8 People Commended by Jesus

• Nathanael: When first meeting him, Jesus called him a "true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false" (John 1:47)
• The Roman Centurion: Jesus marvelled at this Gentile soldier's profound faith and understanding of spiritual authority, stating, "I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!" (Matthew 8:5-13)
• John the Baptist: Jesus publicly defended and honoured John, calling him the greatest among those born of women and describing him as a "lamp that burned and gave light" (Matthew 11:7-11)
• The Syrophoenician Woman: When she persistently begged Jesus to heal her daughter, he commended her persistence and faith, telling her, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted" (Matthew 15:21-28)
• The Poor Widow: Jesus praised a widow who placed two tiny copper coins into the temple treasury. He highlighted her sacrifice, noting she gave "out of her poverty... all that she had" (Mark 12:41-44)
• Mary of Bethany: After she anointed Jesus' feet with expensive perfume, he defended her actions from critics and commended her devotion, declaring that she had chosen "what is better, and it will not be taken away from her" (Luke 10:38-42)
• The Anointing Woman: In Luke 7:36-50, a woman washes Jesus' feet with her tears and hair. Jesus commended her great love and faith, saying, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace" (Luke 7:50)
• The Scribe: After a teacher of the law correctly summarised that loving God and one's neighbor is more important than burnt offerings, Jesus told him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God" (Mark 12:28-34)

Jan Akerman Lammy Part 2

I noticed this morning that someoone had highlighted my video, available here - Lammy Part 2 

The music is from Jan Akkerman's 1974 algum Tabernakel and for me is probably the most wonderful ever. I added pics interpreting the prompts given by Akkerman (Tabernakel, Last Will and Testament, Amen, etc)/ I write at Facebook

"I added those pictures about 16 yeara ago and I just rewatched. The music is superb and although the pics are done in a fairly amateurish way they do enhance the experience expecially if you know the story which is how Moses led the Israelites through the wilderness 40 years and died before entering the Promised Land. Moses and the Law will never get you into the Promised Land only Jesus can and here I start to preach - I am a preacher after all. Thanks again Jan."

Jesus and Zoology in the latest Banner Mag

You may be interested to know that amongst many other good things in the latest Banner Mag is an article I have written with the intriguing title, Jesus and zoology.

10 Animals Mentioned By Jesus

1. Matthew 6:25, 26 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"

2. Matthew 8:20 Jesus replied, "Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."

3. Matthew 10:16a I am sending you out like sheep

4. Matthew 10:16b among wolves.

5. Matthew 10:16c Therefore be as shrewd as snakes

6. Matthew 10:16d and as innocent as doves.

7. Matthew 10:29-31 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father's care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

8. Matthew 19:24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.

9. Matthew 24:28 Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.

10. Matthew 25: 32, 33 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

10 Parallels Betweeen Joseph in Genesis and Jesus

1. Both are the most loved of their fathers (Joseph, Genesis 37:5-11, Jesus, Matthew 3:17)
2. Both Joseph and Jesus’ brothers were jealous and did not believe in them (Joseph, Genesis 37:4-5, 11, Jesus, the Jews did not believe in him and hated him, John 7:5, 15:24)
3. Joseph was sent by his father to his brothers, Jesus was sent by his Father to his brother Israelites (Joseph, Genesis 37:13, 18-20, Jesus, Matt.21:37-3, Mark 12:6-7, Luke 20:13-15, John 5:23)
4. Both foretold their future sovereignty (Joseph Genesis 37:7-12, Jesus Matthew 26:64; John 18:37)
5. Both were stripped of their clothes (Joseph, Genesis 37:23, Jesus John 19:23)
6. Both were sold by one of the 12 named Judah or Judas (Joseph, Genesis 37:26-27, Jesus, Matthew 26:15, 27:9)
7. Joseph was tempted but did not sin, Jesus was tempted in all things yet was without sin (Joseph, Genesis 39:9, Jesus, Hebrews 4:15)
8. Joseph was bound, Jesus was bound and brought before Pilate – (Joseph, Genesis 39:30, Jesus, Matthew 27:2)
9. Joseph’s brothers later repented for what they did to him (Joseph, Genesis 42:7, Jesus, Zechariah 12:10)
10. Joseph is exalted, and set over all Egypt (41:39-40, 1 Peter 3:22; Philippians 2:9-11)

Dr Lloyd-Jones Memorial Lecture 2022 Jesus the Preacher

It was great to hear the Dr Lloyd-Jones Memorial Lecture from Dr Peter Williamd of Tyndale House last night. He spoke very helpfully on Jesus as a preacher, bringing many useful things to light. I guess there were about a hundred or so there. You can hear more or less what Dr Williams had to say on five YouTube videos, the first of which is found here. (These include questions at the end which we did not have last night),

Jesus is just alright

Do do do, etc ... 

