The House You're Building

  Introduction :  All over the world, no matter what culture or time period, traditions are part of the human experience.  Anticipating a gathering of friends and family, with routines that we repeat annually when we gather is something hardwired into us. The God who created us implanted this desire into humanity and guided His people to memorialize His story of rescue within them.  As we continue our broad survey of Exodus, this week’s section of the book is as familiar as the plagues to most readers-the Passover and exit from Egypt as they miraculously cross the Red Sea.    Not only did God institute these rituals to remind His people in the past of His great power and holiness, He uses them as a symbol for us today.  The Passover commemorated the Israelite’s escape from death, as the blood on the door served as a vivid picture they were sin was covered, which would signal the angel to pass over their home.  As we read of the Feast of Unleaven...

        Orient  John 19:17-42 This installment of our series through John covers a sacred set of text: The Crucifixion.  This passage contains many fulfilled prophecies about the Messiah from multiple books from the old testament. Nicodemus, whom Jesus had spoken to in chapter 3, returns to assist in the burial of the body.    Introduction Not much needs to said in preparation for today’s meditative reading.  To Christians all over the world, the sacrificial act of Jesus is the cornerstone of our faith and salvation.  Without His triumphant act, we will still be lost in sin.  Our response to the atoning work of Jesus is the critical question all must answer: will I accept what He did for me? It is God’s desire that all will come to repentance [1]  when they behold His willingness to suffer in our place.  He makes this clear as even in His death, the deity of Jesus is was displayed in plain sight....

Orient  John 11:1-57 Today’s narrative highlights Jesus healing of a dear friend, not a stranger.     What makes this story unique is that Jesus intentionally allows His friend Lazarus to die so He could show His resurrection power.     Previous in John, Jesus has stated that some suffering is allowed to glorify God, which seems to be the case here.     Themes from chapter nine emerge again using day as a symbol of the opportunity to do the work of God and the looming threat of death as Jesus returns to Jerusalem.     Highlighted in this section is the emotion and intention of God regarding His intervention in the events in our lives as well as the response of the people we see to this great miracle of resurrection.     At the end, we read about a prophecy from the high priest regarding the sufficiency of the pending sacrifice of Jesus for His people. This chapter ends the first major section of John, where signs are used to validat...