Encounter the Truth

Jesus now appears to the Eleven, shows the truth of the resurrection, and opens their minds to see the whole sweep of God's salvation plan. He then returns to heaven to complete his journey. So we see the completion of Jesus' return to paradise, as well as the completion of the journey of the disciples in understanding who Jesus is and what he came to do.

The followers of Jesus do not yet understand all that has taken place, but the risen Jesus shows them from the Scriptures the greater plan of God concerning himself. Their hearts burn as he opens the Scriptures, but only through the miraculous work of Jesus are their eyes opened to recognize him.

The followers of Jesus do not yet understand all that has taken place, but the risen Jesus shows them from the Scriptures the greater plan of God concerning himself. Their hearts burn as he opens the Scriptures, but only through the miraculous work of Jesus are their eyes opened to recognize him.

Just as he promised, Jesus has died and risen again. And because his word has been fulfilled, his invitation to paradise has been validated as true. And now we trust and serve a risen Lord. Our challenge is not to write off this miracle (as the apostles did initially), but simply to believe that it is true.

Jesus bears the judgment of God (symbolised by darkness) to open the way to his presence (symbolized by the tearing of the curtain). We look on in quietness and wonder (as the women did)—and we respond with grateful and costly devotion (as Joseph did).

Here we finally begin to see more appropriate responses to Jesus, mixed with continued mocking. Women mourn for him, and the criminal asks to be remembered by him. Ultimately, we must approach Jesus as he did—with nothing to offer, only humbly asking for his kindness toward us—that we too may have his welcome in paradise.

Here we finally begin to see more appropriate responses to Jesus, mixed with continued mocking. Women mourn for him, and the criminal asks to be remembered by him. Ultimately, we must approach Jesus as he did—with nothing to offer, only humbly asking for his kindness toward us—that we too may have his welcome in paradise.

The whole process of the trial is shown to be an act of great injustice as the Righteous Lord submits himself to the judgment of unrighteous men. Again, we are to marvel at what Jesus endured for us, the guilty. And we are to take warning from the crowds who called for his death rather than falling before him in worship.

The whole process of the trial is shown to be an act of great injustice as the Righteous Lord submits himself to the judgment of unrighteous men. Again, we are to marvel at what Jesus endured for us, the guilty. And we are to take warning from the crowds who called for his death rather than falling before him in worship.

On his way to the cross, Jesus faces abandonment by his closest allies. He alone can atone for sin—and he faces the cross alone. Our response is to marvel at what he underwent for us—and then to learn from the failings of his disciples and never desert our Saviour.

On his way to the cross, Jesus faces abandonment by his closest allies. He alone can atone for sin—and he faces the cross alone. Our response is to marvel at what he underwent for us—and then to learn from the failings of his disciples and never desert our Saviour.

Solomon's glorious reign ended in tragedy. He turned to foreign wives and foreign gods. This is a cautionary tale for us; starting well is not the same as ending well. This also teaches us that Solomon is not the ultimate King to whom the promises of God point. There is indeed a greater King to come!

Solomon's glorious reign ended in tragedy. He turned to foreign wives and foreign gods. This is a cautionary tale for us; starting well is not the same as ending well. This also teaches us that Solomon is not the ultimate King to whom the promises of God point. There is indeed a greater King to come!

Solomon's wealth and wisdom were a wonder to behold. As the Lord's representative and ruler, he showed something of the Lord's greatness to the nations. In this sense, he points us to glory of the Lord Jesus Christ and the majesty of His Kingdom.

Solomon's wealth and wisdom were a wonder to behold. As the Lord's representative and ruler, he showed something of the Lord's greatness to the nations. In this sense, he points us to glory of the Lord Jesus Christ and the majesty of His Kingdom.

At the completion of the temple, Solomon prays for the people—that the Lord might be gracious to them and bless them. He then represents the people in offering praise and sacrifice to the Lord, and the people go home joyful for the Lord's goodness to them. Here we have a picture of the bliss of living under the Lord's King and in the Lord's presence—a beautiful picture of what it will be like to live in the heavenly Jerusalem.

At the completion of the temple, Solomon prays for the people—that the Lord might be gracious to them and bless them. He then represents the people in offering praise and sacrifice to the Lord, and the people go home joyful for the Lord's goodness to them. Here we have a picture of the bliss of living under the Lord's King and in the Lord's presence—a beautiful picture of what it will be like to live in the heavenly Jerusalem.

