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11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. – John 10:11-13 What does Jesus expect from us, His disciples?  We can answer this question based on what Jesus says to His original twelve disciples, His larger group of disciples and to everyone else He comes into...

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14 And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. 15 And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. 16 And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” 17 And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. 18 And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” 19 And he answered...

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18 But they all cried out together, “Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas”— 19 a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder. 20 Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, 21 but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” 22 A third time he said to them, “Why? What evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him.” 23 But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. 24 So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. 25 He released the man who had been thrown...

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The first half of the church year [(1) Advent; (2) Christmas; and (3) Epiphany] has been discussed in What Is Jesus Showing Us During The Church Year? – Part One. The second half of the church year [(4) Lent; (5) Easter; and (6) Pentecost] will be discussed here. … Although the showing of Jesus to us is emphasized during the church season of Epiphany, He shows Himself to us throughout the church year. The seasons of the church year are: (1) Advent; (2) Christmas; (3) Epiphany; (4) Lent; (5) Easter; and (6) Pentecost. Beginning with Advent and ending with Pentecost,...

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The word “epiphany” means “to show” or “to manifest.”  Therefore, during the church season of Epiphany, Jesus shows Himself to us, or manifests Himself to us.  What does Jesus show us?  The church season of Epiphany begins with Jesus being visited by the Magi and ends with Jesus being transfigured.  In the story of “the Visit of the Magi” (see Matthew 2:1-12), the Magi represent the world.  For that reason, in the story of “the Visit of the Magi,” Jesus shows Himself to the world, not only to His own people: the Jews.  In the story of “the Visit of...

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Why doesn’t Jesus heal everyone, feed everyone or raise everyone from the dead?  If what we believe about Jesus is true, that He’s God, and if what we believe about God is also true, that He can do anything, then Jesus should be able to heal everyone, feed everyone and raise everyone from the dead.  Yet, He doesn’t.  And, since Jesus can do anything, then He must choose not to heal everyone, feed everyone or raise everyone from the dead.  If Jesus chooses to heal some people and not all, feed some people and not all, and raise some people...

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“I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord, Who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil; not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death, That I may be His own, and live under Him in His kingdom, and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, Even as He is risen from the dead, lives and...

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The New Testament records Jesus performing 35 miracles: 21 in Matthew’s Gospel, 20 in Mark’s Gospel, 21 in Luke’s Gospel and eight in John’s Gospel.  These include (1) “healing” miracles (13 in Matthew’s Gospel, 12 in Mark’s Gospel, 15 in Luke’s Gospel and three in John’s Gospel), (2) “command over the forces of nature” miracles (six in Matthew’s Gospel, six in Mark’s Gospel, three in Luke’s Gospel and four in John’s Gospel) and (3) “bringing the dead back to life” miracles (two in Matthew’s Gospel, two in Mark’s Gospel, three in Luke’s Gospel and one in John’s Gospel). The following...

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“For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 and to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’ 5 So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said...

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What does the life and discipleship of Judas Iscariot tell the modern Christian about his own life and discipleship?  The several topics discussed below will help to answer this question.  These topics include: (1) why does Jesus call Judas to be His disciple? ; (2) How does Judas’ life as a disciple of Jesus mirror the life of the modern Christian? ; And (3) how and why do the gospels portray Judas as being greedy, loving money and stealing?  The discussion of these topics may lead the modern Christian to the unpleasant realization that he has more in common with...

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