The Elephant in the Room Who is Jesus? part 51 - John 4:46-51 Some things are often left unspoken. I was taught that politics and religion are not topics for discussion. However, avoiding political conversations has led to political ignorance, support for extremist views, and an increase in fear of foreigners. Ignorance of Jesus' teachings …
Continue reading Understanding Jesus’ Teachings Beyond Miracles
Scoring an own goal Who is Jesus? part 5 - John 4:25-26 I skipped over this one; it would break the chain of thought I was on. This is another example of the evangelist John's sense of humour. 25 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he …
Revival in the wrong place Who is Jesus? part 49 - John 4:39-45 Ever been in a hurry and chosen the quickest route instead of the safest, only to discover it was safe after all? If yes, read on... 39 Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, “He told me all that I …
Continue reading Lessons from the Samaritan Woman: Faith and Revival
Jesus messes with the disciples Who is Jesus? part 48 - John 4:27-38 One of my traits is that I can get really focused on something and lose track of time, often skipping meals. This isn't great for someone with diabetes. Before marriage and diabetes, I sometimes had my late evening meal, my last meal …
Continue reading Understanding Jesus’ Teachings on Mindfulness
Where is God worshipped? Who is Jesus? part 47 - John 4:16-26 Where is God worshipped? Many people think of a church or cathedral. When they want to worship, they go to a place. While it's true that people gather to worship, others prefer to be alone. Some may meditate quietly in a room, while …
Continue reading Jesus, Worship, and the Spirit: Insights from John 4
Surprise! Who is Jesus? part 46 - John 4:4-15 I was surprised while studying for this post. There was no straightforward answer to my question, "What is living water?" Many answers discussed its spiritual meaning, but I wanted a simple explanation. I was curious about what a Samaritan woman 2000 years ago would have understood …
The bridegroom is descending Who is Jesus? part 45 – John 3:22-4:3 Brides magazine is no longer available in print but still exists online. When my fiancée and I were planning our wedding, I noticed that 1980s articles focused entirely on the bride: the wedding dress, reception venue, cake, and honeymoon destination were all her …
Continue reading The Role of John the Baptist: A Bridegroom Analogy
Snake on a stick Who is Jesus? part 43 – John 3:12-21 When we had our children, we took a family holiday to Rhodes, Greece. We stayed in Lindos, in a converted fisherman's cottage with a view of the Acropolis. The nearby beach, Saint Paul's Bay, is named after the legend that Saint Paul landed …
Continue reading Lessons from the Snake on a Stick: Biblical Reflections
God so loved Who is Jesus? part 43 – John 3:12-21 part a Does the phrase "I gifted it to him" bother anyone else like it does me? I don’t recall using 'gift' as a verb during school or in my early adult life, but now terms like 'gifting' and 'gifted' are common. To me, it feels like …
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Born of the Spirit Who is Jesus? part 42 – John 2:23-3:13 It's important to look at this from another angle. I previously analysed the Born Again verses since they are often preached and misunderstood. I found that being born again is significant, but the source of that rebirth is what really matters. Now, I'll …
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Making an ass of myself 