Podcasts about who jesus

Pastor Luke preached from Mark 1:1-8 and explored WHO Jesus is and covered John the Baptists preparation for the coming of the Messiah. ++++++++++++++ Download the Church App here: https://bit.ly/3vxVr8q  If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave a comment below

Even here in His "suffering under Pontius Pilate," Jesus is shown to be both God and man; the Son of God and the Son of Man. He is the King and no Roman governor or Jewish ruling council could change Who Jesus is.

Pastor JD answers the question of, “Do I really know the reality of Who Jesus is?” by way of the text posing and answering 3-questions specific to really knowing what the real Jesus does, how the real Jesus acts and Who the real Jesus is.

Pastor JD answers the question of, “Do I really know the reality of Who Jesus is?” by way of the text posing and answering 3-questions specific to really knowing what the real Jesus does, how the real Jesus acts and Who the real Jesus is.Social MediaApple App Store: https://subsplash.com/calvarychapelkaneohe/appGoogle Play: https://subsplash.com/calvarychapelkaneohe/appAmazon Appstore: https://subsplash.com/calvarychapelkaneohe/appRoku Channel Store: https://subsplash.com/calvarychapelkaneohe/appProphecy Website: http://jdfarag.orgChurch Website: http://www.calvarychapelkaneohe.com/X: https://x.com/JDFaragFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/JDFarag/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/JDFarag/

We enter the holy ground of Isaiah 52 and 53, forbidden to some Jews, but welcomed with thanksgiving by children of God. Put away all false pictures and videos and movies and series of Who Jesus is, and listen to the pure Word of God spoken through Isaiah... a true portrait of the Christ.

*Sermon starts at 12:05*What does it really mean to follow Jesus? In this message from Mark 8, guest speaker Andrew Bunt explores Jesus' challenging invitation to discipleship: a path of self-denial, carrying our cross, and following Him wholeheartedly. Far from promising an easy life, Jesus calls us to a way of surrender that leads to true life and deeper relationship with Him.Drawing from Mark 8:27–37, Andrew unpacks Jesus' words to His disciples and challenges us to reflect honestly on what faithful discipleship looks like today. What does it mean to deny ourselves in a culture built around self-expression and self-fulfilment? How do we follow Jesus when it is costly, painful, or misunderstood?In this sermon, we explore:• Who Jesus really is – Peter's declaration that Jesus is the Christ• The unexpected path of Jesus – suffering, death, and resurrection• What it means to follow Jesus – denying ourselves, taking up our cross, and following Him• Why following Jesus is worth it – losing our lives to find true life in HimAndrew also shares personally about following Jesus in costly areas of life, reminding us that while discipleship can be difficult, it ultimately leads to freedom, intimacy with God, and lasting hope.Whether you're exploring faith or have followed Jesus for years, this message invites us all to consider: What does it really look like to follow Jesus?

*Sermon starts at 12:05*What does it really mean to follow Jesus? In this message from Mark 8, guest speaker Andrew Bunt explores Jesus' challenging invitation to discipleship: a path of self-denial, carrying our cross, and following Him wholeheartedly. Far from promising an easy life, Jesus calls us to a way of surrender that leads to true life and deeper relationship with Him.Drawing from Mark 8:27–37, Andrew unpacks Jesus' words to His disciples and challenges us to reflect honestly on what faithful discipleship looks like today. What does it mean to deny ourselves in a culture built around self-expression and self-fulfilment? How do we follow Jesus when it is costly, painful, or misunderstood?In this sermon, we explore:• Who Jesus really is – Peter's declaration that Jesus is the Christ• The unexpected path of Jesus – suffering, death, and resurrection• What it means to follow Jesus – denying ourselves, taking up our cross, and following Him• Why following Jesus is worth it – losing our lives to find true life in HimAndrew also shares personally about following Jesus in costly areas of life, reminding us that while discipleship can be difficult, it ultimately leads to freedom, intimacy with God, and lasting hope.Whether you're exploring faith or have followed Jesus for years, this message invites us all to consider: What does it really look like to follow Jesus?

John 15:15 reveals a deeply personal truth: Jesus doesn’t just call us followers—He calls us friends. In a world where relationships can feel fragile or conditional, His friendship stands apart. It’s steady, honest, and rooted in love that never withdraws. When loneliness creeps in or connection feels out of reach, we’re reminded that we are never truly alone. Highlights Jesus calls us friends, not just servants His friendship is personal, steady, and unconditional He sees and knows us fully—yet remains present Human relationships may fail, but Jesus never leaves True connection begins with understanding His heart for us He meets our deepest need for acceptance and belonging His presence brings comfort in seasons of loneliness Have an idea for our newsletter? We want to hear from you! Take our survey below: Take Our Survey! Do you want to listen ad-free? When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts! Sign Up Today! Full Transcript Below: Comforted in Our Loneliness by the Friend Who Never LeavesBy: Jennifer Slattery Bible Reading:I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. - John 15:15 NIV Do you ever struggle with building and maintaining friendships? Do you long for a relationship that feels so safe, you can express your deepest needs, doubts, sins, and fears? But also find yourself hiding those parts of you, for fear you’ll be rejected and shamed? In our broken world, filled with people who are as broken as us, it can be really hard to find those people able to stay by us in our hardest times and, perhaps, even when we act the ugliest. We all, at times, behave in ways we wish we hadn’t and that, sadly hurt or frustrate others. We will never reach perfection this side of heaven, but that doesn’t mean we’re destined to be alone. If you grew up in an environment where your needs for love, grace, and affection weren’t met, you may have come to believe that there’s something inherently wrong with you. Something that, if others knew or saw or experienced, would drive them away. And while I can’t speak for the people presently in your life—whether or not they have the emotional and spiritual maturity to work through conflict, confusion, and misunderstandings—who have the maturity to stay—I do know One who sees all of you, loves you fully, and has promised to never leave. Jesus is the friend mentioned in Proverbs 18:24 who sticks closer than a brother. When I consider His words in context, in John 15, I’m struck by the timing with which He spoke. This was on the night before His death, during a solemn and deeply painful Passover in which He told His disciples that they’d soon endure some of the most difficult experiences of their lives. Expulsion from their faith community, and all the support and comfort and connection that came with that. Slander and attack by those who viewed their commitment to Jesus as blasphemous, ungodly, and dangerous. And, potentially, death. Hard stuff. Times when they would desperately need to know they weren’t alone and that someone saw them, understood their pain, and walked with them in it. And yes, they had each other, praise God. But that wasn’t, and wouldn’t be enough—no matter how strong their relationships were with one another. They needed a perfect friend. They needed Jesus. And He gave Himself freely—to the point of death. But He didn’t stay dead. He rose from the grave as a powerful reminder that their hardship wouldn’t last forever. Glorious life, abundant and thriving life, was coming. And in the meantime, while they waited for their “faith to become sight” as. Scripture puts it—Jesus waited, fully present, with them. Intersecting Life & Faith: Pause to reflect on today’s verse for a moment, and hear this as the Lord speaking directly to you: “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” In other words, Jesus says, to you, I don’t view you as a servant—as someone who’s only role is to listen and obey. Rather, I see you as someone with whom I long to grow closer, and I choose to reveal Myself to you. No secrets. No games. No power plays. Nothing but loyal, tender, steady, and present love. He could’ve used numerous words—and at times He does. Child. One of His dependent and well-cared-for sheep. His beloved. But here, He calls you friend. What might this reveal regarding His heart for you? Regarding His understanding of your deepest needs for connection and acceptance? What does it reveal regarding how He wants to meet you in your present season? To grasp the depth of His message, perhaps consider the qualities you long for in a perfect friend. Someone who’s mentally present and emotionally available in your pain. Someone who sees the best in you, even when you blow it—and who always has your best in mind. No manipulation, strong arming, withdrawal, shaming, criticizing or condemning. Someone who celebrates your wins and comforts you in your losses. Most importantly, someone who remains. That, my friend, is who Jesus wants to be for you. Who Jesus is for you. Further Reading: 1 John 4:16 Psalm 143:8 Isaiah 49:15-16 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Send us Fan Mail  In today's episode, we respond to a person who challenged the deity of Christ, and went as far as to attack Who Jesus is. He made several claims about Jesus' growth, obedience, temptation, suffering, and limitations in His flesh. We defend Christ's full divinity and full humanity, providing a Scriptural basis for the deity of Christ. We discuss His equality with the Father, His voluntary self‑emptying, and His sinlessness. We argue that whatever limitations He may have had in the flesh never diminished who He truly was and still is. We affirm the biblical doctrine of the Godhead, and give biblical reasons that everyone else should. We invite you to come study God's Word with us today!

