Actions speak louder than words. Jesus used action to reveal Himself to several disciples after His resurrection. Two travelers to Emmaus recognized Him only as He broke bread with them.1 Thomas surrendered when he saw the open wounds in His risen body.2 More happened on a fishing trip in Galilee. Six disciples, including James and […]
I guess that most of us, when we talk about resurrection life, mean resuscitation. Let’s face it; we tend to love our lives, with their relationships, dreams, hopes, possessions, health, and so many other facets that give them quality. When part of us dies we want it back—exactly as it was. We have little or […]
Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered Him, saying, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.” But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign shall be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet.” (Matthew 12:38-39. See also […]
Occasionally someone asks, “What is your favorite Christian festival day?” I struggle to answer. Other followers of Jesus would probably say Easter or Christmas; a few might say Good Friday. But I doubt if more than a tiny percentage would think of Ascension Day or Pentecost. Each special day has a meaning of its own. […]
Every now and then, something happens in life that seems to destroy any chance of the outcome we had been praying for and expecting. Along with the pain and grief comes dashed hope. It taunts our minds, making it hard to trust even ourselves again. “Why should I allow the birth of any new hope […]
Personal faith rarely depends on one item of evidence. Think about it. Your faith almost certainly balances between several things that you find compelling. Personal faith is like a planet in a solar system; it is held in orbit by the gravitational pull of a sun and other planets. Each element supports our faith to […]
Predictive Prophecy Once in a while God reveals something to us that has all the signs of Divine involvement, but seems to make little sense right then. Palm Sunday must have been like that for the disciples. Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem served one purpose—it fulfilled predictive prophecy, but in a way that no one […]
What do you think is the most powerful word in the Bible? I would nominate a word spoken on Easter morning. Mary Magdalene visited Jesus’ tomb before dawn to find the stone rolled aside. Suspecting a grave-robbery, she alerted Peter and John. After a quick inspection, they returned home, leaving Mary sobbing. John continues the […]