Through the obedience of a king who was a man of rest (and not of war), the Lord caused His temple to be completed as a fittingly beautiful house, so that He might dwell among the people. As Solomon labours in obedience to the Lord to complete this great project, we learn a pattern and key principles for how the work of the Kingdom moves forward.

Through the obedience of a king who was a man of rest (and not of war), the Lord caused His temple to be completed as a fittingly beautiful house, so that He might dwell among the people. As Solomon labours in obedience to the Lord to complete this great project, we learn a pattern and key principles for how the work of the Kingdom moves forward.

King Solomon loved the Lord, and the Lord's blessing rested on him in the gifts of wisdom and material abundance. The blessing of the king resulted in the blessing of the people. This truly was a golden age in the life of Israel—and a great picture of a day to come when the Lord's people will live under the rule of his greater King in his greater kingdom.

King Solomon loved the Lord, and the Lord's blessing rested on him in the gifts of wisdom and material abundance. The blessing of the king resulted in the blessing of the people. This truly was a golden age in the life of Israel—and a great picture of a day to come when the Lord's people will live under the rule of his greater King in his greater kingdom.

Despite the frailty of human leaders and the sin of human opponents, God's king, Solomon, is enthroned and his plan for his people is moving forward, all in accordance with the promises of his word.

Despite the frailty of human leaders and the sin of human opponents, God's king, Solomon, is enthroned and his plan for his people is moving forward, all in accordance with the promises of his word.

Ultimately, the gospel will mean that God's people will be devoted to doing good works. Those works don't save us—but they are the natural result of our salvation. Those who refuse to live in this way have clearly not been transformed by God's kindness.

Ultimately, the gospel will mean that God's people will be devoted to doing good works. Those works don't save us—but they are the natural result of our salvation. Those who refuse to live in this way have clearly not been transformed by God's kindness.

Self-control and a gracious attitude toward others must mark the Christian—and must set us apart from the culture around us. But we will only know how to do this when we remember how incredibly gracious and kind God has been to us in the gospel. Without his gracious intervention in our lives, we would be just like those around us.

Self-control and a gracious attitude toward others must mark the Christian—and must set us apart from the culture around us. But we will only know how to do this when we remember how incredibly gracious and kind God has been to us in the gospel. Without his gracious intervention in our lives, we would be just like those around us.

Life-transformation does not come out of nowhere—and we cannot achieve it by ourselves. It only comes through the power of the gospel. Having told us how we need to live, Paul now reminds of why and how this is possible.

Life-transformation does not come out of nowhere—and we cannot achieve it by ourselves. It only comes through the power of the gospel. Having told us how we need to live, Paul now reminds of why and how this is possible.

We need help knowing how to apply the gospel to our everyday lives. Here Paul breaks down the church into age-and-stage groups and tells each one of us what godly living in accordance with the truth looks like. What practical teaching—and how badly we need it!

We need help knowing how to apply the gospel to our everyday lives. Here Paul breaks down the church into age-and-stage groups and tells each one of us what godly living in accordance with the truth looks like. What practical teaching—and how badly we need it!

The church at Crete faces challenges on every side. Crete is a toxic culture, and there is false teaching threatening the church. This is why a godly eldership is needed to protect the church from error. And this is why Paul is so concerned that the believers will live out their faith in integrity. The culture will call them to compromise at every turn. How very contemporary all of this sounds!

The church at Crete faces challenges on every side. Crete is a toxic culture, and there is false teaching threatening the church. This is why a godly eldership is needed to protect the church from error. And this is why Paul is so concerned that the believers will live out their faith in integrity. The culture will call them to compromise at every turn. How very contemporary all of this sounds!

The church is not complete until godly elders have been put in place. These elders must not only know the truth and defend it from error; they must live out the truth with integrity.

The church is not complete until godly elders have been put in place. These elders must not only know the truth and defend it from error; they must live out the truth with integrity.

Paul writes this letter with the explicit concern that believers at Crete will have a deep knowledge of the truth that “accords with godliness.” He does not want believers just to have "head knowledge"—but to live out the truth in godliness. Doctrine that does not result in godly living is not the real deal.

Paul writes this letter with the explicit concern that believers at Crete will have a deep knowledge of the truth that “accords with godliness.” He does not want believers just to have "head knowledge"—but to live out the truth in godliness. Doctrine that does not result in godly living is not the real deal.

