In today’s Bible reading* we see stories of Jesus healing and restoring people. But he doesn’t just heal everyone. And He doesn’t restore everyone. The LeperA key factor in Jesus’ healing ministry was the faith of the one requesting the healing. The leper asked Jesus to make him clean, to remove his leprosy. He simply…
In today’s Bible reading* we read a familiar story about the power of eyewitness testimony. It’s the story of Jesus’ encounter with a Samaritan woman at Jacob’s Well in Sychar. The shortest path to Galilee from Judea would take them through Samaria, but most Jews went out of their way (literally), crossing and traveling East…
In today’s Bible reading* we read about Jesus getting up first thing in the morning, to withdraw to a deserted place and prayed. (Mark 1:35) But it wasn’t just that He prayed. The Christian Standard Bible rightly translates the verb as, “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he got up, went…
In today’s Bible reading* we read about the beginning of Jesus’ ministry after His baptism. As He called His Disciples, they dropped whatever they were doing and immediately followed Him. (Matthew 4:20, 22; Mark 1:20) It’s important to note that James and John were fishermen with their father, Zebedee, and some hired men. (Mark 1:20)…
In today’s Bible reading* we read of John the Baptizer’s prophecy that One would come to baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. All four Gospels present this encounter between John and his audience. He describes Jesus’ baptism with fire as being a baptism of judgment, where God’s people would be separated for eternity in…
You’re probably somewhat familiar with the Magi in the Christmas story in today’s Bible reading. Normally when we think of the Christmas story, we think of the shepherds and the three Magi who bring their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to Jesus in the stable. Unfortunately, that’s not the way the story is presented…
