Jesus, the Underestimated Messiah
No one understood the nature of Jesus' Messiahship as He journeyed up to Jerusalem—not even the disciples who were closest to Jesus. Jesus explained to them repeatedly that His role was not that of the nationalistic military conqueror they had expected, but they still...
Why Did Jesus Silence Those Who Confessed Him?
When Jesus asked His disciples, "Who do you say that I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ." (Mark 8:30) Jesus accepted the Messianic title at this point though prior to this He had customarily silenced those who called Him the Christ. Think of the time He...
Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews
When the Jewish authorities told Pilate "we will have no king but Caesar," (John 19:15) they cut themselves off from the Messianic hope God had offered them. Their answer to Pilate is especially ironic given the sign that Pilate ordered be posted above the crucified...
Saving the Savior: Pilate’s Failed Attempt
Pilate, the man who gave our Lord Jesus Christ over to the angry mob to be crucified, initially tried to save Jesus' life. He tried several times to convince the Jewish authorities to let Jesus go free because, he told them, "I find no guilt in Him." (John 18:38) Why...
The Terrible Irony of the Way of the Cross
Christians have historically used the Easter season to focus on the journey of Jesus toward Jerusalem and on His death there for our sins. In Baptist life, we have traditionally held revival meetings during this season and these meetings have often been a great time...
The Truth About Love: 1 Corinthians 13
In 1 Corinthians 13:4-6 Paul describes a few of love's practical dimensions. When you read these verses, remember that these instructions were delivered to household churches and that to give instruction to the household churches was to give instruction in terms of...
Do You Know What True Love is?
In the biblical world, the word love has very little to do with how we feel. Since the 19th century, with its romantic literature and theology, we have come to think of the word love as describing a kind of feeling, an emotion, or a kind of transcendent experience. ...
Love and Spiritual Gifts: What You Need to Know
If you had asked an ancient Hebrew rabbi to describe to you the central confession of the Israelite religion, he would have responded with the Shema: Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all you heart and with...
The Power of the Gospel: What You Need to Know
The preaching of the Gospel has a power that goes beyond human oratory. It is not the power in the voice of the preacher. We are told that when the message of the crucified and risen Jesus is communicated, the energy of God is present and it is capable of...