Does Jesus really offer us a blank check? "If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it" (John 14:14, CSB). Surely sounds like a blank check. Put that in its context and you get a wonderfully complete picture. Everything starts with a deep and abiding relationship between Lord and disciple. It is out of a loving obedience (v.15) that Christ seals our relationship (Ephesians 1:13-14), filling us...  Read More

That phrase at the end of John 13:30 always gets me: "And it was night." More personally ominous is John's recording of Judas' experience...'and Satan entered him' (v.27). Of course, the two are related. Ironically, he whose name means 'light' (Lucifer) is the author of 'night'...everything devoid of God, and Jesus Who is the Light of the world. Pity the people walking about, stumbling and fumblin...  Read More

Jesus replied to him, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but you will [fully] understand it later.” (John 13:7, AMP)Can you identify? What? Wait? What's going on here? The Rabbi would never stoop to do the work of a slave, yet the Great Rabbi was washing his disciples' feet. Everyone knew the disciples served every desire and need of the Rabbi, yet these disciples in this moment were too bus...  Read More

Allow me to digress from our reading. Last evening as beautiful as it was outside, we took our chairs out, put them in a circle, prayed and pondered the Word. Even two Zoomers joined in. As we sat in the outdoor sanctuary, the presence of God was clearly with us. No cloud covered that sanctuary as it did for Solomon's temple dedication, but the witness of God's presence was felt. We took some time...  Read More

Have you ever thought of delighting God with your prayers? What would that look like? King Solomon was a prime example in the moment of his life we read about in 2 Chronicles 1:1-13. God: "Ask for any thing, Solomon." Solomon: "Give me wisdom." God heard his request, looked in his heart and gave him wisdom with everything that he did not request added. Jesus is the supreme example of delighting Go...  Read More

God rules and overrules His purpose to complete. From the Sanhedrin (Israel's political-religious ruling council) suggesting that they could control Jesus...'if we let him go on like this' (John 11:48)...to the High Priest believing he could manage the execution of one in place of the many (John 11:50), their arrogance becomes prophetic. For, behind the scenes and in front of their eyes, God was u...  Read More