(Don’t) Hold On
Read: John 20:11-21 Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended. (v. 17) In my final year of swimming lessons, I learned some basic lifeguarding skills. My instructor emphasized the importance of approaching a panicking swimmer with caution. He explained that a drowning person will cling so powerfully that a would-be rescuer […]
To Your Advantage
Read: John 16:5-16 If I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. (v. 7) In the musical Mary Poppins, the Banks family hires Mary to impose order and discipline upon their children, Michael and Jane. However, the children’s bad behavior stems not from an absence of discipline, but an absence of […]
Heaven Breaks Through
Read: Matthew 27:45-54 The earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. (vv. 51-52) In the beginning, God made heaven and earth: one creation consisting of two realms, seamlessly, perfectly united. After the beginning, human sin forged a barrier between heaven and earth. The barrier was signified by the flaming sword […]
You Will See the Kingdom
Read: Luke 9:27-36 When they became fully awake they saw his glory. (v. 32) The Disney film Tangled is about a lost princess who embarks on a journey to discover her true identity. Along the way she picks up a companion. When her royal heritage is revealed, he is first awed, but then he feels […]
The Feast of Heaven and Earth
Read: Matthew 22:1-14 The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast. (v. 2) Several New Testament passages make little sense until we understand what Jesus means by “heaven.” If we think heaven is “the place good people go when they die,” what do we make of today’s Bible […]
Heaven Is at Hand
Read: Matthew 4:12-17; 11:1-6 Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (4:17) One of my earliest memories was opening my first Christmas gifts. My parents gathered my older sister and me in front of our Christmas tree. She said, “Time for presents!” A brightly wrapped package was placed […]
The Heavens Were Opened
Read: Ezekiel 1:1-9; 25-28 The heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God. (v. 1) Once when I was young, my parents announced that we were going to Baskin Robbins. I’d never heard of it, and I was distrustful of new things, so I complained about going. Then when we arrived, I was overwhelmed. […]
Woe is Me
Read: Isaiah 6:1-10 Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips. (v. 5) When I was growing up, my family attended an annual Christmas St. Nicholas party with a group of friends. It was a much-anticipated event, complete with an appearance from St. Nick, the Dutch Santa Claus. […]
At the Lord’s Table
Read: Exodus 24:9-18 They beheld God, and ate and drank. (v. 11) I tend to be restless in worship. My mind wanders. I check my watch. After an hour, I look for the exit. But I once attended a revival service that changed everything. The service was a cacophony of prayer and praise; laughter and […]