Isaiah 5 Dear RTB’ers, There has not been a lot of encouragement for Israel in these first five chapters. (Yes, we’ll get to some positives later.) Today we see a series of six “woes” spoken against various people and their activities. It’s easy for us to recall Jesus pronouncing woes against the Scribes and Pharisees …
Author Archives: Fred
November 18 / Isaiah 2-4
Isaiah 2-4 Dear RTB’ers, Occasional confusion in Isaiah. What does he mean by “in the latter days” (Isaiah 2:2), or “in that day” (Isaiah 2:11,17,20; 3:7,18; 4:1,2), or For the LORD of hosts has a day… (Is. 2:12a) What and when are the “latter days” or a day, or especially “that day”? I get the …
November 17 / Isaiah 1
Isaiah 1 Dear RTB’ers, Today we begin three weeks of the prophet Isaiah. I admit to a bit of nervousness as we begin this book. The prophetic books are the most difficult for me to understand, mostly (I think) because I’m never sure of the current history in which the author is writing. That’s clearly …
November 16 / John 21:15-25
John 21:15-25 Dear RTB’ers, Today we end John’s gospel. It will be early next year that we’ll read Matthew and be through with all four gospels. But today, John’s closing. And for many people, a bit of a confusing closing! So, first, Jesus asks Peter three times, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” …
November 15 / John 21:1-14
John 21:1-14 Dear RTB’ers, Another long travel day, folks. John’s report of Jesus’ third Resurrection appearance; disciples have returned to Galilee. If you have insights, please share them. Otherwise, see you tomorrow…! Blessings! See also: December 28 (2019) / John 21:1-14.
November 14 / John 20:11-31
John 20:11-31 Dear RTB’ers, Each of the four gospels reports Jesus’ Resurrection appearances. Mary Magdalene is the one Resurrection appearance reported in all four gospels. Today we have the most personal account of Jesus appearing to her and of her reporting back to the disciples. Surprisingly, John is quite detailed in reporting their meeting, he …
November 13 / John 19:38-20:10
John 19:38-20:10 Dear RTB’ers, As I was putting together the reading list for this month I thought it curious that the STS authors would combine the end of chapter 19, Jesus’ burial, with the beginning of chapter 20, the Resurrection. As I am reading it today, I see that these readings are not at all …
November 12 / John 19:17-37
John 19:17-37 Dear RTB’ers, Yesterday’s reading was about Jesus being flogged and taunted and delivered over to be crucified. I offered no personal comments, instead asking that you read those verses a couple of times and do your own reflecting. Today we read of Jesus’ Crucifixion and I ask the same as yesterday, that you …
November 11 / John 18:28-19:16
John 18:28-19:16 Dear RTB’ers, No comments today, folks. But I do ask that you read these verses a couple of times in different translations and that do your own reflecting. Blessings! See also:
November 10 / John 18:1-27
John 18:1-27 Dear RTB’ers, It’s good that we have four gospel writers, especially when John is so different from the other three. A couple of items on that… First, John does not go into Jesus’ agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, even though he was one of the three who went forward with Jesus. To …