John 4:27-45 RTNT 2021. I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor. (v. 38) My first thought here was that Jesus was referring to John the Baptist and his followers. But my Study Bible also suggested the many prophets in the …
Monthly Archives: January 2021
January 21 / John 4:1-26
John 4:1-26 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know… (v. 22a) It sounds strange even as I am typing this comment, but Jesus is dealing with denominational issues here. There were Judean Jews and Samaritan Jews. Both groups followed the Law (at various levels!), but the Samaritans did not buy …
January 20 / John 3:22-36
John 3:22-36 RTNT 2021. John the Baptist speaking: Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease. (vv. 29b-30) I was thinking of the verse 30 part of this couplet, that in me, in my heart Jesus must increase and I must decrease. I need to really put Jesus …
January 19 / John 3:1-21
John 3:1-21 RTNT 2021. I have confessed many times that I have a hard time reading John’s gospel and understanding what Jesus is saying, especially when he is answering a question, as to how His answer fits the question. Thankfully we worked through these gospels two years ago and my first comment in the first …
January 18 / John 2:1-25
John 2:1-25 RTNT 2021. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with His disciples. (v. 2) I mentioned yesterday that Cana was less than five miles from Nazareth, so it’s reasonable that Mary and Jesus would be known to the bride and/or bridegroom and be invited to the wedding. His disciples were with Him – …
January 17 / John 1:35-51
John 1:35-51 RTNT 2021. The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and… (v. 43a). After posting last week about caravans of travelers between Jerusalem and Galilee, my first thought today upon reading this verse was that Jesus was walking along with Andrew, Simon Peter, and the other disciple (vv. 35, …
January 16 / Luke 4:1-13
Luke 4:1-13 RTNT 2021. It’s true that we can read Scripture over and over again and see something new each time. When we read intently two years ago I had three items that I noticed. So this time around I’m reading the same passages and wondering if I’ll notice the same things. And yes, I …
January 15 / Matt. 4:1-11
Matthew 4:1-11 RTNT 2021. Today’s first verse struck me: Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. These few words, “…was led by the Spirit … to be tempted…”. It’s always a challenge to think of Jesus’ humanity up against His deity. What did He leave …
January 14 / Luke 3:21-38
RTNT 2021. Genealogies. I can’t trace my genealogy back any further than one set of great-grandparents on my mother’s side. But evidently it was important to the Old Testament Jews who were looking for their Messiah. So it’s not surprising that Luke (the historian) has a full line of Jesus’ ancestors, 35 more generations than …
January 13 / John 1:19-34
John 1:19-34 RTNT 2021. Today, John’s account of John the Baptist’s ministry and Jesus’ baptism. John the Baptist tells his listeners (very likely, even those sent by the Pharisees) that He has been in communion with the Living God: I myself did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said …