Song of Songs, 3:11, ‘…look upon King Solomon, with the crown with which his mother crowned him on the day of his wedding, on the day of the gladness of his heart.’ Now, at first, today’s picture may not seem to fit at all with the chosen text. However, there is a connection that was …
Hebrews 12:2, ‘…looking to Jesus, the originator and perfector of faith.’ One of the surest ways to descend into a labyrinth of confusion, apprehension, and spiritual weakness is to make our own faith the object of our scrutiny. ‘Am I really trusting?’ ‘Is my faith sincere?’ ‘Is my faith strong enough?’ etc. Questions like those …
The Paschal Trilogy – Part I/III – Good Friday Leviticus 17:11, ‘…the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls…’ When YHWH spoke these words to Moses, the primary referent was the animal sacrifices that God provided to deal …
Ephesians 5:20, [give] ‘thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ…’ Consider that the Holy Spirit calls us to give thanks *always* and for *everything.* Of course, this is easy (though we still often forget) when our bodies are healthy and our loved ones are safe …
Luke 9:58, ‘Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.’ The Text Considered In this world, the Incarnate Word of God in whom all of reality is upheld, had no where to lay His head, no place that was true His home. …
John 6:51, “…the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” The bread that fed the multitudes was given to the people only in its being broken (Mark 8:6). Were it not broken, it could not have been given….and it is only in the breaking that it becomes …
Matt. 26:30, “When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.” The “hymn” that Jesus and His disciples sang here was likely the “Hallel,” which encompasses Psalm 113-118. These Psalms are rich and multifaceted, but a common theme shared amongst them all is YHWH’s deliverance of His people, especially …
In Matthew 27:29, we see the Roman soldiers scoff at the claim that Jesus is the King of the Jews by placing a crown of thorns on his head and putting a reed in his hand as a mock scepter. However, their attempts to malign Christ are, for those with eyes to see, transfigured …
Revelation 4:6, “And around the throne…are four living creatures…” In the central vision of Revelation (ch. 4-5), John stands before the throne of God. Four “living creatures” surround the throne and ceaselessly sing the praises of the one seated thereon. To this point, John’s vision of the divine throne room largely agrees with other …
John 19:14, “Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover.” John mentions no account of Jesus’ Last Supper with His disciples. He does, of course, recount a lengthy discourse Jesus had with His disciples at a supper (13:1-2), but we never get a traditional account of the institution of the Lord’s Supper …
John 9:25, “…I was blind, now I see.” 2 Corinthians 4:6, “God…has shone into our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” To see the beauty of God, shining from the face that was marred beyond human semblance for our sin–that is …
Joel 2:32, “…everyone who calls on the name of YHWH shall be saved.” Luke 23:42, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom…” Paradise opened to the thief when he called on the name of YHWH incarnate, Jesus Christ (whose name means “YHWH Saves”).
John 2:10, “…you have kept the good wine until now.” (See also John 1:16-17)
Isaiah 13:13, “…the earth will be shaken out of its place, at the wrath of the LORD of hosts in the day of His fierce anger.” Matthew 27:50-51, “And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up His spirit…And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.” If you are …
Isaiah 5:25,”…His anger has not turned away…” Isaiah 9:12, “…His anger has not turned away…” Isaiah 9:17, “…His anger has not turned away…” Isaiah 9:21, “…His anger has not turned away…” Isaiah 10:4, “…His anger has not turned away…” Isaiah 12:1, “…your anger turned away, that you might comfort me.” Hallowed be His Name.
Genesis 2:7, “Then YHWH God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life…” Luke 23:46, “And having said this, [Jesus] breathed His last…” In the Garden, God’s breath creates humanity, at the cross His breath re-creates it.
Luke 7:48, “And He said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’” Jesus suffered beyond imagination so that anyone who receives Him as Lord and God can hear this words spoken over them from the throne of the universe–today.
Mark 15:15, “…and having scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.” Isaiah 53:5, “…and with His stripes, we are healed.” There is no God like YHWH
John 19:34, “But one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.” Ezekiel 47:1, “…and behold, water was issuing from below the threshold of the temple…” The waters of eternal life flow out into all the earth only because the true “Temple” was pierced on …
Psalm 114:7-8, “Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob, who turns the rock into a pool of water…” Matthew 27:51, “And the earth shook, and the rocks were split”