WHO IS JESUS? Today we will look at what the Bible says about WHO Jesus is. Let's get started!Please SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHANNEL!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/reason-for-truth--2774396/support.

This Sunday's Inspirational Message is: Cut To The Heart! Today we are looking at Acts 2:36–41. This is one of the most powerful moments in the entire New Testament. Peter is preaching at Pentecost. The Holy Spirit has come. And now something incredible happens—the people listening are cut to the heart. Let me say that again, because it matters: they are cut to the heart. And here's the thing—this passage shows us what real conviction looks like, what true repentance looks like, and what genuine faith looks like. It shows us how a person moves from hearing about Jesus… to surrendering to Jesus. Honestly, that's something we all need to understand. In today's message, we're going to walk through four simple but life-changing truths: Who Jesus really is What conviction really does How we are called to respond And what happens when we truly believe * * * * * Once again, thanks for joining us in our time of worshiping the Lord through His Word! If you enjoyed this episode and want to help support this ministry, please share it with others and post about it on social media. "Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. 1995. LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation. The music "Revive Us Again" and "Be Thou My Vision" arranged and played by Don Wigton. Used by Permission. 

DUE TO THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SALVATION MESSAGE, I TRY TO AIR THIS SERIES EVERY YEAR. PLEASE, PLEASE, IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO IS NOT SAVED, SHARE THIS 4-PART SERIES WITH THEM. TIME IS SHORT ON THIS EARTH. SPREAD THE GOSPEL, BROTHERS AND SISTERS. Jesus He Savior And Salvation Series Part 2 Why Jesus Is The Only Way Welcome to Part 2 of the Salvation Series! In this episode, we shift our focus to the heart of the Gospel—Jesus Christ, our Savior. After understanding what happened in the beginning and how sin entered the world, we now look at God's incredible plan for redemption through His Son. Who is Jesus? Why did He come? And what does His life, death, and resurrection mean for you today? This episode breaks down the truth about salvation and why Jesus is the only way to eternal life. If you're searching for clarity, truth, and hope, this message will encourage and strengthen your faith. In this episode: Who Jesus is and why He came The meaning of salvation through Christ Why Jesus is the only way The power of the cross and resurrection What it means to receive salvation God's love for us is so powerful that He made a way when there was no way. That way is Jesus. Be encouraged, grow deeper in your faith, and share this message with someone who needs to hear the truth about salvation. Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more faith-based content from Relevance For Today. #SalvationSeries #JesusTheSavior #JesusSaves #ChristianPodcast #FaithInJesus #GospelMessage #Salvation #BiblicalTruth #GodsLove #CrossOfChrist #ResurrectionPower #FaithJourney #ChristianEncouragement #RelevanceForToday

What if the reason you've struggled with God…Has nothing to do with God?In this powerful opening message of the Back to the Original series, Pastor Joe Moss challenges one of the biggest misconceptions in modern faith:

Pastor Al Dagel wants us to understand Who Jesus really is, and that involves the Word of God, our source of truth!

Sometimes I think we do not realize WHO we Are in Christ Jesus. And from all indications, many times we do not realize the magnitude of WHO Jesus is. As Jesus reigns in our lives, we reign in life WITH HIM! With all the authority of a royal family member, we are victorius in this life and will reign forever with Jesus! A child of the King? Yes, we ARE!

Colossians 1:15-20 Life in Christ – Colossians series Part One • Who Jesus is: Colossians 1:15-20, 2:9-10 • What Jesus has done: Colossians 1:13-14, 21-22, 2:13-15 I. Who Jesus is: Colossians 1:15-20, 2:9-10 Image – likeness, formed to resemble a person, the appearance or depiction of, ·        Jesus is the “image of the invisible God” 2 Corinthians 4:4 Colossians 1:15 John 12:45, 14:9 ·        God made humans in his image and according to his likeness, Genesis 1:26-27, 5:1. ·        Jesus is the “radiance of God's glory and the exact expression of his nature”, in Hebrews 1:3. ·        In the face of Jesus, God's glory is seen, 2 Corinthians 4:4, 6 ·        Scripture uses “in” to designate humans as those made “in” or “according to” God's image, Genesis 1:26-27, 5:1, 9:6, James 3:9 ·        Newly created believers are those being renewed in knowledge “according to the image” Colossians 3:10 ”fullness of God in Christ,” – Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has the fullness of God in Him, Jesus Christ is God. We believe that God in Trinity is One, inseparable “For the entire fullness of God's nature dwells bodily in Christ, and you have been filled by him, who is the head over every ruler and authority.” – Colossians 2:9-10  CSB We believe in the Eternal Godhead who has revealed Himself as One God existing in Three Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, distinguishable but indivisible. (Matthew 23:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14) We believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of men, conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, very God and very Man. (Luke 1:26-35; John 1:14-18; Isaiah 714; 9:6) I.                 What Jesus has done: Colossians 1:13-14, 21-22, 2:13-15 “He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves. In him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” – Colossians 1:13-14  CSB “Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds as expressed in your evil actions. But now he has reconciled you by his physical body through his death, to present you holy, faultless, and blameless before him,” – Colossians 1:21-22  CSB “And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive with him and forgave us all our trespasses. He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him.” – Colossians 2:13-15  CSB We believe Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose again the third day, and personally appeared to His disciples. (1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Romans 4:25) We believe in the bodily ascension of Jesus to heaven, His exaltation, and personal, literal and bodily coming again the second time for His Church. (John 14:2, 3; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) We believe in the salvation of sinners by grace, through repentance and faith in the perfect and sufficient work of the cross of Calvary by which we obtain remission of sins. (Ephesians 2:8,9; Hebrews 9:12,22; Romans 5:11) What does this mean? Jesus took our sins on himself, on the cross, so we can be made right with God, receiving new spiritual life and forgiveness. What do we learn? 1.      Jesus Christ is first, above all, our Savior King, the fullness and the image of God. 2.      Jesus Christ has redeemed us, making us right with God, bringing us from spiritual darkness to the light of God's Kingdom. 3.      Jesus leads us in a spiritual journey with our local church family. 4.      We are actively learning more about the truth of Jesus and rejecting deceptive narratives and their sources. What should we do? 1.      Read Colossians chapters 1 and 2 this week. 2.      Write down one thought we have learned. 3.      Apply the truth to how we pray and how we see ourselves. 4.      Try to identify one deceptive narrative that we should reject. 5.      By Wednesday, read Colossians 3:1-4 and memorize one phrase from it. “Life in Christ” series “saints in Christ at Colossae” – Colossians 1:2  “your faith in Christ Jesus” – Colossians 1:4  CSB “In him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” – Colossians 1:14  CSB

Hi, I'm John Sorensen, President of Evangelism Explosion International, and you're listening to Share Life Today. The Bible ends with a powerful picture of hope. In Revelation 21:23, we're told that in the new heaven and new earth, there will be no need for the sun or the moon, because the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. For those who trust in Jesus Christ, this is our future. A perfect place where sin, suffering, and death no longer exist, and where we will live in the presence of God forever. This hope is possible because Jesus stepped into the darkness of our world, died on the cross for our sins, and rose again in victory. Darkness did not win. Jesus did. But until that day, God calls us to live as people of the light that share the hope of the Gospel with others. Let's tell those around us about Who Jesus is and what He has done for them! For resources to help you start sharing your faith, visit our website at sharelife.today.

