An Unexpected Answer to Prayer - Ruminating in the Word of God

"The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in John 11:21,

"'Lord,' Martha said to Jesus, 'if you had been here, my brother would not have died."'

As we all know, death's tragedy and heartache lies in the reality that we will never see a loved one again in this life when they pass. We can certainly empathize with both Mary and Martha at the death of their brother, Lazarus.

When Jesus heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was (across the Jordan from Jerusalem) for a couple of days and then afterward headed to Bethany where Lazarus had died from his illness. Upon approaching, he was greeted by Martha who had come out to greet him. She said the above words, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died." After saying this, Martha fetched her sister, Mary, and when she came out to see Jesus, Mary said the same thing, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." Verse 32c.

Clearly both sisters must have been praying and hoping Jesus would come and save Lazarus from dying from his illness. I'm certain they said as much based on the exact comments they both made, that if only Jesus would come as Lazarus lay sick (as opposed to tarrying on the other side of the Jordan.) We can picture them praying and comforting one another that Jesus would certainly arrive at any moment and save their brother. Afterall, Jesus loved Lazarus as well as Mary and Martha.

But Jesus did not come and Lazarus died. I have to think that in the midst of their grief, they must have felt confusion as to why Jesus had not come sooner to save him. 

They had no idea what was to come next.

Their grief and confusion must have suddenly evaporated when they saw why Jesus delayed. In one of the most momentous events this world has ever seen, Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, as his body lay decomposing for four days! This catapulted a scene of great bereavement and questioning about the Lord into amazement at the awesome works of the Son of God and his ability to raise anyone from the dead.

I see in this account encouragement for those times when we don't know what the Lord may be up to in the midst of things going south in our lives. We may pray about some major difficulty and not see the relief we hope for so much. Yet, it just may be the Lord is busy doing the unthinkable in our lives, as well as maybe others, as we struggle in difficulty.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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The Joy of LIfe In the Midst of a Culture of Death - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in John 10:31,

"Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, "I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?"

Jesus Christ came into the world to offer life. Eternal and abundant life. "For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it." John 5:21.

However, Jesus was strongly opposed by those who rejected his offer of life. They were consumed with just the opposite: death. All they wanted to do was to kill him. Jesus did many wonderful things, healing people, giving sight to the blind, feeding them miraculously, and so on. He ultimately gave his life to pay for all mankind's sins, yet all his opponents wanted to do was to destroy him.

This is the outlook of those who oppose Jesus Christ.

"At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds." John 8:59. "'But Rabbi,' they said, 'a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?'" John 11:8.

Ultimately, his enemies had him killed. However, when they did so, they merely carried out what he came to do, to offer his life as a ransom for all mankind.

That hatred continues today toward those of us who follow Jesus, "Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous. Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him." 1 John 3:12-15.

We live among those who pursue a culture of death. This is why we see the imperative to slaughter babies in their mother's wombs so insistently demanded. This is why we see Marxist states slaughter millions of their own people. Death and destruction reign within the hearts of the people of this lost and fallen world.

However, hope, joy, love and life reign in Jesus Christ! This is what he offers to each and every one of us.

What a contrast!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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Tying the Powerful Into Knots! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in John 9:13-15,

"They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man's eyes was a Sabbath. Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight."

Jesus healed a man born blind on the Sabbath. He didn't do it on a Friday and he didn't do it on a Monday. He did it on a Saturday -- the Sabbath.

This was not the only healing Jesus performed on a Sabbath. Another instance is found in John chapter 5. There we read about a disabled man who had been an invalid for 38 years. Again, even though the man had been disabled for years (and you might think any day would do), Jesus chose to heal him on the Sabbath and have him carry his mat.

The Pharisees and Jewish leaders kept the people under their thumb by using the law given to Moses. Sabbath-keeping was a key point, in my view, because if they could intimidate the people through controlling their activities, such as Sabbath-keeping, it would maintain their control over many aspects of people's lives. Control over others is the elixir that inebriates a certain kind of spiritually corrupt person. Sound familiar to today?

