What are we to do when faced with trials, suffering, hardship, sickness, or death? How are we to respond when God’s timing and purposes seem to be the complete opposite of what we expect from him? The interweaving stories of Jairus and the woman with the issue of blood both point us to our compassionate Savior and what it […]
“Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?” (Luke 8:25). Having just witnessed Jesus rebuke the wind and the waves, the disciples posed this question among themselves. They knew that controlling the forces of nature and calming the raging seas are activities that only God himself could do (see Psalm 107:28-29). But […]
The healing of the centurion’s servant—like the many other miracle accounts in the Gospels—is often understood to be highlighting the faith or belief of the centurion. Indeed, he is an admirable character, one to whom Jesus marvels and says, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith” (Luke 7:9). However, while his posture […]
Following Jesus’ declaration of coming not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance, the Pharisees and scribes immediately defend their religiosity. Rather than hear, understand, and recognize their sinful condition before a holy God, they continue to boast in their self-righteousness and cling to their faithful law-keeping. But Jesus explains that the old covenant system of approaching […]
We would imagine Luke’s gospel – an account of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus – to begin with the story of Christ’s birth. However, Luke does not start with the announcement of the coming Messiah, but with the announcement of the coming messenger, John the Baptist: “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare […]
The prayers of Paul as recorded in his epistles are profound – not simply because of what they include, but also because of what they don’t include. As Pastor Tim Keller notes in his book on prayer: “It is remarkable that in all of his writings Paul’s prayers for his friends contain no appeals for changes in their circumstances.” While […]
The good news, which we marveled at in Ephesians 2:1-10, profoundly alters the way we understand who the people of God truly are. The Ephesians were uncircumcised Gentiles, not circumcised Jews. They were not the physical descendants of Abraham. In fact, they were “alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, […]
Just as we were once characterized by our spiritual death and alienation from and hatred of God, his immeasurable power in the gospel of grace has miraculously brought us from death to life for good works: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in […]
Despite adversity and danger from his enemies, David continually trusted in the Lord for his preservation and security. Here in Psalm 16, David begins by petitioning God for protection yet immediately begins to recount the deep joys and blessings that his God is to him! This rehearsal of who God is and has been brings […]
