Unbelief blinds us spiritually. Although Jesus was God and man, the religious leaders were blinded to who He was. As Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, people waved palm branches and praised God for all the miracles they had seen. Luke 19:38 “Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in …
The story of the healing by the pool shows a problem of religiosity. According to Miriam-Webster, religiosity is intense, excessive, or fervent religiousness. [1] John 5: 9 Instantly, the man was healed! He rolled up his sleeping mat and began walking! But this miracle happened on the Sabbath, 10 so the Jewish leaders objected. They said to …
Wolves in sheep’s clothing symbolize a person pretending to be someone they are not, usually with evil intent. Wolf and sheep are very different animals. Jesus uses a wolf in sheep’s clothing phrase to distinguish false prophets. Matthew 7:15Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. 16 You can …
As we reflect on our choices in life, we often ask ourselves: “What could have been?” Sometimes, we are thankful that we did not make a particular decision; other times, we wish we would have heeded the Lord’s nudging. I am grateful that when the Lord called me to be a pastor, I responded to …
When the Jewish leadership confronted Jesus about stopping the Temple marketplace, why did Jesus ask about John? Luke 20: 3 “Let me ask you a question first,” he replied. 4 “Did John’s authority to baptize come from heaven, or was it merely human?”[1] Herod had beheaded John the Baptist over two years before this confrontation. Why would John be …
The Jewish leadership confronted Jesus by asking Him, “Who gave you the right to stop the Temple marketplace?” This was a legitimate question. Without a chain of authority, there will be chaos. The success of any organization, whether social, governmental, or religious, depends on the authority of leadership. Jewish Leadership Knew Their Source of Authority …