Jesus wraps up his earthly ministry with a few words for the crowd. John will reflect on all he's seen and heard and connect the rejection of Jesus by the Jews to the rejection of Isaiah by the Jews. This connection will force us to grapple a bit with free will versus determinism. Then we will hear from Jesus one final time as he addresses the crowds and wraps up His whole ministry and purpose with a "mic drop" type speech. I wish you were here huddled around my kitchen table doing the good work of Bible study with me, but let's not allow time or distance to bind us together as we study God's word and continue to pursue a relationship with him.

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The Bible is for everyone.

Let's talk about Palm Sunday! It's Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem and John tells the story to his readers. This is one of those unique times when all four gospel writers tell the same story, but each in a different way. We'll talk about why this doesn't mean the Bible is inconsistent and in doing so be prepared for a poem I wrote about Frosted Flakes cereal.  We'll also tackle what might appear to be a really difficult response Jesus made to a request by some non-Jews to see Him. We'll need to slow down and consider the context as well as the imagery behind Jesus' words.  God's Word is rich with meaning and application so I hope you won't miss this episode!

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The Bible is for everyone.

Jesus has raised Lazarus from the dead. Now what? People either believed in Jesus or wanted him dead. In this episode we'll study John 11:45-12:8 and consider the various responses of people who encountered Jesus. Jesus has dinner with Mary, Martha and Lazarus and is there that we see the response of the three siblings - all different, but all appropriate. The question for us is - how do we respond when we encounter the claims of Jesus?

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The Bible is for everyone.

You may know the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Perhaps like me, you heard it told in a Sunday School classroom with flannel graph characters. But have you ever considered why Jesus didn't come right away? Have you ever thought about the journey back to Bethany and what the conversation may have been like? And what happened once Jesus raised Lazarus? Join me as we unravel the details of this amazing miracle and consider some of the events that may have been a part of the disciples experience.

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The Bible is for everyone.

This is the halfway point in the gospel of John. Jesus is in Jerusalem during the Feast of Dedication, which we know as Hanukkah. Once again the religious leaders try to trap Jesus by getting him to confess He is the Messiah. He responds with a claim that makes them want to stone Him. In this dialogue we will grapple with the two sides of predestination or free will theology.  We will also explore how to interpret Jesus' use of Psalm 82 in his defense. What does it mean that God the Father spoke to "little g gods" and how does that help Jesus' defense of Himself? This episode is sure to make you think and teach you a bit of Hebrew and Greek along the way. 

http://biblefortheordinarylife.com

The Bible is for everyone.

Jesus uses the illustration of shepherds, sheep, thieves, wolves, and sheepfolds to teach his listeners about their relationship to God the Father. He does it in a way that connects powerful Old Testament poetry and prophecy to the current conditions and characters in Israel. This episode may take your understanding of sheep-life to a whole new level, but more importantly it may help deepen your understand of your Good Shepherd.

http://www.biblefortheordinarylife.com

The Bible is for everyone.

Jesus encounters a man born blind from birth, makes a bit of clay with his spit and the earth and tells the man to wash in a pool.  The man obeys and is healed.  But the story is not over. Drama ensues because of course the Pharisees are enraged that Jesus healed on the Sabbath and once again they try to find fault with all that Jesus does.  Listen as this story unfolds about the miracle in one man's life that is an allegory for our spiritual condition.  "One thing I know - I once was blind, but now I see!"

The Bible is for everyone.

It's an epic example of miscommunication as Jesus tries repeatedly to explain what it means to be his disciples. The crowd of Jews He's speaking to is unable to understand his intended message and He points out that this is because they don't truly have their hearts aligned with God. They can't see past their genetic lineage and don't recognize that they don't actually love and worship God the Father.  Instead they claim Jesus is a half-breed Jew and is possessed by a demon. As the conversation evolves the Jews demonstrate less and less understanding of His words until He makes a final statement that is crystal clear.  Jesus' words are truth and as He said "you will know the truth and the truth will set you free".

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The Bible is for everyone.

In this episode we'll look at two encounters between Jesus and the Pharisees. The first is a controversial set of verses where a woman caught in adultery is brought before Jesus by the religious leaders with the intentions of trapping Jesus. In a brilliant move Jesus follows the law and extends grace. In the second scene Jesus claims to be the Light of the World and the Pharisees just cannot grasp who He is, where He is from, and where He is going. The tension between Jesus and the established, inner religious circle continues to mount.  But Jesus models how to respond in love and in grace and in the midst of this we have to ask ourselves once again - do we really believe Jesus is who He says He is?

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The Bible is for everyone.

In this episode we look at the reaction of the crowd and the Pharisees as Jesus preaches in the temple during the Feast of Tabernacles. He will make His claim that He's soon going to the One who sent Him. He'll also tell them that true believers will have streams of living water flow from deep within them. So we are left to consider, if we are true believers what are these streams of living water and what do they look like in our ordinary lives? These verses will challenge us to consider if we are more like the Pharisees who cared more about their laws than people, or more like true believers whose lives pour out streams of living water. As we grapple with our volatile world events take comfort that the words of Jesus provide solid footing and a sure foundation for true believers.
https://biblefortheordinarylife.com/

The Bible is for everyone.