The people were afraid of these "leaders". Look at what concerned the blind man's parents as they answered questions put to them by these Jewish leaders in their investigation of the matter: "His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue." John 9:22. Not a retribution to take lightly as this would cut off their unfettered access to the community and probably impact their livelihood.

When Jesus went to the Festival of Tabernacles we read, "no one would say anything publicly about him [Jesus] for fear of the leaders." John 7:13. The Jews in Jesus' day were controlled by fear of the Jewish leaders through intimidation and the retribution they brought against those who challenged their power.

No surprise then that the Sabbath-keeping hammer the Jewish leaders used on the people became a target of Jesus to challenge these leaders who were fixated on controlling others. Clearly Jesus used his Sabbath healings as an intentional action to challenge these so-called "leaders" and to tie them up in knots! We read of Jesus baiting these leaders over their Sabbath-keeping hammer in John 7:21-24.

I marvel at the way Jesus disrupted the power structure of the day, exploiting his exposure of their hypocrisies to bring light into the darkness of this world, bringing a message of new life and freedom for all who will embrace him in faith.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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Invasion From Another Domain - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in John 8:23,

"You [the unbelieving Pharisees] are from below; I [Jesus] am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world."

Here is the clash between two different domains. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came from heaven into this dark world to invade it. He himself is spiritual light, while the people of this domain are lost in a spiritual darkness, "You are of this world; I am not of this world."

From our perspective, the singular point at which these two domains meet is the point of faith in Jesus Christ. If/when we embrace Jesus Christ in faith, we cross from the domain of darkness into the domain above, the domain of light, the domain Jesus came from when he came here to dwell with us for a short time. That was the specific purpose of Jesus coming to this dark and fallen world. He came to take all who are willing into his domain.

There is no other that has come among us from there (other than angelic visits, etc.) There is no other that can offer us an opportunity to enter that domain -- only Jesus Christ himself. He came from there and he can take us there with him.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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Expressions Of Truth and Deceit - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in John 7:47-49,

"'You mean he has deceived you also?' the Pharisees retorted. 'Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him? No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law—there is a curse on them.'"

The chief priests and Pharisees had sent the temple guards to go arrest Jesus who was teaching in the temple courts. When they returned empty-handed, the chief priests demanded to know why. The guards said they had never heard anything like Jesus' teaching, "'No one ever spoke the way this man does,' the guards replied." Verse 46.

This, of course, outraged the chief priests whose heated response is given in verses 47-49. I note the strong accusation of the chief priests, that the guards had allowed themselves to be deceived by Jesus' teachings.

I find it remarkable how people can be 180 degrees wrong and yet be so adamant about their perspective. Jesus spoke the truth, and these leaders of the Jews rejected the truth and framed it as falsehood. They were entirely confident that Jesus Christ was not the Son of God and that he was misleading people.

Truth is not determined by how impassioned people might be, how loud their voices might be, how strident they might be. Truth lies elsewhere. We might hope people hold to truth with determination, passion and stridency. Unfortunately, falsehood is often embraced just this way - just as the chief priests in Jesus' day.

Look at current events. Recall the "summer of love" in 2020 as roving mobs burned cities and attacked people who didn't see things their way? These "protesters" (hooligans) had determination, passion and stridency but what they lacked was the truth. Just like these chief priests of Jesus' day. And, even further, they interpreted truth as deceit, just like the chief priests.

Look at those demanding we embrace homosexuality, transgender access to bathrooms and girls sports, and abortion. These people hope we will be persuaded by their determination, passion and stridency.

Truth lies elsewhere - within the Son of God, "I am the way and the truth and the life." John 14:6a.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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Firmly In Hand - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in John 6:66 (that is an ominous reference!),

"From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him."

People often think in terms of Jesus' disciples as being the Twelve apostles: Peter, James, John, Andrew, Bartholomew (Nathanael), James ("the Lesser" or "Younger"), Judas, Thaddeus (Jude), Matthew (Levi), Philip, Simon (the Zealot) and Thomas.

However, the term "disciple" as used by John can mean any follower of Jesus Christ as a student of his teachings, etc. It does not necessarily convey that, as a disciple, a person had actually yet made that personal transaction of embracing Jesus Christ in faith and becoming one of his sheep, as in, "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand." John 10:27-28.

