Planting Wheat
Read: John 12:12-26 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. (v. 24) Today’s reading took place during Passover, the Jewish festival commemorating God freeing his chosen people from slavery in Egypt. Jewish people from all […]
The Door
Read: John 10:1-18 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. (v. 1) Jesus’s listeners would have known that sheep need a shepherd. Valuable farm animals, they were vulnerable not only to predators, but […]
The Bread from Heaven
Read: John 6:22-35 Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. (v. 32) To the Jewish people, bread was life. Symbolically, spiritually, and literally. Their ancestors baked and ate unleavened bread during the Passover to commemorate God’s […]
Trust like a Child
Read: Luke 18:9-17 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it. (v. 17) In our Bible reading today, Jesus was teaching an audience of people “who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else” (v. 9 NIV). First, those present that […]
The Widow’s Coins
Read: Mark 12:35-44 Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. (v. 43) Scripture has many instances where Jesus was in the temple. When he was of age, his parents took him there for his dedication (Luke 2:21-24). As a young boy, […]
Legal Advice?
Read: Matthew 5:17-26 Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny. (v. 26) Jesus had just introduced the Sermon on the Mount. Beautiful words that were radical then and are radical now: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are […]
Believe
Read: John 6:41-51 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. (vv. 47-48) This one statement says it all. There is absolutely nothing for us to do but believe. No words of ours, no actions, can grant us eternal life. Just the simple act of believing in […]
Angels and the Son of Man
Read: John 1:43-51 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man. (v. 51) In today’s reading, Jesus is speaking to his recently chosen disciples, who no doubt were, at best, confused about what he was talking about. First, they were […]
I Am
Read: John 8:48-58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” (v. 58) One of the most powerful scenes in the Old Testament is when God appears to Moses in the burning bush and commands him to lead the people out of slavery in Egypt. Moses tries to dodge […]