Radio shows

All of the great “I Am” titles for Jesus in John’s gospel are designed to bring us to trust in Jesus Christ for salvation and for continued growth in our Christian experience. A final title is in John 15:1, “I am the true vine!”  When I first thought about...

One of the most important statements Jesus made is found in John 14:6: “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14 begins with Jesus describing His plan to go back to the Father in heaven, prepare place...

We’ve been looking at references where Jesus claimed to be the “I Am.”  In John 11 we read that Jesus heard Lazarus was sick.  He chose not to visit before he died.  He told His disciples in verses 14-15, “Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was...

In our last visit we reflected on the titles claimed by Jesus found in John 10, “I am the gate,” and “I am the good shepherd.”  This picture of Jesus is found throughout the Bible.  Take Psalm 23 where He is called, Jehovah-Raah. This name of God communica...

We’ve been looking at Jesus’ “I Am” titles.  In John 10 you have two of them.  He identifies Himself as “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved…I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (verses 8-10). These verses make i...

In our last visit we mentioned that Jesus in John 8:58 claimed to be the “I AM,” Jehovah God.  In addition He said, “I am the bread of life,” in 6:35,  “I am the light of the world,” in 8:12, “I am the gate,” in 10:7, “I am the good shepherd,” in 10:11,  “...

As I’ve encouraged you to read through the Gospel of John, one chapter per day, we’ve been studying the various names by which Jesus is identified in this book.  Thus far we’ve looked at these names or titles: Jesus, Christ – that is, Messiah, Son of...

Over 80 times, including in the Gospel of John, the New Testament identifies Jesus Christ as the Son of Man.  This name for Jesus Christ refers to His being human.  A mortal body was prepared for Him.  In the incarnation He entered that body.  In that body...

In our last visit as we studied John 3, we saw Jesus as the Rabbi/teacher, the Savior.  Then He is referred to as the bridegroom (John 3:29-30).  Let’s reflect on this some more. When a bridegroom and a bride come together to be married, they’re culminatin...

John chapter 3 is pivotal to understanding the difference between mere religious head knowledge and experiential heart knowledge.  John 3 begins with Nicodemus coming to Jesus, the Rabbi, to ask questions.  Jesus immediately took him into uncharted waters ...

Let’s continue our study of the names or titles by which Jesus is identified in the Gospel of John.  John the Baptist declared in John 1:29, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”  This name conjured up in the minds of those present ...

We’ve looked at some names attributed to Jesus by John in his Gospel.  These names found in John 20:31 help us understand who Jesus is and why we should believe in Him. Let’s continue this study by going to the very first verse of the Gospel of John where ...

In our last two visits we’ve considered two names given to our Savior – Jesus and Christ.  John’s purpose for writing his Gospel was to persuade readers to “believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing (they would) have lif...

In our last visit we saw that the purpose John had in writing his Gospel was to help people come to “believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31).  We also found that the name “Jesus” m...

John spells out his purpose for writing his Gospel in chapter 20:31, “These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”  He wanted you to know who Jesus is, believe in Him...

In our last visit we studied how Jesus managed time in his life.  He had a mission to accomplish and knew better than anyone that you only have a certain amount of time to do what you’re going to do.  If you don’t get on with it, opportunity will start ebb...

One of the unique characteristics in the record of the life of Jesus Christ in John’s Gospel is the references to time.  The book begins with the declaration, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God...

We’ve looked at the poetical books of the Old Testament and the book of Isaiah over the last few months with a consideration of the book of Luke during December.  Let’s take another interlude from the Old Testament to read and study the gospel of John.  We...

I am always gripped by the opening words of Isaiah 64, “Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down!” When I see evil sweeping across our land I’m often prompted to cry out with Isaiah, “Oh, that you, God, would rend the heavens and come down!”  Or w...

Did you know Jesus quoted Isaiah 61 as the basis for His public ministry?  Compare the first two verses with what He said in the synagogue in Nazareth, recorded in Luke 4:18-19.  Notice that He paraphrased Isaiah’s prophecy, but He omitted the phrase, “the...

Isaiah 59 describes where many of us live.  To study this chapter let’s ask some basic questions. What is said about God?  God isn’t the problem if prayers are not answered.  His hand is able to save and His ear to hear (verse 1).  He deplores injustice (v...

I was fascinated by Isaiah’s penetrating view on fasting.  Most Christians know very little about fasting.  Self-denial is not common in our affluent, contemporary lifestyle.  If we get more serious and consider the discipline of fasting it would be good t...

Cross-references often enhance our understanding of what we’re reading in the Bible.  For example, in Isaiah 56 it mentions foreigners (verse 6) and in verse 8, “I will gather still others to them besides those already gathered.”  When I read this, it remi...

One of the difficulties in teaching from the book of Isaiah is to try and capture what he says so eloquently.  His messages are filled with vivid word pictures.  It’s difficult to capture and condense what he says into a concise format. Turn to chapter 55....

As we read the book of Isaiah, we now come across the “suffering servant” as described in chapter 53.  In this portion of Scripture look at who He is and what He has done.  The description is graphic. He is despised and rejected; a man of sorrows, who suff...