Here in John 6:66 it is clear that these disciples that turned from Jesus and no longer followed him were disciples in the sense of "inquirers", "students", or something of the sort. They were not born-again believers.

The Scriptures teach us in many places that when a person embraces Jesus Christ in faith, a transaction takes place where they will never, under any circumstances, be taken from the hand of the Lord, they are destined to eternal life. This is not based on our performance as believers, but rather on the faithfulness of God himself, who has made this promise. I like the way Paul expresses this in 1 Corinthians 1:8-9, "He [God] will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." Did you catch what Paul said there? "God is faithful" and that is why he will "keep you firm to the end".

The reason these disciples of Jesus turned back and no longer followed him is because God was not keeping them "firm to the end". They were following Jesus' teachings up to a point, but as the passage points out, they bailed when they would not accept what he was teaching in this passage.

By the way, speaking of the Twelve, here is a fun question: We read that the names of the twelve apostles will be on the twelve foundations of the "Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God", Revelation 21:10. "The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb." Revelation 21:14. Here is the set up: we read that the Twelve became the Eleven (a change in the title of the group, as well as acknowledging their number) following the betrayal of Jesus by Judas Iscariot, as in Acts 2:14, "Then Peter stood up with the Eleven...". However, prior to this we read of the impetuous Peter having the group cast lots to choose a replacement, to make up a full complement of twelve apostles, "Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles." Acts 1:26.

But then the Lord chose Paul to be an apostle in Acts 9. In 1 Corinthians 9:2 he tells the Corinthians, "you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord." Here is the question: who is the twelfth name on the foundations of the walls of the "Holy City''? Along with the original eleven (with the loss of Judas Iscariot), will it be Matthias? Paul? or who?

Just a fun question. Let me know what you think.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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Beyond NDEs - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in John 5:24-26,

"Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself."

I have a problem with the accounts of those who lay claim to a "Near Death Experience" (NDE). The term is a somewhat erroneous moniker as explained by the NDE website (a supporting site championing the phenomenon), https://near-death.com/death/ There it is explained, "The term 'near-death' is a misnomer because the evidence suggests that people actually journey beyond death during near-death experiences." This is my problem with the whole of it. There appears to me a difference between the cessation of all bodily functions and processes followed by resuscitation on the one hand, and being dead for four days with the body rotting and giving off a putrid odor (sorry for the disgusting picture here) and being given life. Maybe someone is claiming to have had an NDE in such a state, but I haven't heard of one.

The former is a fascinating experience that can lead to great book deals with the interest it generates. The latter is the experience of Lazarus that we read of in John 11. Jesus Christ, in a miracle that proved to be explosive to both those who embraced him and those who opposed him, gave Lazarus something that none of the NDE people have received: life from nothing (nothing but rotting flesh) except what the Lord himself gave him. This was no NDE! (A far death experience?)

We read in Hebrews 9:27 that we are all destined to die but once. In John 5:24-26, Jesus explains that he has within himself the incomprehensible energy of life itself, the life that provides us existence. With that he is able to call those who have been dead for even millenia back to life!

While we can enjoy Frankenstein movies this Halloween, remember it will take more than that lightning bolt to give life to what has long ago become inanimate. Only through the gift Jesus Christ gives when he calls his own will we regain life: eternal life with no need of NDEs, resuscitation, resurrection or whatever!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.

The Lord's Strategy of Progression - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in John 4:27,

"Just then his [Jesus'] disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, 'What do you want?' or 'Why are you talking with her?'"

While returning to Galilee from Judea, Jesus and his disciples took the road that led through Samaria. As they came to Sychar, where nearby was Jacob's well, Jesus, being tired from the journey, sat down at the well while his disciples went into town to look for food. A Samaritan woman came to draw water and Jesus engaged her in a dialog that was aimed at revealing himself to her (and through her to the local Samaritans) as the Messiah.

