Who does Jesus think he is?

Epiphany 2015

John 6

In Christianity, the Epiphany refers to the realization that Christ is the son of God. In the Gospel of John, Jesus makes eight very specific, far reaching, outrageous statements about himself. Jesus does not just claim to know things about God; he blatantly claims that He is these things. The implications of these statements reach deep into our real, daily lives.

Isaiah 35 tells us that when the Lord comes creation will be restored and faithful humanity will be healed because God is coming with a vengeance in order to save.

Isaiah 40

Advent is a season of joyful anticipation for the Church in which we celebrate the past and prepare for the future. This Advent we will explore the messianic longings of the prophet Isaiah. Through these inspired texts we will celebrate all that Jesus Christ has done in our hearts and lives through his first coming at Christmas - and we will anticipate all that He will do in our world when he returns once again!

The world around us is decaying. War, violence, disease and environmental disaster are all around us. But the hope of the Bible is that there is salt and light from outside that will stop the decay and we can be that salt and light.

There is nothing more life-giving than friendship, and there’s no more horrible pain than loneliness. All kinds of studies reveal that people who have fewer friends die more readily of disease and heart attacks. Why do we need friendship and how do we get that need met?

Jesus Christ astoundingly revealed God, the King of the Universe, as Abba, Father. The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in love. Only when we receive His love will we be free to truly love and discipline our children as parents.