Today we are going to look into the book of John and see what is called the first sign. John's gospel account is laid out in a really cool structure. It is the first of Seven Signs that point to Jesus being the Son of God. Turning water into wine, Healing the official's son, healing the paralytic, feeding the 5,000, walking on water, healing the blind man, raising Lazarus. 31 But these are written that you may believe[b] that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20:31Here's what I want you to hold onto today:The water into wine is the sign.A sign. Not because it was less than miraculous. It absolutely was miraculous. But John wants you to know: don't stop at the sign. Follow the sign. Let it point you somewhere.But the sign is pointing you toward three things:Who Jesus is. Why Jesus came. What Jesus offers.On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”4 “Woman,[a] why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” John 2:1-5A sign always points to the greater thing.WHO HE WAS v. 1-5, 11"The sign reveals Jesus' identity."John 2:1-5Wedding feast. Wine runs out. Cultural shame for the family. Mary brings it to Jesus.Notice Jesus' response in v.4: "Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come."This sounds cold to modern ears. But "Woman" is a term of respect in that culture—He uses it again at the cross when He entrusts Mary to John (John 19:26).John 2:11APPLICATION:Most of us want Jesus to be a problem-solver, not a Lord.Mary comes to Him with a practical problem: no wine.Jesus responds as Lord: My hour has not yet come.He solves the problem—but He does it on His terms, in His timing, for His purposes.The sign points to this: He's not a genie. He's a King.2. WHY JESUS CAME v. 6-10"The sign reveals Jesus' mission"John 2:6-10Before Passover, before Sabbath, before meals—you wash. It's the system. The ritual. The religion. And it was never enough.You washed your hands and went right back to being the same person.Jesus doesn't add more water to the jars. He transforms them.This is the picture of the gospel:He doesn't just improve the old system. He replaces it with something entirely new.He doesn't make you a better version of who you were. He makes you new.THIS IS A SIGN POINTING TO SOMETHING GREATER:In the Old Testament, the prophet Isaiah is describing the Messianic Banquet—the end-of-all-things feast when God finally restores everything.Isaiah 25:6-8Isaiah is describing the Messianic Banquet—the end-of-all-things feast when God finally restores everything.Aged wine. The finest. Death swallowed up. Tears wiped away.And Jesus shows up at a wedding in Cana and quietly produces 120-180 gallons of the best wine anyone has ever tasted.He's not just filling jars. He's announcing: I am the fulfillment of Isaiah 25. The banquet has begun. The Messiah is here.Why He came: Not to patch up the old. To inaugurate the new. To launch the feast that never ends.3. WHAT HE OFFERS v10"The sign reveals what's available to us""What he is saying is, 'I come as Lord of the feast. Yes, I come to do self-denial. I come to suffer, and I come to be humbled. If you follow me, you will too. There will be plenty of self-denial and suffering and humbling too, but these are just means to an end. Here's the end. As Master of the banquet, as Lord of the feast, I am come.'" — Timothy Keller

As the author of Hebrews brings his letter of exhortation to a close, he ends with a wishful yet confident plea, like a prayer, that God will equip His people for the challenges before them. Contrary to what his readers may have been tempted to think, trusting in the simple realities of the Gospel—which he has unfolded for them throughout the book—provided their greatest security in an insecure world. There was no true help to be found in returning to Judaism or any of its traditions or associations. They were instead fully supplied through the finished work of Christ alone. While singular trust in Him may have seemed too simple, or worse yet, too passive, it was actually the key to a life of fruitfulness, well-pleasing to God. Likewise today, the all-sufficiency of Who Jesus is for us and what He has done for us does not render us lazy, fruitless, or ill-equipped for life's challenges, but renders us productive, fruitful, and fully equipped for them. It is a guarantee, settled within the everlasting covenant God has established with His people through the blood of Christ. It is Jesus' sacrifice for us, not our sacrifices for Him, that ultimately secures us in this world. More than anything else, learning of this security is what God uses to produce fruitfulness that brings good to us and glory to Him. Like the author of Hebrews, we can trust God to “equip [us] in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever” (v. 21).

As the author of Hebrews brings his letter of exhortation to a close, he ends with a wishful yet confident plea, like a prayer, that God will equip His people for the challenges before them. Contrary to what his readers may have been tempted to think, trusting in the simple realities of the Gospel—which he has unfolded for them throughout the book—provided their greatest security in an insecure world. There was no true help to be found in returning to Judaism or any of its traditions or associations. They were instead fully supplied through the finished work of Christ alone. While singular trust in Him may have seemed too simple, or worse yet, too passive, it was actually the key to a life of fruitfulness, well-pleasing to God. Likewise today, the all-sufficiency of Who Jesus is for us and what He has done for us does not render us lazy, fruitless, or ill-equipped for life's challenges, but renders us productive, fruitful, and fully equipped for them. It is a guarantee, settled within the everlasting covenant God has established with His people through the blood of Christ. It is Jesus' sacrifice for us, not our sacrifices for Him, that ultimately secures us in this world. More than anything else, learning of this security is what God uses to produce fruitfulness that brings good to us and glory to Him. Like the author of Hebrews, we can trust God to "equip [us] in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever" (v. 21).

The Straight Bible series begins with Episode 1 breaking down one of the most important teachings in all of Scripture — The Sermon on the Mount.In this episode, we dive deep into Matthew chapters 5–7, starting with the foundation of Jesus' most famous sermon and what it reveals about the culture of the Kingdom of God. Many people misunderstand who Jesus was actually speaking to and how these teachings apply to disciples versus the crowds watching from the outside.We examine the historical context leading up to the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus' rising influence through miracles and healing, and how the Beatitudes define the values of true Kingdom living. This episode also explores modern misunderstandings about Christian identity, cultural Christianity, and what it truly means to follow Christ's teachings in today's world.If you've ever wanted a deeper, verse-by-verse breakdown of Jesus' most revolutionary sermon, this series is designed to walk through it in clear, practical, and uncompromising biblical context.

A bit of theological truth spills forth from Pastor Al Dagel's lips in today's episode.   It may catch you off guard, but perhaps the truth about "Who Jesus is" will make your day a little brighter. 

“GOD, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right and of the Majesty on high, 4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.” Hebrews 1:1-4 “Hebrews is basically a book that encourages [exhorts] discouraged Christians to continue on strong with Jesus in light of the complete superiority of who He is and what He did for us.”- David Guzik. The messenger vs. the message “Are they (angels) not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?” Hebrews 1:14. “GOD, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets…” the message > the messengerChrist is not another messenger. He is the message“GOD, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son” Hebrews 1:1-2. “The Bible is the record of the different places and different ways by which God has spoken to man. In the book of Genesis, we find God speaking to man by angels; they were the messengers…then God began to speak through anointed men such as Moses and Joshua…. Then God spoke to them through priests…then as time progressed God raised up prophets…But God's final revelation was given to man through Jesus Christ. Jesus came to bring man the final, the ultimate message of God. The ultimate understanding of God. So, all that man is to know about God can be discovered in and through Jesus Christ. This revelation is superior than all of the other revelations. His revelation through the Son is superior than the revelation through the angels.”- Chuck Smith.“39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.” John 5:39“It isn't so much that Jesus brought a message from the Father; He is a message from the Father. He has revealed something no other prophet could”- David Guzik. “(Jesus)who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they” Hebrews 1:3-4“He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born over-all creation.16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.” Colossians 1:15-18. Preeminent: surpassing all others; having the highest rank, importance or excellence. Gnosticism: salvation comes through special, hidden knowledge.Agnostic: without knowledge. Who Jesus is:#1 Heir (“Heir of all things” Heb 1:2) #2 Creator (“he made the worlds” Heb 1:2) #3 Revealer (“the brightness of his glory and express image of His person” Heb 1:3) #4 Sustainer (“upholding all things” Heb 1:3) #5 Ruler (“of His power” Heb 1:3) #6 Redeemer (“He had by Himself purged our sins” Heb 1:3)#7 Supreme (“sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they” Heb 1:3-4)“But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.” Hebrews 2:9 “9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name” Philippians 2:9.Jesus' names: Second Adam (1 Cor 15:45)Advocate (1 John 2:1)Almighty (Rev 1:8)Alpha and Omega (Rev 1:8)Author and Finisher of our faith (Heb 12:2)Bread of life (John 6:32)Christ (Luke 9:20)Cornerstone (Ps 188:22)Creator (John 1:3)First and Last (Rev 1:12)Good Shepard (John 10:11)Great High Priest (Heb 4:24)Holy One (Acts 3:14)I am (John 8:58)Immanuel (Is 7:14)Jehovah (Is 26:4)King of Kings (1 Tim 6:15)Lamb (Rev 13:8)Light of the world (John 8:12)Lion of Judah (Rev 5:5)Lord of Lords (1 Tim 6:15)Man of Sorrows (Is 53:3)Mediator (1 Tim 2:5)Messiah (Dan 9:25)Mighty God (Is 9:6)Prince of Peace (Is 9:6)Redeemer (Job 19:25)Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25)Rock (1 Cor 10:4)Root of David (Rev 22:16)Savior (Luke 2:11)Son of the Highest (Luke 1:32)True Vine (John 15:1)Truth (John 1:14)Word (John 1:1)“Jesus' supreme status is demonstrated by a supreme name, which is not merely a title, but a description of His nature and character”- David Guzik. “What do you think about the Christ?” Matthew 22:42. Hebrews invites us to see the fullness of the message found in Jesus

What does Jesus show about Himself, during His arrest? Matthew 26:47–56 looks forward to the morning sermon in the holy assembly on the coming Lord's Day. In these ten verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Jesus displays His commitment to dying on the cross for our sins, and His compassion to even those who are sinning against Him. In the pivotal moment of His arrest, Jesus demonstrates both unwavering commitment to the divine plan and profound compassion toward those who oppose Him. He confronts Judas with a gentle yet piercing question—'Friend, why have you come?'—offering a final opportunity for repentance, even as He fulfills the Scriptures that foretold His betrayal. To Peter, who draws his sword in misguided defense, Jesus redirects him from fleshly defenses to submission to authority that entrusts himself to God and the fulfillment of God's Word. To the mob, He challenges their actions with rhetorical questions, reminding them of His daily teaching in the temple and calling them to reflect on their sin in light of Who Jesus is, and what the Scriptures have said about Him. In each encounter, Jesus turns the moment into an act of compassionate evangelism, inviting all—Judas, Peter, and the crowd—to consider who He is, what He has done, and the divine purpose behind His suffering. His resolve is rooted in Scripture, and the compassion of One Who goes to the cross to save sinners.

