3:5-7). And God’s loudest statement is the cross (Jn. 3:16). As Jesus yielded up His spirit on that cross (Matt. 27:50), God made several loud statements (Matt. 27:51b-53). “The earth quaked.” God was declaring a change of kingdom (Hag. 2:21-23, Heb. 12:26-27). Jesus’ death began the transition from the physical kingdom of the Jews…
How Far Will You Go? (1 Kings 10:1)
When you think about interesting characters found in the pages of scripture, the queen of Sheba makes my list. While there are many things we do not know about the woman (including her name), there are a great number of lessons we can learn from her example. 1 Kings 10:1 says, “Now when the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to test him with difficult questions.” (NASB 95) Just…
My Responsibility to the Young
We all want things to go well for the younger ones in the church. We look at our newborns and toddlers and think of the great potential they have. The elementary and preteen ages show us how quickly these little ones grow. Teenagers try our patience sometimes, but then astound us with flashes of incredible maturity. Even if I don’t have children of my own, I can help the young people in my home congregation. No matter what stage the…
Learning to Pray Like Jesus – John Baker
Jesus probably spent more time in prayer than anyone who has ever lived. So fervent was His prayer life that the disciples (who already knew a thing or two about prayer) once begged, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1). Far more insightful and fascinating than the amount of time Jesus spent in prayer is the content of Jesus’ prayers and petitions. In an effort to be more like Him, we should ask, “What would Jesus pray for?” He would…
Perhaps – Joey Davis
I was asked recently if there is any possibility of looking at a current event and definitively labeling it as the providence of God. I responded that such is not possible because in providing today, God does not show His hand as He so clearly did when He, in time past, effected His Will by miracles. We cannot definitively label a good outcome as God’s providence. Even Jesus reminded us that the evil and good are often equal recipients of…
The Three Hurdles – John Haffner
When talking with friends and neighbors about religious matters, we should be aware that not everyone is at the same point. For example, one may be active in a manmade religious group and even study the Bible regularly. Another may have only a smattering of Biblical knowledge and an abundance of questions regarding God’s character and existence. Still another may be an avowed atheist. What’s more, all these individuals may live on the same street! Seeing this diversity and uniqueness,…
Are There Idols in my Life? – Alex Simmons
Obedience is an appealing characteristic. Not only to God and Jesus (John 14:15), but also to mankind. Parents, consider the pleasant thought of asking your children to wash the dishes and, with a simple, “Yes sir” or “Yes ma’am,” they immediately obey without raising objection. Such a thought would likely make any parent smile. This could be because obedience is learned and takes discipline or because this character trait has, seemingly, become less common in our society. Whatever the case…