Reaching Out to a Seeker (Mark 12:35-37)
In Mark 12:35-37, Jesus points out to the scribes that they have a deficient view of the Messiah. They correctly understood that the Messiah was going to be a descendant of David. But the Lord shows them, from Psalm 110, that they didn’t realize the Messiah was going to be more than simply a son […]
When God Is Humiliated (Daniel 1:2)
Many times we might think that God could never be humiliated. But that is not entirely correct. One of the great prophetic books of the OT, the Book of Daniel, opens with this theme. We know the story well. Daniel and his three friends were among those Jews who were taken captive to Babylon around […]
You Can Keep Them (Daniel 5:17)
We all know the stories about Daniel. He was a faithful servant of the Lord during a trying time in Israel’s history. He had been taken captive when he was a teenager and lived the rest of his life in Babylon. When we get to chap. 5, Daniel is a man in his 80s. The […]
And the Winner Is… “Surrender Your Life to Jesus”
In American evangelicalism we often hear various phrases when people present the gospel to unbelievers. With a little reflection, what we find is that these phrases are not found in the Bible. We can look at a few as examples. With minor changes, one such phrase is: “Jesus is knocking at the door of your […]
An Act of Courage (Mark 12:28-34)
I have spent almost my whole life around the military. My dad was in the army, and I made a career of the military myself. I have always loved hearing about acts of courage on the battlefield. I have heard many such stories and even have met many of the men who were involved in […]
Divorce: Are We Missing the Main Point? (Mark 10:11)
By Ken Yates If you ask ten theologians their views on divorce and remarriage, you will get eleven different answers. I have engaged in many of these discussions myself. One verse included in all these debates is Mark 10:11. The Lord says, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her.” While this […]
He’s Greater Than We Think (Mark 12:10)
In Mark 12:10 Jesus is talking to the Jewish religious leaders and denounces them with a parable that they know is directed at them. He tells them, ‘The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.” The reason He does so is because He knows they are going to reject and kill Him. […]
Best Friends (Rev 3:4-5)
Have you ever had a best friend? Somebody you spent a great deal of time with, who was like family to you? My guess is that if we have, it was probably when we were young. Especially for men, it is probably a little rare for that to occur. It has only happened to me […]
Something Else to Give Thanks For (Hebrews 13:7)
We just finished the Thanksgiving weekend. It was a time when most of us spent time with family and had a ton of food at our fingertips. It is appropriate that we call the holiday “Thanksgiving.” We have a great deal for which we should be thankful. Usually at Thanksgiving, we focus on certain things […]
When to Keep Your Mouth Shut (Amos 5:13)
Recently I was reading the OT Book of Amos. I ran across an interesting verse. The prophet says, “Therefore the prudent keep silent at that time, For it is an evil time” (Amos 5:13). Amos is saying that there are times when those who are wise do not speak. This occurs when it is “an evil time.” Amos […]