When we give and receive presents, it may not be what we were expecting and we are disappointed, or sometimes, it is wonderful and exceeds what we could have hoped. The people who were there during the birth of Jesus had four different expectations about Who Jesus was and what He would do, and that symbolizes whether or not we see Him as the Perfect Saviour He is.  Video of this service is also available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vneCBSniPrQ

The ultimate identity crisis: Why knowing Who Jesus is changes everything about where you're going. Our text in this study is: Mark 8:27-38 Series: Who Do You Say That He Is? Gene Pensiero Jr Find the rest of the series at https://calvaryhanford.com/whodoyousay Subscribe on YouTube at: https://youtube.com/calvaryhanford Read the notes at: https://calvaryhanford.substack.com Find audio, video, […]

"Imagine your spirit as a hidden reservoir of energy waiting to be tapped into... with the right mindset and tools, we can draw from it endlessly." —Kristen WambachEPISODE HIGHLIGHTS Your Strength is a Treasure: Understand that your hidden strength is a divine reservoir waiting to be tapped, and it's defined by the T.R.E.A.S.U.R.E. acronym. Self-Care is a Command: Nurturing your body, mind, and spirit is a Biblical necessity for maintaining the "glass balls" of life (Family, Health, Friends, Spirit). Boundaries are Divine Infrastructure: Learn to use the spiritual tool of Creation's structure (Days 1-7) to clarify your priorities and set healthy, loving boundaries. Identity Dictates Authority: Your sense of Sonship (your true identity in Christ) empowers you to say "no" without guilt and "yes" with purpose. Life is a dance floor, and you are the masterpiece!

I. The Language of Life & Faith - Jesus uses physical realities to picture spiritual truths. 1. You must be born-again, John 3:1-8 2. You must drink Water-John 4:1-15 3. You must eat Bread-John 6:22-40 4. You must drink Blood-John 6:41-60 5. You must know Who Jesus is - John 6:60-71 I Corinthians 11:23-26

Today’s Topics: 1, 2, 3, 4) Gospel – Luke 19:1-10 – At that time Jesus came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town. Now a man there named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man,  was seeking to see Who Jesus was; but he could not see Him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature.  So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, Who was about to pass that way. When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said,  “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house.”  And he came down quickly and received Him with joy.  When they saw this, they began to grumble, saying,  “He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner.”  But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham.  For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.” Memorial of the Dedication of the Basilicas of Saints Peter and Paul Memorial of Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne, Virgin Saints Peter, Paul, and Rose, pray for us! Bishop Sheen quote of the day Terry addresses the discussions going on about the possibility of women as Deacons in the Church, and if anybody in the Church can change Divine Law

"The beautiful thing about going through crisis is that you're forced to pause. The Lord uses those experiences to burn everything away that's not necessary and needed in our life and leaves us really clinging to Him." —Tanya PrinceSHOW NOTES EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS Your "Rubble" is Sacred Ground: The moments of absolute failure are where true faith begins to be rebuilt. Stop Striving, Start Resting: Purpose is not sprinted toward; it's received in the rest that comes from remaining in Christ (John 15:5) Practice Open-Ended Prayer: Say, "Lord, what do you want to tell me about this?" and wait in the silence for the answer. Write Down the Whispers: Journaling records divine communication, making the Conversations with Jesus tangible and trackable over a season. Heal the Roots: Identify the generational or cultural lies (such as the bootstrap mentality) that prevent you from fully receiving help and surrender them to healing and transformation. Outpouring, Not Performance: Let your actions be a natural outflow of Who Jesus says you are, not a desperate attempt to earn His favor. Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakens." —Carl Jung

Read OnlineHerod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was greatly perplexed because some were saying, “John has been raised from the dead”; others were saying, “Elijah has appeared”; still others, “One of the ancient prophets has arisen.” Luke 9:7–8Herod the tetrarch, also known as Herod Antipas, ruled the Jews of Galilee for some forty-two years. He began his reign in 2 BC and continued to reign until he was exiled by the Roman Emperor in 37 AD. During his reign, he spent much time in Tiberias, one of the main cities on the western edge of the Sea of Galilee. Most of Jesus' ministry took place within the region of Herod's domain, all of Galilee, so Herod was very aware of the many stories about Jesus.Today's Gospel concludes by saying that Herod kept trying to see Jesus. Of course, Herod, just like anyone living in that region, could have traveled to where Jesus was preaching so as to listen to Him at any time. But he didn't do that. Instead, he continued to receive reports about Jesus and remained curious about Him, trying to find a way to figure out Who Jesus was.Try to imagine what would have happened if Herod would have traveled to where Jesus was preaching so as to listen to Him with an open heart. If he would have done that, and truly listened, Herod would have received one of the greatest gifts imaginable. He would have received the gift of faith and conversion and would have begun down the road toward eternal salvation. But Herod was living an immoral life. He was known to be a cruel leader and also an unrepentant adulterer. He loved his power and was quite jealous of it. Herod most likely knew, at least in the back of his mind, that if he were to listen to Jesus, he would have to change. And he most likely didn't want to change.This presents us all with a powerful lesson. Each one of us can easily dismiss various communications and invitations from our Lord, because, deep down, we do not want to change. God is speaking to us all day long, every day of our lives. He is constantly offering us His message of the full Gospel. And though you may be open to much of what God says, there are most likely parts of His divine message that you either knowingly or unknowingly do not listen to. The key to being able to hear everything that God wants to speak to you is to be disposed to completely change in any and every way that God wants you to change.Reflect, today, upon Herod. First, reflect upon his curiosity about Jesus. This is a good quality, in that it's much better than being indifferent. From there, think also about the fact that Herod never went to Jesus to listen to Him. His first meeting with Jesus was on the night of His arrest, when he interrogated our Lord and made fun of Him. As you consider Herod's obstinacy, use it as an examination of your own life. Where you see any small reflection of obstinacy, fear of change or a closed heart, seek to remedy that by turning to our Lord telling Him you are open to all He wishes to say and that you are ready and willing to change in any way He calls you to do so. Do not fear the change our Lord wants of you. Embracing that change will land you on the quick and narrow road toward true holiness of life.My ever-present Lord, You call to me day and night, inviting me to change as I listen to Your holy Word. I thank You for these constant promptings of grace and commit myself to remain open to all that You ask of me. I choose You, my Lord. And as I turn to You, I pray that I will have the courage I need to respond wholeheartedly to Your call. Jesus, I trust in You.  Image: John Rogers Herbert, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Assurance comes to us through the ministry of God the Son. Pastor Colin talks about the ministry of 1. Who Jesus is; 2. What Jesus has done; 3. What Jesus is doing now; and 4. What Jesus will do.

