Sermons, Articles, and Other Things

--> This incident is one of the few that are recorded in each of the Four Gospels. This fact in itself tells us that it is a very important one. Each Gospel writer has his own concerns when mentioning it. John gives most details and he also includes subsequent developments in the attitude of the crowd. There is a place for combining the accounts and having an overall appreciation of what took place. Yet there is also a place for focussing on what each writer mentions. So, we will consider what Matthew records about this incident. Jesus and time with God (Matthew 14:13) Matthew records the response of Jesus to the news that his forerunner John the Baptist had been put to death by Herod. His response was to go away from the crowds for a short time. His disciples went with him (John 6:1-3), but that would not have prevented Jesus from spending time by himself once he was away from the crowds. According to other Gospel accounts, one reason for him making this arrangem...

In this chapter, the prophet describes his fourth vision in the series. We are not told where the incident in the vision takes place. It is probably in the temple area where Joshua would be going about his duties as high priest, although they would be limited given that the temple had not been rebuilt yet. As the high priest he was the most important individual in the group of official servants who looked after the worship of God. Joshua was a devout high priest unlike some others who occupied the position. Nevertheless, he was still a sinner who needed divine cleansing from his sins. This is a reminder that we are only sinners at best and that we cannot base our standing with God on our own abilities, even when engaged in one way or another in his service. The confrontation (vv. 1-2) As we can see, there are five individuals mentioned here. Two are observers, and they are Zechariah and the angel who is guiding him through the process of the visions. The other three are Joshu...

In these verses we have the gruesome account of the martyrdom of John the Baptist by Herod in response to the request of his wife. Matthew provides us with the details, and we need to ask for some reasons as to why he did so.  We could remind ourselves that here we have a reminder that in the kingdom of God privilege and pain go hand in hand. John had the greatest role possible for an Old Testament believer – he was the forerunner who introduced Jesus to the people of Israel. Yet he spent his last months in a prison and eventually was put to death.  Or we can deduce from the experience of John that there is only one life and one death that can do us any good. John’s life and death did not bring any long term spiritual benefits to anyone. In contrast, the life and death of Jesus brings eternal blessings to everyone who trusts in him. Matthew here uses the growing popularity of Jesus to inform his readers what had happened to John. Previously he had mentioned that John...

The problem that was disturbing the church in Colosse was connected to a lowering of Jesus in the minds and hearts of the church members. So Paul wrote this letter to remind them who Jesus is and why he should be regarded as unique. Paul did not want them merely to say that Jesus was unique, but also to say in what ways Jesus is unique. His treatment is similar to someone asking us, ‘what is so important about Jesus?’ What would we say to someone who asked us that question? It is worth saying here that many commentators believe that what we have here is a kind of creedal statement summarising the person and work of Jesus. There are several such statements in the New Testament and they were written to help Christians recall who their Saviour is. Paul could be quoting one or he could be composing it for the first time. What matters is that we can read it in God’s Word and turn its phrases over in our minds in order to help us appreciate the greatness of Jesus. Maybe we could decide ...