Lamb Who was Slain
Read: Hebrews 9:11-28 Worthy is the Lamb who was slain! (Rev. 5:12) Many years before Jesus was born, when God’s people were slaves in Egypt, God sent plagues to prepare Pharaoh to release them. The last plague was the death of the firstborn. Although that death was meant for the Egyptians, the people of God […]
King of Kings and Lord of Lords
Read: John 19:1-16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. (Rev. 19:16) In 1743, King George II famously stood to his feet during a performance of Handel’s Messiah. At that moment, the choir was singing the Hallelujah chorus. The lyrics repeat a name […]
Faithful and True
Read: Luke 22:39-46 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True. (Rev. 19:11) A missionary walks away from his faith after 30 years in the field. A worship leader decides she no longer believes in God. A pastor wonders where to go with […]
The Vine
Read: John 15:1-11 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. (v. 5) When I was young, I visited my great-grandparents in Florida. One of the most incredible things about their house, […]
The Way, the Truth, and the Life
Read: John 13:36-14:7 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) Our family was lost. My husband and I had taken our four young kids out for a hike, and we’d foolishly left the path, and now we […]
Resurrection and Life
Read: John 11:1-7; 17-27 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.” (v. 25) Ten years ago, a friend was diagnosed with cancer and given months to live. But the end didn’t come. Doctors were amazed by the way she defied all odds, continuing to live for a full decade longer than […]
Good Shepherd
Read: John 10:10-18 I am the good shepherd. (v. 14) Every year, our church puts on a Christmas pageant. We cast the children of the congregation in familiar Nativity roles, from a couple of young girls as angels to a trio of elementary-aged boys as wise men. And every year, maybe because of the size […]
Door
Read: John 10:1-9 Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. (v. 7) Our dog barks anytime a stranger approaches our house. From her perch looking out the upstairs window, if she sees a delivery person outside, she runs down the stairs and barks until they leave. Thankfully, our mail […]
Light of the World
Read: John 8:1-12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world.” (v. 12) While we were staying together at a retreat center on the Oregon Coast, my friend went walking on the beach at sunset and stayed too long. Wandering up and down in the dark, she could not find […]