I. John 3:16   1.  God acts - FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY SON   2.  We react - THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM (trust in, rely on)  3.  The 2 Consequences - SHOULD NOT PERISH / BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE II. Luke 19:10   1.  Who Jesus is - FOR THE SON OF MAN (SON OF GOD - John 1:14)  2.  Why Jesus came - CAME TO SEEK AND TO SAVE THE LOST   •  God sent me to tell you that He is looking for you (just like in Eden)  •  Saved from our sin and from sin's consequences (“Man on a pier”)  •  Lost communicates 3 things - How did I get here? What do I do here? Where am I going from here? Our salvation answers all three!III. Romans 6:23   1.  The Contrasts     WAGES             GIFT    SIN                 GOD    DEATH     BUT    ETERNAL LIFE IV. I Timothy 2:5 (One Qualified Mediator)V. Romans 10:9-10  1.  The conditions of salvation  •  IF YOU CONFESS (agree with) THAT JESUS IS LORD (verbal surrender)  •  IF YOU BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD   •  (Then) YOU WILL BE SAVED V. Ephesians 2:8-10  1.  Three Verse Evangelism (Catholic influence)   •  FOR BY GRACE YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED (God's grace)  •  THROUGH FAITH (our faith)  •  THIS IS NOT YOUR OWN DOING  •  IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD   •  NOT A RESULT OF WORKS SO THAT NO ONE MAY BOAST  •  FOR WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS FOR GOOD WORKS, WHICH GOD PREPARED BEFOREHAND, THAT WE SHOULD WALK IN THEM  •  We are not saved BY our good works — We are saved FOR good works 

This week in GoGROW, we were reminded that exploring God isn't just a stage we pass through — it's a real spiritual condition. But exploration isn't the finish line. Jesus tells us in John 3:3 that unless we are born again, we cannot see the Kingdom of God.Being in church doesn't mean being in Christ. Serving doesn't equal saving. Emotion isn't transformation. Exploring God isn't the same as knowing Him — it's a call to respond.We learned that not everyone who follows Jesus around is actually a disciple. Our role isn't just to walk with people, but to clearly share the Gospel and lead them to Jesus.2 Corinthians 5:20 reminds us that we are Christ's ambassadors — God is making His appeal through us. That means we must call people to salvation, inviting them into a moment of clarity, repentance, and faith.This week, our challenge is simple: keep reaching, keep planting seeds, and don't miss the opportunity to invite someone into a life-changing relationship with Jesus.Week 3 GoGROW – Key Takeaways1. Exploring God is a Real Spiritual Condition• It's not a placeholder or a casual label.• Jesus said in John 3:3 that we must be born again to see the Kingdom of God — exploration should lead to transformation.2. Proximity ≠ Discipleship• Being in church doesn't mean being in Christ.• Serving doesn't equal saving.• Feeling something emotionally isn't the same as experiencing real transformation.• Exploration must become response — a decision to follow Jesus.3. Walking vs. Leading• Not everyone who follows Jesus around is a disciple.• Our role as believers isn't just to “walk with” those exploring God but to clearly share the Gospel and lead them toward Christ.4. Share the Gospel Clearly• Who Jesus is• Why He died• What He offers• What He requires• We are called to be Christ's ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20), making His appeal to the world.5. Call People to Respond• Acts 3:19 – Repent, turn back, and receive forgiveness so times of refreshing may come.• Romans 10:9 – Confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that Jesus is Lord to be saved.• There must be a clear moment of invitation and response.6. Salvation is a Gift• Ephesians 2:8-9 – Salvation is by grace through faith, not by works — we cannot earn it.

Send us a textThere is a question and all people must answer and a realization all people must conclude. The question is, "What do I believe?" The realization is that "All people need a Savior." To fail in these two areas is to live and die in your sins.This message gives a clear and simple understanding of Who Jesus is and why He came. It also teaches us how to get back to Gd. If we do not get back to God in this life, we will remain alienated from Him for all of eternity.

Join us as we take a dive into what scripture says about Who Jesus is.

Join us as we take a dive into what scripture says about Who Jesus is.

We must respond rightly to who our authorities are, by submitting to them; to who you are, by living for the glory and enjoyment of God, and to Who Jesus is, by worshiping Him and living by His Word.

We must respond rightly to who our authorities are, by submitting to them; to who you are, by living for the glory and enjoyment of God, and to Who Jesus is, by worshiping Him and living by His Word.

Many of us have had "mountaintop experiences," moments of meaningful spiritual connection that leave us forever changed. But after major spiritual experiences, we don't always know how to follow through with it—and we fail to connect it to Jesus. But Peter showed how to make that clear, compelling connection between our experience of the Spirit and the GREAT news we have in Jesus! Join us in Acts 2:14-36 as we beat a trail from what we feel to Who Jesus is!

Happy  SUMMER SHARE Thursday! Topics today include a variety of reasons to give to Christian radio. (1)Give to spread the truth of the Gospel and the truth of the Word of God. (2)Give to support others who are encouraged and strengthen by the music and programming on Faith Music Radio, yet they are unable to give at this time. (3)Give to support a ministry with a mission to help Christians everywhere learn to bring every thought into captivity and into obedience to Jesus Christ. (4)Give because everybody ought to know Who Jesus is!   Call us at (800)600-7230 and pledge your support today or give online at FaithMusicRadio.com.   Janice's books What Do I Have to Lose? book 1 and 2   are both available NOW!! Also, featuring A Word of Encouragement with Vicky Mutchler, CW Today with Loretta Walker and Silhouettes with Shari House.  Be sure to subscribe to this podcast and please share this podcast with your friends so we may be an encouragement to them through the music and programming on Faith Music Radio. Music is brought to you by Faith Music Missions. Learn more here >>> https://www.faithmusicmissions.org Eleven2One Facebook  Eleven2One on Instagram Faith Music Radio is a listener supported Christian station. Janice's books What Do I Have to Lose? book 1 and 2   are both available NOW!!

Friday, 4 July 2025   “But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions, Matthew 11:16   “And to what I will liken this generation? It is like children in markets, sitting and addressing their companions” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus declared that he who has ears to hear should hear. That was stated in regard to John being the Elijah who was anticipated in the book of Malachi. Now, knowing that many will not heed His words, He addresses the crowd, beginning with, “And to what I will liken this generation?”   Who Jesus is speaking about in this verse and the coming verses is debated. Although getting ahead in the commentary, this must be determined at some point. Some see “this generation” of this clause as Jesus' comparison to John and Himself. Others see it in reverse, meaning Jesus is referring to Himself and John as the children calling out.   To understand further, Jesus continues, saying, “It is like children in markets, sitting and addressing their companions.”   Here, the word agora is introduced. It signifies the town square, but the term is then extended at times to signify a market or thoroughfare. Therefore, there are children playing. These are small children in view of all who come through, where the people are gathered. As they play, they address those around them, here called “their companions.”   As for who “this generation” is referring to, seemingly convincing arguments are given for both views. For example, the Pulpit Commentary says –   (1) Many modern commentators (e.g. Meyer; Trench,' Studies,' p. 148) insist on the grammar and on the historical order in which the complaints are made, and believe that the Jews correspond to the pipers and the mourners, while it is John that refuses to rejoice, and our Lord that will not be sad.   (2) But the more usual interpretation is preferable. For   (a) in an illustrative saying one has chiefly to regard its general sense;   (b) in verse. 18, 19 the action of John and of our Lord in “coming” corresponds to the activity of the children;   (c) this interpretation seems much more in accordance with the context. The verses are therefore to be understood as meaning- John mourned in urging repentance, our Lord rejoiced in gospel liberty and preaching, but both alike were only ridiculed by the Jews. Markets; marketplaces (Revised Version); for there is no thought of the children helping their elders in traffic. And calling (which call, Revised Version) unto their fellows. Addressing them, but not necessarily noisily (Luke 6:13; Luke 13:12). Matthew 11:16   Vincent's Word Studies says –   “The Rev. Donald Fraser gives the picture simply and vividly: ‘He pictured a group of little children playing at make-believe marriages and funerals. First they acted a marriage procession; some of them piping as on instruments of music, while the rest were expected to leap and dance. In a perverse mood, however, these last did not respond, but stood still and looked discontented. So the little pipers changed their game and proposed a funeral. They began to imitate the loud wailing of eastern mourners. But again they were thwarted, for their companions refused to chime in with the mournful cry and to beat their breasts....So the disappointed children complained: ‘We piped unto you and ye did not dance; we wailed, and ye did not mourn. Nothing pleases you. If you don't want to dance, why don't yon mourn?...It is plain that yon are in bad humor, and determined not to be pleased'” (“Metaphors in the Gospels”). The issue is between the Jews (this generation) and the children of wisdom, Matthew 11:19.”   These arguments will be considered in the coming verses. However, a simple way to determine which view is likely correct is to look at the words “this generation.” In doing so, the likely view will be revealed. They are listed (as translated by the NKJV) as, Matthew 11:16, Matthew 12:41, Matthew 12:42, Matthew 12:45, Matthew 24:34, Mark 8:12, Mark 8:38, Mark 13:30, Luke 7:31, Luke 11:29, Luke 11:30, Luke 11:32, Luke 11:50, Luke 11:51, Luke 17:25, Luke 21:32, Acts 2:40. Note: Luke 16:8 is also close in thought to these verses. Likewise, other verses, such as Luke 9:41, though not using the term “this” still refer to the same generation in the same manner.   Reading those verses will reveal which view is most likely the correct one, even before all the verses related to Jesus' words here are completed. In fact, every other instance identifies the same particular category. If the words “this generation” here are not referring to what they are, it would be an outlier.   Life application: Although in Scripture there are times when words are used in a sense different from the more common rendering, it can generally be expected that selected words will be used in a consistent manner. In some instances, the consistency will help definitively identify what is being said or pictured.   Therefore, doing word and phrase studies is a very helpful tool when analyzing passages. Doing it from English translations may bring out false comparisons because translators often use the same word to translate different words, or they will use different words to translate the same word.   Such inconsistencies will cause an analysis to be off a bit. Doing word studies in the original languages is rather easy, but phrase studies can be a bit more difficult. At times, there are commentaries that have already done such studies, thus saving the effort. But even then, scholars can make errors. Therefore, if possible, it is still good to verify their work.   When reading commentaries, don't just hurriedly accept one because it sounds right. Reading those given above, the scholars have come to exactly the opposite conclusions. But if you were only provided with one of the commentaries, you might think that it sounds correct and agree.   However, with the two contrasting views, you can see that more thought and study are needed. As no commentary reviewed for this study analyzed the words “this generation,” it seemed like a logical point to check.   Expand on what you read. Consider what you come across. Think about what is being said and why the words are being provided by God in His word. Spend your time in the word wisely and check things out. It is a marvelous treasure of wonder and delight.   Lord God, help us to judiciously consider Your word, contemplating it from many angles and doing our best to determine what is right. May our conclusions be based on more than picking and choosing what we like or initially think, but on a careful analysis of what is presented. Help us in this, O God. Amen.

