Category Archives: Uncategorized

This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to publicContinue reading “Joseph’s dream”

“His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the Bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.“‘So take the bagContinue reading “Shrinking servant”

Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? John 14:8-9, NIV It is hard toContinue reading “Show us the Father”

ὅπου ἐὰν ᾖ τὸ πτῶμα, ἐκεῖ συναχθήσονται οἱ ἀετοί. Matt 24:28 SBL Greek NT Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather. Matt 24:28 NIV (RSV and others have “eagles”) In the middle of Matthew’s version of what has been called “the Synoptic Apocalypse”, we have this strange statement. Or at least weContinue reading “The true meaning of …eagles and corpses”

“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn “‘a man against his father,a daughter against her mother,a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law —a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ “Anyone whoContinue reading “Not Peace but a Sword”

Matt 6:31-33 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to youContinue reading “The wood for the trees”

Matt 4:1-11 In the previous post, I commented that Jesus didn’t show up on Satan’s ‘radar’ between the point where Herod’s attack was thwarted until He is baptised and the Spirit of God alights on Him. And at that point, Satan still doesn’t know just what the plan is (he wouldn’t know that until afterContinue reading “Tricksy”

Matt 3:15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτόν· Ἄφες ἄρτι, οὕτως γὰρ πρέπον ἐστὶν ἡμῖν πληρῶσαι πᾶσαν δικαιοσύνην. τότε ἀφίησιν αὐτόν. John is baptising in the Jordan and issues a warning, namelyContinue reading “Street Legal”

Mark 6:13 / James 5:14 They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them. Mark 6:13, NIV This verse sticks out like a sore thumb (or possibly like a well bandaged and anointed sore thumb). Why? Jesus has given the 12 authority over the unclean spirits (τῶν πνευμάτων τῶνContinue reading “Healing Oil”

Mark 9:30-37 They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.”Continue reading “Calculating Leadership”