Jesus is just all right with me
Jesus is just all right, oh yeah
Jesus is just all right with me 
Jesus is just all right

I don't care what they may know
I don't care where they may go
I don't care what they may know

Jesus is just all right, oh yeah
Jesus is just all right

I don't care what they may say
I don't care what they may do
I don't care what they may say

Jesus is just all right, oh yea
Jesus is just all right Do, do, do, etc.

Jesus is just all right with me
Jesus is just all right, oh yeah
Jesus is just all right with me
Jesus is just all right

Jesus is just all right with me
Jesus is just all right, oh yeah
Jesus is just all right with me
Jesus is just all right

Storming performance though I don't think the band were evangelically convinced on this matter.

10 differences between the meetings with Jesus in John 3 and 4

1. He came at night. She met Jesus in the middle of the day

2. He was a man. She was a woman

3. He is named. She is not named

4. He was a Jew. She was a Samaritan

5. He was well known. She was trying to be anonymous

6. He was an educated leader. She was an uneducated outsider

7. He was outwardly respectable. She was decadent

8. He thinks he knows about Jesus but doesn't. She doesn't know anything but learns fast

9. He fades out of the conversation. She remains active in the conversation

10. He does not believe then and brings no-one along. She quickly believes and brings others to Jesus

Theology with Mike Reeves

I've recently read Mike Reeves two Paternoster books The good God and Christ our life. I read the first (which is subtitled, on Father, Son and Spirit) on my kindle and the second in traditional format. Both books are written in a racy but highly theological style that makes good use of past masters. The books are illustrated throughout and certain sections are placed in separate panels, which all adds to the delight of the experience. These books have now been published in America by IVP as Delighting in the Trinity and Rejoicing in Christ. Not everyone copes so well with this fresh approach but it is good to know that a fresh voice is articulating ancient truth in the modern vernacular.

Lord's Day January 26 2014

We were in Matthew 3 (Jesus's baptism) and Esther (6) again yesterday. Numbers were down rather especially in the evening for some reason. The sermons were quite a contrast. I found it a little difficult to find my way preaching on the baptism of Jesus for some reason and the sermon came out relatively short (under 30 minutes). I found Esther 6 much easier and it was approaching 40 minutes by the time I had finished. I tried to be evangelistic in both - and hopefully did that. Praying was much more difficult than preaching for some reason.

Josephus on Jesus

This is the sometimes disputed quotation from Josephus on Jesus

"At this time there was a wise man who was called Jesus. And his conduct was good, and he was known to be virtuous. And many people from among the Jews and the other nations became his disciples. Pilate condemned him to be crucified and to die. And those who had become his disciples did not abandon his discipleship. They reported that he had appeared to them after his crucifixion and that he was alive; accordingly, he was perhaps the Messiah concerning whom the prophets have recounted wonders."

For more on Josephus and the controversy see here.

Jesus unique

Jesus brooks no rivals. There have been, there are, many religious leaders.

In an age of postmodern sensibilities and a deep cultural commitment to philosophical
pluralism, it is desperately easy to relativize Jesus in countless ways.
But there is only one Person of whom it can be said that he made us, and then
became one of us; that he is the Lord of glory, and a human being; that he died
in ignominy and shame on the odious cross, yet is now seated on the right hand

of the Majesty on high, having returned to the glory he shared with the Father

before the world began.
Don Carson

LTS Conference 2 Philip Eveson

The second paper was given by former LTS Principal Philip Eveson. This was in part a reprise of his paper on the psychological life of our Lord given at a previous Affinity Conference but fairly different. This time after a careful statement of the orthodox doctrine of Christ's humanity he proceeded to look at Christ at 12 years old, at his baptism and at other times.
He spoke of Christ's thorough knowledge of Scripture and his comitment to always doing the will of the Father he loved. It is this commitment to the Father that fuelled his very human emotions evidenced in various places in Scripture - anger, joy, etc. He was never emotionally out of control, having the Spirit at all times.
He made use of the means of grace. Behind his life of obedience was a continual delight in prayer. He was very often in prayer. In prayer intimacy and respect combined.
Christ was no loner. He saw the benefit of human companionship. His pracitce and teaching meshed. As he taught so he lived.
Finally, we looked at the death of Christ. His humanity is seen no more clearly than in Gethsemane. Like any man he recoiled from it and prayed to be delivered if possible. He had always resisted the Devil and even here he does the same. His human knowledge was finite adn he made real choices. It was not unnatural for him to want to escape the cross if he could. He placed his hope in God. The horror of death and the ardour of his obedience were meeting together (Bengel). We ended at the cross but did not go on to look at Christ's humanity beyond that point. It was quite a moving paper in some ways.

