The writers selected stories portraying Jesus the best for their audience, and wrote in a way their readers would understand. While they were selective in what they revealed, what is written is everything they thought important for their readers to know.
Jesus' limitless power remains untapped when we fail to entrust our “impossible situations” to Him.
Have you ever wondered why Scripture gives us four different accounts of Jesus' life? Wouldn't one Gospel have been enough? Chuck Swindoll answers this question in "That You May Believe."
We now begin the second phase of our safari through Scripture. Our desire is to see all 27 books as a whole—to see how they fit together, how they relate to us, and the value of each section to the person who reads and believes the Bible. Of special interest is the “flow” of thought carried through these books and letters of the New Testament.
The fourth Gospel is considered a primer on the essential basics of Christianity. In the book of John, Christ is clearly and pre-eminently exalted as deity. In simple (yet profound) terms, Jesus is set forth so that all may believe He is indeed the Son of God. Hopefully, this lesson, which provides a bird’s-eye view of the 21 chapters in John, will help all of us realize eternal life begins with Christ.
Biblical narratives tell the ultimate story of rescue and redemption of fallen mankind through the coming of the Messiah. It’s important that we understand how to read and interpret the smaller narratives in light of the one grand narrative.
While you and I may not have the sculpting skills of Michelangelo we are able to use something even more powerful, our words.
All who come to God must empty themselves of themselves. They must set aside their self-centredness, selfish ambition, and self-sufficiency. In other words, they must put away pride and put on humility.
I’ll believe it when I see it. Have you ever said that? Someone tries to convince you of something that doesn’t sound true. Not until you see it with your own eyes will you believe it.
Philip excitedly told his friend, Nathanael,
“We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth.” (John 1:45)
But Nathanael smirked with skepticism, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” (1:46).
Our sentimental approach to Christ’s birth sanitizes the event to the point where we re-cast the story for palatability, nostalgia, and commercial manipulation.
Insight for Living is committed to excellence in communicating the truths of Scripture and the Person of Jesus Christ in an accurate, clear, and practical manner so that people will come to an understanding of God’s plan for their lives, as well as their significant role as authentic Christians in a needy, hostile, and desperate world.
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