Prior to the beginning of His ministry, Matthew shares with us two things that happened to Jesus—His baptism and His temptation in the wilderness. These are to be taken together as inaugural and initiatory to His mission. Jesus’ baptism was (among other things), His public manifestation to Israel. John develops this aspect as he tellsContinue reading “This Is Our Savior!”
Category Archives: Matthew
The Man Of Mercy
Jesus, as Matthew presents Him to us, was a man of mercy. Jesus taught mercy. Matthew arranged his gospel into five teaching blocks (chapters 5-7,10,13,18,23-25). Each of these ends with a statement to the effect of when Jesus had finished saying/teaching (all) these things (7:28,11:1,13:53, 19:1,26:1), In the first part of the first teaching section, Matthew recorded JesusContinue reading “The Man Of Mercy”
The Key To The Church
There is a lot of misunderstanding about church. It would have been interesting if Jesus had asked the disciples in Matthew 16:13ff, “What do people say the church is?” But of course, the church didn’t exist at that time, so He couldn’t do that. Still, the text has it right—what we think about Christ isContinue reading “The Key To The Church”
The Genesis Of Jesus
Matthew offers us several beginnings regarding Jesus in the introductory portion of his gospel (1:1-4:16). There’s the beginning of the preaching concerning the kingdom Christ is bringing in the work of John the Baptist (3:1ff). Then there’s the beginning of Jesus’ public life marked by His baptism (3:13ff) and the beginning of His ministry inContinue reading “The Genesis Of Jesus”
The Blessing Of Mourning
Preachers are privileged to see life in all of its rawness as well as refinement. The refinement part tends to be the Sunday pageantry you see—people in their best and at their best. I have no problem with that. I know the good people against organized religion tend to think it’s all hypocrisy. It can be and sometimes isContinue reading “The Blessing Of Mourning”
Securing Your Treasure
Early one winter morning in 1994, two men pull up to the National Art Gallery in Oslo, Norway. From the trunk of their car, they withdraw a ladder they have stolen just minutes earlier from a construction site and prop it against the wall of the museum. One of the men starts up the ladder only toContinue reading “Securing Your Treasure”
Streamlining For The Kingdom
In 1981, three people got together at a restaurant and sketched out on a napkin an idea for an airplane. But it wasn’t just any airplane that Dick Rutan, his brother Burt, and Jeana Yeager had in mind. This one would be capable of doing what no plane had ever done before—fly around the worldContinue reading “Streamlining For The Kingdom”
Standing In The Storm
Followers of Jesus are no strangers to storms! They struggle with illness and disease, disability, hardship, discouragement, and every other affliction that is known to man. Belonging to Christ does not grant them immunity or exemption from any of these (though you wouldn’t always get that impression by listening to some of our prayers). There may be no atheistsContinue reading “Standing In The Storm”
Sharing God In Prayer
One of the best things our parents ever did for those of us who had siblings was to let us know they loved our brother(s) or sister(s) as much as they loved us. Think of how bent and distorted we would have grown up to be if we thought we were loved more or wereContinue reading “Sharing God In Prayer”
Say What You Mean
You have my word on it. Does that mean anything today? Hopefully, it does. Hopefully, it means that you meant what you said, that you can be trusted, that people can count on you. The sad truth though is that we live in a world where the truth isn’t always the truth. We live in a world ofContinue reading “Say What You Mean”
A Taste of Grace with Bruce Green 