EXODUS 33:12–23 And he said, “Please, show me Your glory” (Ex. 33:18). The Hebrew word for glory is kabod, which means heaviness or weightiness, implying importance. Of all the leaders who have walked the earth, only Christ, the King of kings, is truly glorious. Not Solomon, not Nebuchadnezzar, not Caesar can compare with the glory … Continue reading “OUR GLORIOUS LORD”
WORTHY IS THE LAMB
REVELATION 5:8–14 “Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!” (Rev. 5:13). Not long after Peter proclaimed Jesus to be the Christ, the Son of the Living God, he tried to prevent Jesus from going to Jerusalem. Peter still had some … Continue reading “WORTHY IS THE LAMB”
ONE WITH THE FATHER
JOHN 5:16–23 Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God (John 5:18). Jesus did not challenge the Pharisees on their interpretation of Old Testament Sabbath law. Instead, he focused on Himself. If the … Continue reading “ONE WITH THE FATHER”
HEALING OF THE SOUL
JOHN 5:14–15 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you” (John 5:14). In the entire account of the healing of the paralyzed man, nothing was said concerning a change in his spiritual condition until verse 14. … Continue reading “HEALING OF THE SOUL”
KEEPING THE SABBATH
JOHN 5:9b–13 The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed” (John 5:10). In this passage we encounter the first major conflict recorded in John’s gospel between Jesus and the Pharisees. Jesus had healed on the Sabbath day and had commanded … Continue reading “KEEPING THE SABBATH”
THE POWER OF HIS WORD
JOHN 4:46–54 Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your son lives.” So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way (John 4:50). Once again we see the unbelief of the Jews illustrated in the Gospel of John. Having left Samaria, Jesus began His Galilean ministry, which lasted … Continue reading “THE POWER OF HIS WORD”
EMPTY FAITH
JOHN 4:43–45 The Galileans received Him, having seen all the things He did in Jerusalem at the feast (John 4:45). Here we find a stark contrast between Jesus’ ministry in Samaria and His work among the Jews in Galilee. Having stayed two days in Samaria, Jesus returned to His homeland, realizing that He would receive … Continue reading “EMPTY FAITH”
BELIEF IN HIS WORD
JOHN 4:39–42 And many more believed because of His own word (John 4:41). In his letter to the Romans, Paul wrote, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17). This verse is capsulized in the experience of the Samaritans, who came to Jesus because of the testimony of the woman … Continue reading “BELIEF IN HIS WORD”
THE HARVEST IS READY
JOHN 4:31–38 Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest (John 4:35). Christ came to accomplish the work of His Father (John 17:4). Jesus delighted in obeying His Father’s will. We should too. Christ came into the world to reconcile people to … Continue reading “THE HARVEST IS READY”
A PERSONAL TESTIMONY
JOHN 4:27–30 Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did (John 4:29). Matthew Henry observed, “Those who have been with Jesus, and have found comfort in Him, should do all they can to bring others to Him. Has He done us the honor to make Himself known to us? Then … Continue reading “A PERSONAL TESTIMONY”