We discussed mainly Christ's miracle working and it may be that some other subject would have been better.

Christian Acrostics 05 JESUS

Justifying
Elect
Sinners,
Unchanging
Saviour

National Museum Cardiff

I was here this week and enjoyed lots of things including these two biblical ones from Millet.

See here.

Interesting link

Here's an interesting link mapping NT social networks

Suffering and resurrection

After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. Acts 1:2 The opening of Luke's second, less obvious, book about Jesus begins by summarising the 'period of 40 days' between 'his suffering' and ascension. There is, then, the period of suffering then the 40 days, in which he proved he had risen and spoke of God's kingdom.
Jesus, the Second Person of the Trinity, was always with the Father before his incarnation. He has now ascended again to God's right hand. Between these two points are his years of suffering and the 40 days of showing himself to his disciples and teaching them.
The suffering began with his birth, circumcision and flight from Herod. Next came poverty and obscurity in Nazareth then constant opposition and attempts to take his life culminating in his arrest and the cruelty and indignity of flogging, crucifixion, death and burial. Many things happened over the 33 years before resurrection but Luke sums them up as 'his suffering', enduring the penalty for sin to save his people.
His death and burial were not the end of the story. After three days he arose. He remained on earth in a resurrection body some six weeks to do two things. First, to show himself - not to everyone but to the Apostles, chosen in the time of suffering. He gave them 'many convincing proofs that he was alive' - eating; allowing them to touch him, perhaps. It was important they be convinced that he who suffered and died then rose again.
He also spoke about God's kingdom. There were things they could not understand in the time of suffering and that could only be clarified after his resurrection. They are reflected in the New Testament, which, though not always speaking in such terms, is concerned with God's rule and its extension.
We know Christ suffered to save his people and triumphed over death to rise again. We know he taught about God's Kingdom - that entrance is by new birth, is through many hardships and is a matter not of eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom 14:17). We must live in light of these truths.

Days of Glory

The internet is great for nostalgia. I had some early Christmas money and sent for two things that arrived today. The first was the 'new' Beatles CD Love - more on that another time perhaps.

The second was the book Days of Glory, a 168p school history textbook. Published 1961 (3rd impression 1964) it was my favourite book in Junior School. (My mother bought me a copy but it was lost). By Rowland W Purton (b 1925 and the author of several books for kids) its 45 chapters go from 'How things began' to 'Journey into space' via Hammurabi, Julius Caesar, Jesus of Nazareth (!), King Arthur, Caedmon, Robin Hood, The Gunpowder Plot, Honest Abe, etc. It has an undoubted 'Christian' bias (chapters cover Sts Patrick, Columba, Augustine and Aidan, King Edmund, Thomas Becket, Shaftesbury, Fry, etc). My favourite feature was the summary chart for each chapter.

I'm sure a lot of it would make me cringe now but it was a great intro for a young boy. Chapter 11 is quite remarkable. I reproduce it below. Such a chapter would not be allowed today. How things have changed in 40 years.

A few years after Julius Caesar was killed, a baby was born. There was something special about Him. He was only born in a stable and yet wise men came to bring Him presents. He was called Jesus Christ.
As a young man He worked in a carpenter’s shop. Then when He was thirty He began to teach people about God. You will not need to be told of the things He did or the stories He told. For three years people came to hear what He had to say and many came to be healed.
Then He was taken prisoner by the chief priests because they did not like what He was doing. The Roman soldiers nailed Him on a cross and He died. After three days He rose again from the dead and later went up to heaven in a cloud.
Many people had listened to what Jesus had to say and they began to teach other people. Soon there were men and women in many lands who believed in Jesus. They built many churches in which to worship God. Jesus had taught us that God is our Heavenly Father. People who try to do at Jesus taught are called Christians. Many Christian people have worked
hard to change things which were wrong. If Jesus had not come, the world would be much different to-day.
Because Jesus came we have changed our calendar. The Romans counted their years from the year Rome was built. The Jews count theirs from the time of Abraham. We count ours from the Birth of Jesus.