When Jesus' disciples returned from town, they were surprised to find Jesus talking with her. We read in verse 9, "The Samaritan woman said to him, 'You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?' (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)" Consequently, we read in verse 27, "Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, 'What do you want?' or 'Why are you talking with her?'" Clearly Jesus' disciples were unaware of his plans and intentions toward the Samaritans at this time (and probably with any outside the Jewish people). This would come later.

This speaks to me of the progressive nature of the Lord's agenda of the redemption of mankind. The whole of it has not been something that was delivered in full on a single occasion, but has come to us progressively over time. It began in the garden of Eden and continues to unfold until the end of the age. The Scriptures themselves were delivered to man in the very same way. Taking over 1,400 years and forty-some authors, the Lord's revelation to us has been a progressive and an accumulated delivery to us over time.

I sense this is a part of the Lord's nature. He knows we are small in every way compared to him and he often brings us along a step at a time. Might he be engaged in our lives in a similar way? Is he busy building us into what we need to become, a building block at a time, piece by piece? I see a hint of that in the reprimand of Hebrews 5:12-14, "In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil."

What might the Lord be doing in our lives in a progressive way today?

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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The Exposure of Evil Deeds - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in John 3:21,

"Whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God."

This passage is often thought of as an explanation that those who have embraced Jesus Christ in faith come into his illuminating light where it is evident their faith is manifested by their good deeds done in the sight of God.

Here is a different thought that strikes me this morning, and I could be way off here, (so for whatever it is worth): what if what is said in John 3:21 refers back to the previous verse, to hiding evil deeds? "Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed." Verse 20. Those who live by the truth recognize all that is done, good or bad, is done in God's penetrating light, and is seen and known by him. Those of faith are willing to embrace that exposure because they are confident all their sins have been forgiven. Those who reject Jesus Christ lack the confidence of forgiveness (for good reason!)

It is as if we are being told that believers have no problem knowing and accepting the reality of what the writer of Hebrews had to say, "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." Hebrews 4:13. On the other hand, those who refuse Jesus Christ keep their evil deeds covered up in a vain delusion of darkness

Just thinking out loud here. What do you think?

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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Money and the House of God - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in John 2:13-16,

"When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, 'Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father's house into a market!'"

Jesus made clear he did not want to see "my Father's house" turned into a market. This took place at the temple in Jerusalem. Today, we are God's house, "And we are his [God's] house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.: Hebrews 3:6. "As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 2:4-5.

As the house of God today, the people who make up the church, has it become a market? Does it please the Lord to see ecclesiastical bodies owning vast wealth, luxurious properties, opulent works of art and objects? Particularly when much of the funding of those things was harvested from the pew-run church goer? How about leaders of "ministries" jetting around in fabulous jets owned by their "non-profit"? What of those massive facilities with all the amenities? How about those "ministries" that have made millions of dollars by requesting the faithful to send in their "faith-promise pledge"?

Where is the Lord's heart on that? Does anyone care what he thinks? What do you think?

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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John the Baptist: A Most Amazing Man! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in John 1:6-8,

"There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light."

The "John" in the above verse refers to John the Baptist. Although we find the accounts of his story in our New Testaments, he is rightly considered to be the last of the Old Testament prophets. This is seen in the fact that his ministry began before the Son of God, Jesus Christ, was revealed and began his ministry of the redemption of mankind. The Old Testament gives way to the New in that John "came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light." Verse 7.

Jesus had to be revealed to John himself, who knew the Messiah was coming, but didn't know who he would be, "I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' I have seen and I testify that this is God's Chosen One." Verses 33-34.

With the proximity of Jesus arriving on the scene while John was pursuing the ministry given him, he is somewhat shadowed because of the surpassing glory of the revelation of the Son of God in Jesus Christ. Nevertheless, it is my perspective (along with many of us I'm sure) that enough cannot be said about the man and ministry of John the Baptist.

John was chosen by God to establish a sort of beachhead for Jesus' arrival. His mission seems best expressed in his own words, "the reason I came baptizing with water was that he [the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world] might be revealed to Israel." Verse 31. John himself was prophesied to appear in Israel by Isaiah (Isaiah 40:3), "A voice of one calling in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'". That "wilderness", in my mind, is not just a reference to the rural area of John's activities, but a reference to the great darkness Jesus entered into to bring about his atonement for mankind, "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome [or, "understood", "apprehended"] it.

