Author Archives: John S.

John 7-8 Do you want to know whether Jesus speaks Truth with a capital “T”? You could study His words intently. (And you should.) You could compare what He says with what is written in the Old Testament. (And you should.) You could learn Hebrew and Aramaic and Koine Greek. (Interesting!) You could delve into …

Continue reading “October 30 / John 7-8”

Matthew 17:14-23; Mark 9:14-32; Luke 9:37-45;Matthew 17:24-18:9; Mark 9:33-50; Luke 9:46-50 And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to Him and, kneeling before Him, said, “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he has seizures and he suffers terribly. For often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. …

Continue reading “October 29 / Matthew 17:14-18:9; Mark 9:14-50; Luke 9:37-50”

Matthew 16:1-12; Mark 8:11-26;Matthew 16:13-28; Mark 8:27-9:1; Luke 9:18-27;Matthew 17:1-13; Mark 9:2-13; Luke 9:28-36 And He said to all, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake …

Continue reading “October 28 / Matthew 16:1-17:13; Mark 8:11-9:13; Luke 9:18-36”

Matthew 15:1-20; Mark 7:1-23;Matthew 15:21-31; Mark 7:24-37;Matthew 15:32-39; Mark 8:1-10 Then Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with Me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.” And …

Continue reading “October 27 / Matthew 15:1-39; Mark 7:1-8:10”

Matthew 14:34-36; Mark 6:53-56; John 6:22-71 Once again the Gospel of John overwhelms us with what Jesus has to say: Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on Him God the Father has set His …

Continue reading “October 26 / Matthew 14:34-36; Mark 6:53-56; John 6:22-71”

Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-15;Matthew 14:22-33; Mark 6:45-52; John 6:16-21 Now when it was evening, the disciples came to Him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” But Jesus said, “They need …

Continue reading “October 25 / Matthew 14:13-33; Mark 6:30-52; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-21”

Matthew 9:35-11:1; Mark 6:7-13; Luke 9:1-6;Matthew 14:1-12; Mark 6:14-29; Luke 3:19-20; 9:7-9 Jesus is the ultimate Realist. He does not sugar-coat what the Apostles have ahead of them. As He sends out the Twelve in pairs on a preaching-healing-and-deliverance tour He warns them to expect persecution and deadly opposition: Beware of men, for they will …

Continue reading “October 24 / Matthew 9:35-11:1, 14:1-12; Mark 6:7-29; Luke 3:19-20, 9:1-9”

Matthew 13:53-58; Mark 6:1-6; John 5 Let’s get a few things straight right up front: But Jesus most certainly breaks down the excessively burdensome rules and regulations heaped up by the scribes and Pharisees surrounding the Sabbath, rules that ostensibly help protect the Sabbath but which in fact run completely contrary to the spirit of …

Continue reading “October 23 / Matthew 13:53-58; Mark 6:1-6; John 5”

Matthew 8:23-34; Mark 4:35-5:20; Luke 8:22-39;Matthew 9:18-34; Mark 5:21-43; Luke 8:40-56 And they … said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?” Mark 4:41 (cf. Mt. 8:27, Luke 8:25) Who is this Person Who has power over the forces of nature? Who is this Man Who …

Continue reading “October 22 / Matthew 8:23-34, 9:18-34; Mark 4:35-5:43; Luke 8:22-56”

Matthew 13:1-52; Mark 4:1-34; Luke 8:1-18; 13:18-21 And [Jesus] said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” Mark 4:9 (See also: Mt. 11:15, 13:9, 13:43; Mark 4:23; Luke 8:8, 14:35.) It should be clear that Jesus is not speaking simply of physical ears and the ability to process sound waves. He is speaking …

Continue reading “October 21 / Matthew 13:1-52; Mark 4:1-34; Luke 8:1-18; 13:18-21”