The angel revealed to Mary and Joseph much about Who Jesus is and what He will do.  As son of the Most High, He will reign forever as king.  And as Messiah, He will save His people from their sins.

What are you worried about? What troubles your heart and mind? To worry is to be consumed about what might happen to me; love is to be confident about Who (Jesus) is for me. In this message, Pastor John Stickl reminds us that we are loved by God, and His love frees us from worry. Jesus wasn't worried because He lived loved, and so can we. It starts by simply receiving the love of the Father today!

John 6:16-21,When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. 20 But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” 21 Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going. One of the tensions we feel in preaching the Gospel of John is how to get the right balance in explaining the narrative strategy of John and then also showing the practical reality of who Jesus is. We need to look at the text, to see what's going on, and we also need to look through the text to see the Person it's showing us.In other words, Bible study by itself will not change your life; it's encountering Jesus that will change your life — and encountering Jesus comes by giving attention to the Bible. The book is God's gift to us to show us Christ. We learned this in Chapter 5, verse 39 when Jesus told the Jewish leaders, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.”So see they had the Bible but missed Jesus — that's possible! That can happen! But we don't want to do that. We want to see Jesus through the Bible! That's a theological, affectional commitment of our church. And it's relevant for this sermon, because our passage this morning is really important to the narrative strategy of the Gospel of John. Chapter 5, verse 1, all the way through Chapter 8, verse 11, is a section in this Gospel that features the confession of the identity of Jesus. That's the theme. Who Jesus is as God the Son comes to the forefront in this section, and the direct center of this section is our passage today, Chapter 6, verses 16–21. And as you might expect, the center-point of this section is also the highest point where John gets his message across the clearest. Jesus's authority over the sea (which is what's happening here) is one of the most definitive declarations of Jesus's identity in all of his earthly ministry. And I want us to be able to see this in the text as straightforwardly as John is telling us.So we're going to look at this story this morning in its three natural parts: Setting, Conflict, and Resolution. Those are the three movements going on here, and we'll start first with the setting.Movement 1: the SettingHere it is: the disciples are in the dark and alone.Verse 16 tells us what happened after the feeding of the five thousand. Remember from last week that Jesus withdrew from the crowd. They wanted to force him to be king, in defiance of this Father's will, and so Jesus got out of there. And now in verse 16 it's evening. Jesus's disciples went down to the sea, got in a boat, and started sailing across the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum. John is just telling us step by step what they're doing. But in verse 17 John reminds us of two important details. Everybody look at verse 17 and get ready. I want you to see this. Everybody find verse 17. In the second sentence of verse 17, John writes, “It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.”Now why is this a reminder?Well, it's because we already know both of these things: In verse 15 John told us that Jesus withdrew by himself (he's not with his disciples), and in verse 16 John told us it was evening. This means the reason he mentions these things again in verse 17 must be because they're important.So as readers, we need to keep these two things in mind. The disciples are in the dark and they're alone. That's the setting. Movement 2: the ConflictHere it is: the disciples are frightened.Now verse 19 tells us point-blank that the disciples were frightened. This is easy to see. The bigger question, though, is why they're frightened. Go to verse 18 for a minute…Verse 18 says that the sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. Apparently, according to people who know these things, the Sea of Galilee is infamous for storms. It's something to do with the geology and weather — because the sea is surrounded by hills, and there's unpredictable wind patterns and temperature changes — storms happen a lot here, and this one happened fast. But it would have been something the disciples were used to, and in fact, according to verse 19 they made significant headway in the storm: they rowed about three or four miles out into the sea, in the storm.Now I don't know if any of you have ever been three or four miles out in the Sea of Galilee — I've never been there — but I have been deep-sea fishing one time off the coast of North Carolina, and it wasn't long before we got far enough out in the ocean to be completely surrounded by just water in every direction, and I mean completely surrounded by water as in you feel vulnerable ... and I mean you feel vulnerable as in you don't expect to see a person walking up to you. And I was there in broad daylight. The disciples are here in the dark, in a storm. And verse 19 says they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near their boat, and then John tells us “they were frightened.” We might think, based upon how this story is going — dark, alone, storm — we might think that it's the sight of a figure walking on the water that scared them. When we read this account in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark that's the impression we get.Both Matthew and Mark say that when the disciples saw Jesus they thought he was a ghost! And that was enough to scare them. But John doesn't say that. John says explicitly that the disciples saw Jesus walking on the sea. And since John names Jesus this way he implies that the disciples recognized Jesus. And I think that is actually why the disciples were frightened. See, in John's account, they were frightened not because of the setting, and not because they were startled by a figure walking on the sea, but they were frightened precisely because they knew it was Jesus walking on the sea toward them.They knew what this meant! They knew it meant that Jesus is God and that they were now in the presence of God, and so the disciples do what we see basically every person in the Bible do when they encounter the presence of God: they're afraid!I think there's another Moses-wink going on here. (Remember the Moses-winks from last week? They are the several littles clues in Chapter 6 that allude back to Moses, and this is another one.) What's going on here is called a theophany. That word means God-appearing. It's when God appears to a person — they encounter the presence of God. And in the Old Testament, the most famous theophany involved Moses. …Moses and the burning bush. Now it's interesting that in that theophany, when Moses first sees the burning bush, he's not afraid, he's intrigued. He sees it and says I'm gonna check this out. And that's when God spoke to him from out of the bush. God said take off your sandals because you're standing on holy ground, and then God said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And immediately then, after Moses knew who he was talking to, we read, Exodus 3:6,“And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.”Moses was afraid after he recognized the encounter to be an encounter with God, and I think that's the same thing happening here. The disciples are not afraid of the unknown, they're afraid of the known!They know Genesis 1:2, that it was the Spirit of God who hovered over the face of the waters. They know Job 9:8 that it is God who “alone stretched out the heavens and trampled [upon] the waves of the sea.”They know that only God can do what Jesus is doing here and therefore Jesus is God, and that's why they were frightened! Because no longer are they just dealing with the Prophet who is like Moses (and greater than Moses), but they are in the presence of the God of Moses.Everything changes here. It gets flipped around. Jesus is not in the place of Moses anymore, but he is showing himself in the place of God and the disciples are in the place of Moses. They are biblically afraid, like Moses was. They're frightened. That's the conflict in this story. It's standard, expected, and essential … anytime mere mortals encounter the glory of Yahweh. … But now the resolution. Movement 3: ResolutionHere it is: Jesus speaks.This is verse 20. (This is still kinda like the burning bush, but it's even better because of how it ends.) Everybody look at verse 20. This is what Jesus said to the disciples as they were afraid. He said:“It is I; do not be afraid.”Now the second part of what Jesus says is a command (do not be afraid), but before the command is a declaration, and some of you might recognize it, but it's not super clear in our English translations. Most English translations put Jesus's first words here as “It is I” (because that's how we talk in English). But in the original Greek this is just two words. Everybody track with me here, okay? I want you to get this: the two Greek words are egō eimi — which, literally goes like this: egō means “I” and eimi is the verb “to be” — it means is or am. So put the two words together! egō eimi. What is Jesus saying here?! Do you see it? In this theophany, as Jesus is appearing to his disciples, showing himself to be God by his very action over the sea, and as they're frightened in his presence, he then speaks and he says I AM! So no wonder this story is the center-point and the highest point of this section in the Gospel of John. The identity of Jesus cannot be more in your face than this! Jesus Christ is God.Jesus shows this, Jesus says this, and then he says, “Do not be afraid.”And that's the real resolution.It's that God reveals himself and he says this — it's that God himself who created everything, who has authority over the seas, he is standing in front of the disciples in human flesh like theirs and he says You don't have to fear.Why not? Why shouldn't they be afraid? Shouldn't we all be afraid if we are literally meeting our Maker in the middle of a storm? Jesus is their Maker and Judge — on what basis does he tell them not to fear?Well, I think it's because of what Jesus has already told them in Chapter 3, verse 17, that “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”One day Jesus will come in judgment, but not right now, not in this story and not today. Because for now Jesus is on a rescue mission! Jesus has come as their Savior and as our Savior. That's what he says! He is not the “I AM here to condemn you.” He is the “I AM here to save you.”He is the I AM with you!I AM for you! Don't be afraid.And this is where, if we step back a little and look at this entire story as a whole, it becomes an illustration of conversion …This story is actually our story … this is everyone's story who trusts in Jesus.Let me go back and show you …The Picture of ConversionRemember the setting, the disciples were in the dark and alone.That word “darkness” is important to John. He uses it a lot:He starts this Gospel, in Chapter 1, verse 5, by saying that Jesus is the light that shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.In Chapter 3, verse 19 John tells us that Jesus is the light come into this world but people love darkness rather than the light because their works are evil. In his first letter, 1 John 1:5, John says, “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”So for John, darkness is a bad thing. Darkness is anti-God. It's a metaphor for lostness. And so it's interesting that John tells us that the disciples are in the dark here, and to make matters worse, Jesus is not with them. Again, John repeats both of these things in verse 17.The disciples are in the dark and without God, and we've been there before haven't we? … I've been there … Now, look, I grew up going to church — we were a three-times-a-week churchgoing family — but I remember being lost. And it was weird because I was so close to the light that I knew the right things to say, but I was so much in the dark that I knew I really wanted a hundred other things more than I wanted Jesus.Which means I wasn't good at either part. I was like a friend who shared this with me recently: he said he was sinner and a saint and lousy at both. That was me: I was no good at following Jesus, and I was no good at running from him. That's lostness, man.What happened?He showed up. He came for me. He confronted me in a kind of storm, a fork in the road, and I knew who I was dealing with. Jesus is God, just like the Bible says. Everything I heard about Jesus is true. He has the authority. He has the power. My life is in his hands. And somewhere in that whirlwind he pointed me to his cross.I can't be good enough. I can't earn his love. But he loves me anyway. By his grace, he died on the cross to save me. He came to save me where I was. And I don't have to be afraid.And guess what?When Jesus showed up like that I was glad to take him in my boat!That's verse 21 here! Once the disciples hear Jesus speak and he tells them they don't have to fear because he is the I AM (here to save you), they're like Get him in the boat! And that's us too, right!?When we meet Jesus, when he shows up and we know who he is, and we take him at his word, we are all in with him. He is worthy of nothing less than our everything. And that's what it means to trust him. He's our only hope and we want him in our boat, in our lives, and we'll go wherever he goes, we'll do whatever he says. He's our God.And maybe you're here this morning and you've come to recognize Jesus as who he is and you're wondering about the next step. The next step is to ask him to save you. It could be a simple prayer like this,Jesus, I can't save myself and I'm done trying.You died on the cross for me and rose from the dead.You are God, save me. I'm inviting you to trust in Jesus Christ today. And for those of us who have, let's be glad he's in our boat!Let's pray:Lord Jesus, you are God. You are great and you are good and we delight in you. Thank you for coming here. Thank you for showing us who you are. Thank you for saving us! We praise you! With everything we are, with everything we've got, we praise you! We praise you! Amen.

