Tagged: Bible Study

“Jesus responded: ‘Do you believe just because I told you I saw you under the fig tree? You will see much greater things than that.’ ” –John 1:50 St. Bartholomew (Nathanael) was prejudiced against Jesus because Jesus came from Nazareth (Jn 1:46). After Jesus mentioned He saw Nathanael under the fig tree, however, Nathanael changed completely, from prejudice to faith. He acknowledged Jesus as “the Son of God” and “the King of Israel” (Jn 1:49). Why was Nathanael so impressed by Jesus’ remark that He saw him under the fig tree? What was Nathanael doing under the fig tree? No...

“Does it shake your faith?” –John 6:61 When Jesus talks about His eucharistic presence, people exclaim: “This sort of talk is hard to endure! How can anyone take it seriously?” (Jn 6:60) However, Jesus refuses to re-phrase the revelation of His eucharistic presence. He insists that the issue is not His words but our faith in His words (see Jn 6:61). He challenges us not to think about His words merely with our human capabilities, for “the flesh is useless” (Jn 6:63) and His words “are spirit and life” (Jn 6:63). Faith in Jesus’ eucharistic presence is a matter of...

“Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, but whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.” –Matthew 23:12 Jesus criticized some religious leaders for being proud. Pride was the reason for some of them being spiritually blind, fools, and hypocrites (see Mt 23:13, 17). Therefore, Jesus called them to humble themselves, and He calls us to do the same (Mt 23:12). Jesus “humbled Himself, obediently accepting even death, death on a cross!” (Phil 2:8) Jesus, gentle and humble of heart, wants to make our hearts like His (Mt 11:29). He wants “a people humble and lowly” (Zep 3:12). The Lord commands us: “In...

“Both Mahlon and Chilion died also, and the woman was left with neither her two sons nor her husband.” –Ruth 1:5 Ruth’s husband, father-in-law, and brother-in-law had died. All of these men had moved to Moab to escape death from starvation (Ru 1:1), but they only delayed death for ten years (Ru 1:4). Ruth swallowed up death in victory (1 Cor 15:54) by her faithfulness to Naomi in obedience to God. She reversed the march of death by marrying Boaz, giving birth to Obed, and becoming the great grandmother of David (Ru 4:22). It was from David’s family that Jesus...