Category: Bible Study

“When they landed, they saw a charcoal fire.” –John 21:9 When Simon Peter denied Jesus three times, he was standing beside “a charcoal fire” (Jn 18:18). After meeting the risen Jesus several times, Simon Peter then decided to return to his pre-Jesus career of commercial fishing (Jn 21:3), in effect denying Jesus’ call to be a fisher of men (Lk 5:10). In asking Simon “Do you love Me?” three times by a charcoal fire, Jesus also took him back to the scene of his three denials. Jesus allowed Simon Peter to undo his denials and replace them with professions of...

“It is His name, and trust in this name, that has strengthened the limbs of this man whom you see and know well.” –Acts 3:16 The name of Jesus has ultimate power. In Jesus’ name, the lame walk (Acts 3:6ff). At the name of Jesus, every knee must bow, in the heavens, on the earth, and under the earth (Phil 2:10-11). “There is no salvation in anyone else, for there is no other name in the whole world given to men by which we are to be saved” (Acts 4:12). No wonder the secular world removes pictures of Jesus from...

“Were not our hearts burning inside us?” –Luke 24:32 Jesus spent the afternoon of the day of His resurrection walking and talking with two of His disciples. “He interpreted for them every passage of Scripture which referred to Him” (Lk 24:27). As Jesus taught His disciples the Scriptures, their hearts began to burn within them (Lk 24:32). This sensation indicated that their hearts were being purified. Thus, Jesus spent the afternoon of His resurrection day purifying hearts through teaching the Bible (see Eph 5:26). Jesus is doing the same thing on this resurrection day (see Heb 13:8). If we let...

“Rather, go to My brothers and tell them.” –John 20:17 Jesus is risen, and we are His witnesses! After you renewed your baptismal promises on Easter, did you explode from the starting blocks, run into the whole world, and proclaim joy, freedom, and victory in the risen Christ? If so, you are like Mary Magdalene on resurrection day. Keep on running for Jesus (see 2 Tm 4:7). If, however, on this third day of the Easter octave beginning the Easter season, you are not running with the gospel, but are dawdling at the starting line, then repent, renew your baptismal...

“They hurried away from the tomb half-overjoyed, half-fearful.” –Matthew 28:8 “Jesus said to them: ‘Do not be afraid!’ ” –Matthew 28:10 When the first followers of Jesus learned that He had risen, some were half-fearful and half-overjoyed (Mt 28:8). This divided reaction still occurs today. When we first encounter the risen Jesus, we rejoice with great joy. Yet we also realize quickly that risen life brings new challenges and new responsibilities, especially in evangelization. Satan couldn’t prevent the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, so now he is reduced to trying to stop us from spreading the good news that...