Read OnlineWhile still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them, “This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah.” Luke 11:29The crowd seemed to be a mixed bunch. First, there were those who wholeheartedly believed in Jesus. The Twelve, for example, left everything behind to follow Him. His mother and various other holy women believed in Him and were His faithful followers. But within the growing crowd, it appeared that there were many who questioned Jesus and wanted some form of proof of Who He was. Thus, they wanted a sign from Heaven.A sign from Heaven would have been some externally manifest proof of Who Jesus was. Granted, Jesus had already performed numerous miracles. But it seems that this was not enough. They wanted more—and that desire is a clear indication of a stubbornness of heart and a lack of faith. So Jesus could not and would not give them the sign they wanted.Instead, Jesus says that the only sign they will receive is the sign of Jonah. Recall that the sign of Jonah was not very appealing. He was thrown over the side of a boat and swallowed by a whale, where he remained for three days before being spit up on the shores of Nineveh.Jesus' sign would be similar. He would suffer at the hands of the religious leaders and civil authorities, be killed and be placed in a tomb. And then, three days later, He would rise. But His Resurrection was not one in which He came forth with rays of light for all to see; rather, His post-Resurrection appearances were to those who already manifested faith and already believed.The lesson for us is that God will not convince us of the matters of faith through powerful and Hollywood-like public manifestations of God's greatness. Instead, the “sign” we are offered is an invitation to die with Christ so that we can personally begin to experience the new life of the Resurrection. This gift of faith is interior, not publicly exterior. Our death to sin is something we personally and interiorly do, and the new life we receive can only be seen by others by the witness of our lives that are changed.Reflect, today, upon the true sign God has given you. If you are one who seems to be waiting for some manifest sign from our Lord, wait no longer. Look at the crucifix, see Jesus' suffering and death, and choose to follow Him in a death to all sin and selfishness. Die with Him, enter the tomb with Him and allow Him to bring you forth interiorly renewed this Lent, so that you can be transformed by this one and only sign from Heaven.My crucified Lord, I gaze upon the crucifix and see in Your death the greatest act of love ever known. Give me the grace I need to follow You to the tomb so that Your death will triumph over my sins. Free me, dear Lord, during the Lenten journey so that I will be able to fully share in Your new life of the Resurrection. Jesus, I trust in You.  Image: Matthias Grünewald, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Read OnlineJesus came into the district of Judea and across the Jordan. Again crowds gathered around him and, as was his custom, he again taught them. The Pharisees approached him and asked, “Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?” They were testing him. Mark 10:1–2Notice the contrast above. The crowds gathered around Jesus to listen to Him. Clearly, they were coming to faith. But the Pharisees came to Jesus to test Him. They did not come in faith; they came with jealousy and envy and were already seeking to trap Him. The question they proposed was a trick question, not an honest attempt at communication with our Lord. They presumed that however Jesus answered the question, some people would be offended. The Pharisees were ready to stir things up, since so many were flocking to Jesus. Also, the Pharisees wanted to find fault with Jesus' answer so as to show that He opposed the Law of Moses. But Jesus' answer was perfect.Much could be said about the content of Jesus' answer. He clearly supports the indissolubility of marriage. He states that “what God has joined together, no human being must separate.” He adds: “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.” For those who have suffered through a divorce, it is important to prayerfully ponder this teaching from our Lord. It is also important to work with the Church Tribunal to examine the marriage in the light of truth so that a determination can be made about the validity or invalidity of the marriage bond. With that said, the approach that both the crowds and the Pharisees took toward Jesus also teaches us an important lesson about communication, not only with God but also with one another. This is a lesson that is especially important for married couples to learn.Think about your own approach to communication. When you struggle with conflict with another, how do you resolve it? How do you bring your questions and concerns to your spouse? The crowds came to Jesus to listen and understand. The reward was the gift of faith in that they received a deeper knowledge of Who Jesus was. The Pharisees, however, came to Jesus with the intent of finding fault with Him. And though it is obviously foolish to take this approach with our Lord, it is also foolish to do so with another, especially a spouse.Use the above approaches of the crowds and the Pharisees to think about how you come to others with your questions and concerns. When there is some conflict or misunderstanding, do you come with an open mind and heart, seeking to understand and resolve the question? Or do you come with a loaded question so as to trap and find fault with the other? So many conflicts in life with others, especially among spouses, could be resolved if the goal of any conversation was simply to understand the other person, not trap them or find fault with them. This is hard for many people to do and requires much humility and openness.Reflect, today, upon any relationship with which you are currently struggling. Reflect, especially, upon whether your approach to communication with that person is more like the crowds or more like the Pharisees. Commit yourself to the approach of seeking open and honest communication and you will find that this commitment brings true resolution, peace and unity.Lord of all truth, You desire that I always come to You with sincerity, honesty and humility, seeking resolution to every internal question and conflict I face. You call me to approach others with this same depth of communication. Give me the grace to always seek the unity and truth that result in peace of mind and heart. Jesus, I trust in You.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.Jacob Jordaens, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Read OnlineJohn said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.” Jesus replied, “Do not prevent him…” Mark 9:38–39Why would John and the other disciples try to stop someone from driving out demons? To understand this, imagine the scene. John and the other disciples had come to believe that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah of God. They witnessed Him perform many miracles and change many lives. As a result, they no doubt wanted everyone to discover Who Jesus was and come to faith in Him. But then they encountered someone they did not know, who was driving out demons in Jesus' name, and they tried to stop him.Just prior to this passage, we read the story of a man who had brought his possessed son to Jesus' disciples and asked them to cure the boy, but they were unable to do so. Perhaps the disciples were a bit humbled by their inability to cast out the demon, and then they witnessed another person, not of their company, who was able to cast out demons in Jesus' name. This might have added to their feelings of weakness and humiliation, and perhaps that is part of their motivation for trying to stop the man from exercising authority in Jesus' name.One common temptation that the evil one issues upon the members of the Church is that of internal division. As followers of Christ, we are all entrusted with the same mission, in different ways. We are called to become instruments of God's grace for the salvation of souls and the glory of God. But sometimes we fail to act in unison and, instead, see our co-workers as our opponents.Within our Church today, there are plenty of internal divisions that must cease. Perhaps the best way to accomplish this is to make it a priority to focus upon mutual support. Instead of allowing pride to create jealousy toward those who perform “mighty deeds” by the grace of God, we must work to rejoice in every good that we see. This seems like an obvious statement, but pride and feelings of inadequacy are real temptations that lead us to look down upon those who accomplish the will of God in powerful ways. When we see someone doing something good, we often immediately think about ourselves, wishing we were the ones doing the good work. And when God uses another in a powerful way, we can easily be tempted to see our own inadequacies and failings, rather than glorifying God for the good deeds done by another.Reflect, today, upon the simple truth that every Christian is on the same spiritual team. We are all called to work toward the goals of the glory of God and the salvation of souls. Try to humbly think about those in your life who do this well and consider your attitude toward them. If you see any form of jealousy, envy or criticism, commit to dispel those attitudes. Instead, seek to have gratitude as you rejoice in the many ways that God uses others for His purpose.Lord of power and might, You accomplish countless good through the generosity and fidelity of Your people. You constantly use all who follow You to bring forth Your will. Please use me, dear Lord, as an instrument of Your will, and help me to always rejoice in the ways that You bring Your grace forth through others. Jesus, I trust in You.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.Ilyas Basim Khuri Bazzi Rahib, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Read OnlineThey said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. John 1:38–39What an interesting exchange. Andrew was one of two disciples of John the Baptist who heard John say that Jesus was the “Lamb of God.” As a result, Andrew and the other disciple left the Baptist and started to physically follow  Jesus. As they began to follow Jesus, He turned to them and asked them what they were looking for. And their response, followed by Jesus' invitation, is recorded above.Jesus' invitation was unique: “Come, and you will see.” With that invitation, these two disciples went and remained with Jesus that day. But that's not all that happened. It is clear from the subsequent passage that by spending the day with Jesus, these two disciples came to faith in Who Jesus was. Later in the passage, Andrew goes to his brother Peter to tell him, “We have found the Messiah.” What was it about their day with Jesus that convinced them of Who He was?Though the details of their stay with Jesus are not included in the Gospel, it seems clear that simply being in Jesus' presence is all that these disciples need. Consider, again, Jesus' twofold invitation: “Come…” followed by “and you will see.”When our Lord speaks to each of us, His invitation is quite similar. First, He will invite us to come with Him. We are to come to the place where Jesus is staying. Where is that? For us, it is not necessarily a physical place; rather, it is first and foremost a place of prayer. We must hear Jesus invite us to come to Him through the interior journey of personal prayer. It is there, within the depths of our soul, that we will rest with our Lord. He invites us to simply be there in His divine presence. When we come to Him and rest with Him in His presence, another thing will happen: “and you will see.” We will see Him, come to know Him, be enlightened by Him and come to faith in Him. At first, this happens by His spoken Word. Ultimately, this takes place through an interior revelation that we can only receive in prayer.Reflect, today, upon this gentle invitation that our Lord gave to these disciples. As you ponder these words, hear them spoken also to you. At first, spend time reflecting only upon the word “come.” Allow it to penetrate your soul. Allow it to become deeply personal. Know that it is a real and loving invitation from Jesus. After that, try to spend time pondering the words “and you will see.” What is it that God wants you to see? What personal revelation of faith does God want to bestow upon you? “Come, and you will see.” Allow these words to change your life, just as they changed the lives of these first disciples of our Lord.Lord, You continuously invite me to come to You, to be with You and to sit with You in Your divine presence. Please help me to hear this gentle invitation of Your love. As I do, please open the eyes of my soul to see You, know You and love You more fully. And as I see You, give me grace and strength to follow You wherever You lead. Jesus, I trust in You.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.Featured image above: St Andrew the First-Called, via flickr