John was a unique individual prepared for his ministry by God himself. He actually began his career as a prophet while still in his mother's womb! When Jesus' mother, Mary, became pregnant with Jesus, she hurried to her relative, Elizabeth, who was six months pregnant with John the Baptist. As Mary entered Elizabeth's home, Elizabeth exclaimed, "As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy." Luke 1:44.

John the Baptist, an amazing man with an amazing calling of God! Amazing because he was called by God to prepare the way for the transcendently majestic and glorious Son of God, Jesus Christ!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.

How Does This "Look" To You? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in John 21:12b ,

"None of the disciples dared ask him, 'Who are you?' They knew it was the Lord."

In one of his post-resurrection appearances (before seven of his disciples at this event), Jesus prepared a breakfast on a beach of the Sea of Galilee for them following an unfruitful night of fishing. At the end of the night Jesus gave them a tremendous net full of fish by having them cast it on the starboard side of their fishing boat. He then called his disciples over to where he had a fire with fish and bread on it. John says this was the third time Jesus appeared before his disciples following his resurrection.

I find the above observation of John interesting. He says that at the breakfast, "None of the disciples dared ask him, 'Who are you?' They knew it was the Lord." I have to think that observation could only be made if there was some reason Jesus was not immediately and visually identifiable. I note his disciples had already seen him twice since his resurrection in the locked room in Jerusalem.

I am reminded of Mary Magdalene's experience at Jesus' tomb, when she found it empty, "...she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus." John 20:14. That unrecognizable appearance to Mary may have been due to her stunned state in seeing her Lord, who two days earlier had been put to death. Or, was it because it was that he was not immediately and visually recognizable?

In Luke 24:13-16, we read, "Now that same day [Resurrection Sunday] two of them [Jesus' disciples] were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him." How were they kept from recognizing Jesus? Were their minds altered in some way? Or, was it due to Jesus not being immediately and visually recognizable?

I'm leaning toward the thought that Jesus had one or more altered appearances, that he looked different on these occasions, such that those who lived and traveled with him for several years were unable to recognize him. Did his death, burial and resurrection cause him to look differently? Did he take on a new appearance in his resurrected body?

 Another thought is that these disciples' minds were altered in a way that made him unrecognizable to them. I certainly don't know anything beyond what anybody else does.

I think there is enough here to be the basis for some interesting (and for all I know, unanswerable) questions. What about our appearance in the resurrection? John says, "Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is." 1 John 3:2. Does this relate to our physical appearance in the resurrection?

What do you think? How does this "look" to you?

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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Linen Strips and a Face Covering - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in John 20:3-7,

"So Peter and the other disciple [John] started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in.Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus' head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen."

This is the scene when Peter and John ran to the tomb when Mary Magdalene reported to them Jesus' tomb had been opened, early that Sunday morning of Jesus' resurrection.

I can't help but notice that we are told twice that Peter and John found the linen strips that Jesus had been buried in were lying where he had been laid, and then (once) that the cloth that had been used to wrap Jesus' face was "lying in its place, separate from the linen."

I don't know about you, but when things get repeated in Scriptures, I take notice. Sometimes there is a reason we are told something repeatedly and specifically: we are supposed to take note! What is the significance of repeating the observation of the linen strips and the very specific notation that, "The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen."? On the one hand it seems innocuous enough of a comment, but on the other, it seems to be a focus.

In John Gill's Exposition of the Bible, we read that the notation of the linen strips was to communicate that the body of Jesus had not been stolen, as surely, if there were thieves, they would not have taken the time to unwrap Jesus' body (which would have been extensive), "... and that is, that this head binder, or napkin, was not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself: and was plainly the effect of thought, care, and composure; and clearly showed, that the body was not taken away in a hurry, or by thieves, since everything lay in such order and decency; and which was done, either by our Lord himself, or by the angels."

