The father provides a joyful restoration for the prodigal son. Luke 15: 22 “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. 23 And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with …
We have the promise of life instead of death through what Jesus has done for us. Sometimes, with all that is going on in the world, we don’t take time to thank the Lord for what He has done. Through His death on the cross and resurrection, Jesus conquered sin, death, and the devil. He …
The Apostle Paul tells us that, in the end, we have victory over death. Now this is a future event, but it has compelling implications for each of us. If Jesus did not really rise to a new life in a physical body, we might as well live for this earthly life and do as …
The Apostle Paul encouraged the believers in Corinth that “your faith has not been in vain.” A group of heretics had slipped into the congregation. They claimed that only the spiritual was good and anything physical was bad. Therefore, Christ had not really risen in a physical body. While this sounded pious, it is not …
For the Festival of First Fruits to foreshadow the cross of Jesus Christ, Jesus had to have died and had a true resurrection. If Jesus had not really risen from the dead, then he couldn’t be the first fruits of the dead. Swoon Theory Against the Resurrection The swoon theory states that Jesus did not …
The Festival of First Fruits is always connected with Passover. God connected this third festival time with Passover from the beginning. Leviticus 23: 11 On the day after the Sabbath, (following the Passover) the priest will lift it up before the Lord so it may be accepted on your behalf.[1] It was God’s timing that directed the celebration of …
The Father sent Jesus, and Jesus wanted His followers to know this, as it was part of His identity. John records seven “I am” statements that Jesus made. The term “I am” was the name God gave for Himself to Moses at the burning bush. When the Jews heard Jesus use this term, they knew …
What happens when we don’t understand Jesus? How will He treat us? We can gain insight as we observe the disciples during Jesus’ farewell teachings. This happened after the Passover meal but before they went to Gethsemane the night before Jesus was crucified. Jesus wanted to prepare them for His death and resurrection. Jesus had …
The phrase “I am the way, the truth, and the life” is a well-known statement by Jesus in the Bible. John 14:6 Jesus told Thomas, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.[1] This verse describes part of a dialogue between Jesus and His disciples, …
We can be sure that Jesus prepares a place for us. The night before the crucifixion, Jesus was preparing the disciples for what was to come. He had told them that He was going somewhere they could not go, but they didn’t understand. What Jesus knew and His disciples did not was that He was …