Read OnlineJohn testified further, saying, “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky and remain upon him. I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.” John 1:32–34It's interesting to note that in the Gospel of John, Saint John the Baptist never baptized Jesus, as is depicted in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. Instead, in the Gospel of John, John the Baptist simply witnessed the descent of the Holy Spirit from a distance, and then spoke the quoted line above. The next day, the Baptist pointed to Jesus as the “Lamb of God,” and two of his own disciples left the Baptist to follow Jesus.Why is there this apparent discrepancy between the Gospel of John and the three Synoptic Gospels? Though it's hard to answer that for certain, one thing that is made uniquely clear in the Gospel of John is that the Baptist was given a unique spiritual knowledge by the Father that Jesus was the “Lamb of God.” In this Gospel, the revelation of Who Jesus was did not take place in a way that everyone present heard and saw. Rather, John's Gospel focuses upon the interior realization that John the Baptist received from the One Who sent him. And the One Who sent him was the Father in Heaven.One spiritual truth worth pondering from the account of the Gospel of John read today is that the conviction and certainty given to the Baptist about Jesus' identity was so certain that he knew Who Jesus was beyond any shadow of a doubt. This personal revelation given to the Baptist changed his life. From that moment on, all he did was point people to Jesus.As you ponder this spiritual revelation about Jesus that the Baptist received from the Father in Heaven, consider for yourself what would be more convincing. Would it be more convincing to hear an audible voice from Heaven declare Who Jesus was? Or to receive this same knowledge through an interior and spiritual communication from the Father? If you believe that the former, the external and audible voice, would be more convincing, then you might want to pause and think again. The truth is that God's clearest and most certain form of communication to us is one that is internal. And even if there were an audible voice spoken from Heaven, as depicted in the Synoptic Gospels, that Voice would have to also be interiorly confirmed by faith in the hearts of the hearers so as to convince them on the deepest level. Reflect, today, upon the spiritual truth that God the Father wants to speak to you in the depths of your own soul so as to draw you into a certainty about Himself and all that He has spoken as true. Do you hear God speak? Have you allowed yourself to be convinced by His Voice? Listen to Him today and allow all that He speaks to you to become the source and goal of all that you say and do in life. Father in Heaven, You have revealed to me Who You are and Your plan for my life in many ways. And though You are always speaking to me, I acknowledge that I do not always listen. Please open my soul to You more fully so that I may come to faith and be certain of Your love and Your perfect will in my life. Jesus, I trust in You.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.Featured image above: Baptism of Christ By Andrea del Verrocchio, via Wikimedia Commons