The Preeminence of Jesus
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and by him […]
Resurrection Sunday!
[Note: This week I will be chronicling the events of Holy Week with a short devotion each day.] Resurrection Sunday Resurrection Sunday is the culmination of Holy Week. The resurrection of Jesus is the pivotal truth of the Christian faith! As the sun rose, several women went to Jesus’ tomb, only to find that the […]
Silent Saturday
Silent Saturday Saturday was the Sabbath…a quiet day in Jerusalem. Jesus’ dead body lay in the tomb, guarded by Roman soldiers. Because of the quickly approaching Sabbath on Friday, Jesus was removed surreptitiously from the cross and quickly entombed. His body had been ceremonially treated by Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, but not his disciples. […]
Good Friday
[Note: This week I am chronicling the events of Holy Week with a short devotion each day.] Good Friday Jesus’ trial (which began late Thursday night) continued into Friday morning. Before the “third hour” (9 a.m.) the Lord had endured lies and condemnation, mockery, and beatings. He had been abandoned by his disciples (Judas had […]
Holy Wednesday
[Note: This week I will be chronicling the events of Holy Week with a short devotion each day.] Bethany was astir. People were talking. Why wouldn’t they? After all, not long before Holy Week, Jesus showed the world his power over death by raising his friend Lazarus from a tomb in Bethany. A week before […]
It’s the End of the World as We Know It
[Note: This week I will be chronicling the events of Holy Week with a short devotion each day.] It is Tuesday morning and Jesus returns to Jerusalem with his disciples. As they pass the withered fig tree, Jesus reminds them of the importance of faith. They’re going to need it in a couple of days! […]
Jesus and the Fig Tree
[Note: This week I will be chronicling the events of Holy Week with a short devotion each day.] Yesterday launched the holiest week on the church calendar. We call it Holy Week, the last week of Jesus’ mortal life. It began yesterday with Palm Sunday, Jesus’ triumphal entry to Jerusalem. There were shouts of praise […]
1984 and Jesus’ Ekklesia
Where am I and how did I get in this handbasket?! Some days when I wake up and look at our nation I ask that question. What we’re seeing played out in our world right now, at a greater magnitude than I’ve seen in my 51 years, is a battle of kingdoms. It isn’t new, […]
Authority and Power
The ekklesia had an inauspicious beginning: They were hiding in the upper room. True, they were praying, but I bet there was no small measure of fear in their group. Luke doesn’t mention their fear, but I think we can assume it was there. A conspiracy against this band of disciples reached the highest positions […]
But Some Doubted
“The eleven disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but some doubted. Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name […]
The (Real) Message of the Church
“The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.” (Luke 16:16, NIV84) When was the last time you saw someone so excited about the kingdom of God that he’d force his way in? […]
The Church and the Gates of Hades
“… and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.” (Matthew 16:18, CSB) This is Jesus’ very first mention of “the church” as he’s responding to Peter’s confession of Jesus as Messiah. That truth would be the bedrock of the church – the church would build […]
