Colossians 2:14, ‘He cancelled the record of debt that stood against us, with its legal demands; this He set aside, nailing it to the cross.’ ‘Nailing it to the cross.’ This is crucifixion language…Paul sees no tension whatsoever in affirming that Jesus Christ is the image of God, the Ruler of Creation, the Source and […]
John 11:21, ‘If you had been here…’ ‘If you had…’ — With these words, Martha’s imagination conjures a state of affairs that she believes would have been better than what has, in fact, happened…If Jesus had been here, Lazarus would not have died, she and her sister would have been spared the pain of loss,
Luke 24:50, ‘And, lifting up His hands, He blessed them.’ These are the same hands that Jesus displayed to His disciples in v.39, the hands bearing the wounds of His crucifixion, which is to say, wounds that bear witness to the disciples’ sin and the condemnation due that sin. More than this, in those
Proverbs 30:5, ‘Every word of God proves true; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.’ A number of things to note in this verse. First, see the wonderful hope (or terrifying certainty, depending on the posture of our soul toward Him) that every single word God speaks WILL prove true. Period.
Matt. 4:4, ‘It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” Satan asks Jesus to turn stones into bread in order to prove that He is indeed the Son of God. Except, recall that the Father has just proclaimed Jesus to be
Mark 2:11, “I say to you, rise, take up your bed, and go to your home.” Jesus does not say to the paralytic, “you are healed of your paralysis,” or “I take away your disability,” rather, He COMMANDS the man to do what is—for him in his disabled state—impossible (ie, “rise, take up your
Psalm 12:2, 6, “Everyone utters lies to his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.” /// “The words of YHWH are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times.” See the contrast implicit in the two verses above. Human words are alloyed with deceptive meaning,
1 Peter 1:18, “…you were ransomed…with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world…” According to these verses, Christ was foreknown in the mind of God “before” the beginning of creation. But notice specifically how Christ was foreknown: as
Matthew 26:39, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me…” Mark 14:36, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me…” Luke 22:42, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me…” John 18:11, “Shall I not drink the cup that the Father has
Matthew 26:39 + Mark 14:36 + Luke 22:42 + John 18:11 Read More »
Romans 3:26, “…it was to show God’s righteousness at the present time, so that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” In reading through Romans 3 this morning I was once again struck by how Paul emphasizes what the cross tells us about GOD as
Notice the repeated Hebrew word for Banner/Signal (נס) in the following verses: Exodus 17:15, “And Moses built an altar and called the name of it, ‘YHWH Is My Banner (נס)” – YHWH as נס Numbers 21:8, “And YHWH said to Moses, ‘Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole (נס), and
Exodus 17:15 + Numbers 21:8 + Isaiah 11:10-12 + John 3:14-15 Read More »
Hebrews 6:19-20,” We have this [hope] as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf…” Our oath-assured, blood-secured hope is to enter the Sabbath Rest of our Triune God through the person and work
Exodus 28:29, “So [the high priest] shall bear the names of the sons of Israel in the breastpiece of judgment on his heart, when he goes into the Holy Place, to bring them to regular remembrance before the LORD.” Hebrews 8:1, “We have such a high priest…”
Exodus 28:29 + Hebrews 8:1 Read More »
Matthew 1:21, “…and you shall call His name Jesus [which means, “YHWH Saves”], for He will save His people from their sins.”
Mark 1: John is presented as Elijah (v.6), Jesus is baptized (v.9), the heavens are torn (v.10), the Spirit descends on Jesus (v.10), the Father declares that Jesus is His Son (v.11). Mark 15: Scoffers ask whether Elijah will come (v.35), Jesus is crucified (v.24), the curtain of the temple is torn (v.38), The
Psalm 139:16, “…all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Revelation 21:4, “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes…” What a comfort to cast ourselves on the Sovereignty of Overcoming Love.
Psalm 139:16 + Revelation 21:4 Read More »
Matthew 18:27, “…the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt…” Colossians 2:14, “…nailing it to the cross.”
Matthew 18:27 + Colossians 2:14 + Romans 3:23 Read More »
Psalm 19, The word of Creation and the word of Scripture point to, are illuminated by, and are summed up in the Word Incarnate.
Luke 14:33, “…anyone of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.” All held in open hands…
