Category: Bible Reading & Meditation

STARTING OVER?

“I am going out to fish.” –John 21:3 Jesus told Peter to leave the fishing business and follow Him (Mt 4:19). Even after meeting the risen Christ several times, Peter denied Christ again and returned to the fishing business. Peter denied Jesus, the Light, and chose the night. “All through the night they caught nothing” (Jn 21:3). Peter was naked (see Jn 21:7, NAB), and not clothed with power (Lk 24:49), righteousness (see Eph 6:14), and life in Christ (Eph 4:24). Peter chose night, nothing, and nakedness. Jesus, in all His mercy, forgave Peter another three times and proceeded to...

GHOST STORY

“They thought they were seeing a ghost.” –Luke 24:37 The apostles thought that Jesus was a ghost. He was not. Yet the apostles were on to something profound in thinking of the presence of a ghost. A “ghost” was in the upper room, the Holy Ghost, and the apostles would be filled with this Holy Spirit in seven weeks at Pentecost in that same upper room (see Acts 2:4). Jesus and the Holy Spirit opened the minds of the apostles to understand the Word of God. Then the apostles brought thousands to the Lord at Pentecost (see Acts 2:41). During...

BELIEVE AND WITNESS

“This is the Jesus God has raised up, and we are His witnesses.” –Acts 2:32 Jesus once made the statement that even if a person should rise from the dead, some will not be convinced (Lk 16:31). He was referring to those who would not believe the Scriptures. The soldiers who took the money knew well Jesus had risen from the dead; they knew no one could have stolen the body. They also had been paralyzed with fear at the appearance of the angels. Even the chief priests knew the disciples had not stolen Jesus’ body; they simply chose to...

BELIEVE AND WITNESS

“This is the Jesus God has raised up, and we are His witnesses.” –Acts 2:32 Jesus once made the statement that even if a person should rise from the dead, some will not be convinced (Lk 16:31). He was referring to those who would not believe the Scriptures. The soldiers who took the money knew well Jesus had risen from the dead; they knew no one could have stolen the body. They also had been paralyzed with fear at the appearance of the angels. Even the chief priests knew the disciples had not stolen Jesus’ body; they simply chose to...

NEW AND NOW

“They killed Him, finally, hanging Him on a tree, only to have God raise Him up on the third day.” –Acts 10:40 Alleluia! Today is one of the greatest days in our lives. This is the first day of the fifty-day Sunday, the Easter season. Alleluia! When we believe in our hearts that Jesus is risen from the dead (see Rm 10:9), everything is transformed and made new. Death no longer overshadows Life. The fear of death no longer enslaves us (Heb 2:15). Death has lost its sting (1 Cor 15:55). Death is not our enemy but our friend; it...