The Jamieson, Faussett, and Brown commentary has a lofty view of the noted linen cloth and face covering, "And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes--not loosely, as if hastily thrown down, and indicative of a hurried and disorderly removal, but wrapped--folded, together in a place by itself--showing with what grand tranquillity 'the Living One' had walked forth from 'the dead' (Lu 24:5). 'Doubtless the two attendant angels (John 20:12) did this service for the Rising One, the one disposing of the linen clothes, the other of the napkin' [BENGEL].

What do you think the significance of the repeated observation is? Or, do you not see any significance?

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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Caring for Family - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in John 19:25-27,

"Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, 'Woman, here is your son,' and to the disciple, 'Here is your mother.' From that time on, this disciple took her into his home."

Joseph was surely deceased long before this time, and as Jesus was the firstborn son of the family, he had primary responsibility for it, including the care of his mother. As Jesus hung on that cross dying, he wanted to make sure his mother was cared for. We don't read of Jesus' brothers being present at his crucifixion, so Jesus asked John, the writer of this gospel, to take responsibility for his mother, Mary.

It is a touching scene in the midst of the most horrific moment in history. As the Son of God took upon himself the full fury of the wrath of God the Father for the sins of all mankind for all time, Jesus thought of his mother and the care she would need. The tremendous heart of love that would take our punishment for our sins upon himself, is at the same time concerned for the welfare of his mother.

It brings to mind many things. This morning Jesus' example brings to my mind the responsibility we all have toward those the Lord has placed in our families. I am reminded of Paul's words, "Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." 1 Timothy 5:8.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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Doing God a Favor?- Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in John 18:28,

"Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace, because they wanted to be able to eat the Passover."

Following Jesus' arrest and questioning first by Annas, the father-in-law to the high priest, Caiaphas, and then by Caiaphas himself, Jesus was taken to the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate. As the Jewish leaders took him to Pilate, they did not enter his palace. Pilate's palace was considered to be an "unclean" place by the Jews. For the Jewish leaders to go into the palace, it would have caused them to become ceremonially unclean and preclude their participation in the Passover due to the timing.

Passover is one of the three "pilgrimage festivals" and is an observance of when the death angel passed over the homes of the Israelites on the night of the most severe plague God brought on Egypt for not letting his people go at the time of the Exodus. All of Egypt's firstborn males were put to death by the destroying angel. God commanded the Israelites to commemorate the occasion by observing the Passover each year, "When the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites and Jebusites—the land he swore to your ancestors to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey—you are to observe this ceremony in this month..." Exodus 13:5.

While I'm sure there were social and community considerations by the Jewish leaders, what they were doing had its roots in attempting to live out the Mosaic law. So, what we have in John 18:28 is the specter of very religious Jewish leaders who made every attempt to carefully adhere to the religious calendar of the nation in order to keep God happy while not realizing they were setting about to kill his Son.

I wonder how many things people have done over the years, thinking they were doing God a favor and not realizing what was really before them?

Of course, it turns out what the Jewish leaders did ultimately fulfilled what God wanted, but look at just how deluded they were, how distant from actually being and doing what they assumed they were.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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Life Changing! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in John 17:17,

"Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth."

As Jesus prayed for his disciples, he asked the Father to sanctify them "by the truth" and goes on to say "your word is truth. It is clear that Jesus was acknowledging that sanctification comes through God's word.

What exactly is "sanctification"? I think Merriam-Webster does a good job with their definition, "to set apart to a sacred purpose or to religious use". In other words, to be consecrated to the things of God. Also, in the sense of purification, "to free from sin". Another definition they use is, "to make productive of holiness or piety". The synonyms they offer are, "cleanse", "purge" and "purify".

Here is a passage where Paul has sanctification in mind, "As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit." 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8.

The Bible is God's word and it is through God's word that we can apply ourselves to be what God's will is for us as Paul described in 1 Thessalonians 4:3, 7, "It is God's will that you should be sanctified... For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life."

Paul explains that it is the Scriptures that is God's word, "And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe." He is referring to the writings of Scripture, the very words of God, as that which is at work in the believers lives-- sanctification.