Abraham seeks to be faithful in finding a wife for Isaac from among his family (and not the surrounding nations) and in staying in the land of promise. God honours this in providing Rebekah for Isaac. Thus the family line is secured, and Abraham dies enjoying the blessing of God on every side. Despite all the ups and downs of his faith and failure, God has blessed him and his family, just as he promised.

Abraham seeks to be faithful in finding a wife for Isaac from among his family (and not the surrounding nations) and in staying in the land of promise. God honours this in providing Rebekah for Isaac. Thus the family line is secured, and Abraham dies enjoying the blessing of God on every side. Despite all the ups and downs of his faith and failure, God has blessed him and his family, just as he promised.

Abraham's decision to buy a parcel of land in the promised land to bury Sarah affirms his trust in the Lord's promise that this land will be his and his children's. Yet, the fact that Sarah dies there as a sojourner and the fact that so much of the covenant promise has yet to be fulfilled acts as a stark reminder that God's people are sojourners on this earth, awaiting the fulfilment of all God's promises in the land yet to come. Do we live in this world as sojourners, trusting in the promises of a homeland above?

Abraham's decision to buy a parcel of land in the promised land to bury Sarah affirms his trust in the Lord's promise that this land will be his and his children's. Yet, the fact that Sarah dies there as a sojourner and the fact that so much of the covenant promise has yet to be fulfilled acts as a stark reminder that God's people are sojourners on this earth, awaiting the fulfilment of all God's promises in the land yet to come. Do we live in this world as sojourners, trusting in the promises of a homeland above?

In a very great test of faith, Abraham is called to give up Isaac and trust God's power to restore him. God does so by providing a sacrifice in his place. Here on the mount we are given a picture of what God will do to keep and fulfil his covenant—he will give his own Son to be the sacrifice and the substitution.

In a very great test of faith, Abraham is called to give up Isaac and trust God's power to restore him. God does so by providing a sacrifice in his place. Here on the mount we are given a picture of what God will do to keep and fulfil his covenant—he will give his own Son to be the sacrifice and the substitution.

Despite all the improbability of an elderly and childless couple having a son, God keeps his promise and gives Isaac to Abraham and Sarah. His faithfulness to the promise has not been undermined by the sin and failure of his servants. In addition to this, God shows his faithfulness to Hagar and Ishmael. God is entirely faithful to his promises—more faithful than we can imagine or comprehend.

Despite all the improbability of an elderly and childless couple having a son, God keeps his promise and gives Isaac to Abraham and Sarah. His faithfulness to the promise has not been undermined by the sin and failure of his servants. In addition to this, God shows his faithfulness to Hagar and Ishmael. God is entirely faithful to his promises—more faithful than we can imagine or comprehend.

In a very unfortunate case of déjà vu, Abraham fears for his own safety on account of his wife as he leads his family into foreign territory. As he did in Egypt some 35 years before, he decides to pretend she is merely his sister to escape any trouble on her account. In the events that ensue, a Gentile king puts Abraham to shame by his good behaviour—and God shows his faithfulness to his faltering servant.

In a very unfortunate case of déjà vu, Abraham fears for his own safety on account of his wife as he leads his family into foreign territory. As he did in Egypt some 35 years before, he decides to pretend she is merely his sister to escape any trouble on her account. In the events that ensue, a Gentile king puts Abraham to shame by his good behaviour—and God shows his faithfulness to his faltering servant.

Here we see the ugliness of sin unveiled, the judgment of God revealed, and his mercy poured out. We see judgment on Sodom and mercy and salvation in the rescue of Lot and his undeserving family. Tragically, salvation from Sodom does not purge sin from the heart, as the sin of Lot's family so vividly illustrates.

Here we see the ugliness of sin unveiled, the judgment of God revealed, and his mercy poured out. We see judgment on Sodom and mercy and salvation in the rescue of Lot and his undeserving family. Tragically, salvation from Sodom does not purge sin from the heart, as the sin of Lot's family so vividly illustrates.

Divine messengers come to Abram's home to bring the good news of the blessing of a child to come. But the same messengers who visit Abram with news of divine favour have as their next destination the sinful city of Sodom, where judgment will fall. It is a powerful reminder that the Lord who blesses is also the Lord who judges.

Divine messengers come to Abram's home to bring the good news of the blessing of a child to come. But the same messengers who visit Abram with news of divine favour have as their next destination the sinful city of Sodom, where judgment will fall. It is a powerful reminder that the Lord who blesses is also the Lord who judges.