How important it is that we daily consume the word of God, our Bibles! Our growth in Jesus Christ takes place as we read, study, immerse ourselves in, memorize, meditate in the Scriptures. The Father's answer to the Son is that he has provided his word to us that we might be sanctified! It now behooves us to avail ourselves of God's word to become what God wants us to be  - to engage in a life changing process.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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Troubling Thoughts - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in John 16:33b,

"In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I [Jesus] have overcome the world."

Jesus warned his disciples that as believers they would have trouble in this world. But he followed it up with great news! He has overcome the world! We share in the benefits of his overcoming this world of trouble.

His words to his disciples are important for us today. We face troubles today and we need to know that Jesus Christ has overcome the world, that we have an exciting eternity that awaits us.

Here are a few passages on troubles:

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God." 2 Corinthians 1:3-4.

"God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels." 2 Thessalonians 1:6-7.

"Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?" Hebrews 12:7.

Not all so-called Christian ministries today feel we will have the kind of trouble Jesus spoke of. Try this as an example, "We believe God wants his children to prosper and have the nicer things in life ... We pray for God to bless folks with their own businesses, more money, finer homes and automobiles. We believe God's people can have the best of everything ... If people who don't believe in God almighty [sic] can pay their bills and have nice clothes, cars, plenty of money and beautiful homes, then God's children can too" See https://www.gospelway.com/god/health-wealth.php

Does that sound like trouble? I'm sticking to what Jesus had to say.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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Don't We All Worship the Same God? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in John 15:23,

"Whoever hates me hates my Father as well."

You hear it said from time to time, "We all acknowledge a higher power, even if we call him by different names." Or, "It really doesn't matter which religion you subscribe to, we all go to the same place."  Islam, Hinduism, Baha'i, Buddhism, Jainism, Shintoism, Sikhism, Taoism, Zoroastrianism, whatever-ism. A lot of paths are claimed to lead to the Eternal.

Jesus did not come with that message. He came with a different one. "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6. The apostle Peter told the rulers, elders and teachers of the law, "Jesus is 'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.' Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved." Acts 4:11-12.

In John 15:23 Jesus further said that whoever hates him also hates the Father. This is how closely they are identified as one. There simply is nothing else to lead us to eternal life except Jesus Christ. He is the only way! None of these other religions lead to our Father in heaven.

No -isms! Jesus Christ alone! If we fail to recognize him, we fail to recognize the Father as well!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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Love and Obedience - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in John 14:23-24,

"Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching."

Salvation is an affair of the heart, not of earned recompense. Salvation is something given, not earned. Our love for God is expressed in the faith we embrace him in. He has left only so much evidence of himself that, in order for us to embrace him in faith, we have to want him, desire him. For those who don't want God, any excuse to reject him will do.

Paul used Abraham as an example of how our salvation is not earned but given freely on the basis of faith, "If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. What does Scripture say? 'Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.'" Romans 4:2-3. He went on to say, "Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness." Verses 4-5. Here Paul clearly points out salvation is by faith, and that faith is not a "work." If it were, then God would be in a position of owing us our salvation - no longer a gift but an obligation.

In John 14:23-24, Jesus said that the outcome, the manifestation of our love for him would be evidenced by our obedience to him. The one leads to the next. We read of a question put to Jesus, "'What must we do to do the works God requires?' Jesus answered, 'The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.'" John 6:28-29.

Jesus is the one who did all the work, the heavy lifting, to make our salvation possible. When he died on that cross, he paid the penalty for all of our sins. All he asks of us is to embrace him in faith!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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Going Out Into the Night - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in John 13:30,

"As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night."

The Lord knew exactly what kind of choices Judas Iscariot would make. That doesn't mean the Lord preordained them but certainly saw what Judas would do. Some see the events of this night recorded in Psalm 41:9, "Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me." Whether that is the case or not, Judas made his choice: he rejected Jesus Christ and turned against him! As we see the events play out, the Lord used Judas' choice for his own purposes.

This was a horrific choice for Judas. Jesus had already taught the Jews, "I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins." John 8:24. This is the path Judas picked for himself. A dark path! He turned against what Jesus said he offers, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12.

How appropriate that when Judas acted to betray the Lord, he turned into the darkness - it was at night (in more ways than one for Judas!).

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.