In this series I have been following Jesus’ last set of teachings to the crowds that gathered around Him… the last chance He would have to personally address them, to personally entreat them to enter the Kingdom. These lessons are now coming to an end. After these teaching sessions at the Temple, Jesus will concentrateRead…

There is an old joke about a man who went into a local pet store; and no sooner had he entered that this parrot spoke up: “Squawk… You are the ugliest thing I have ever seen.” The man, upset, turns to the owner, who shrugs his shoulders and says, “I am sure its previous ownerRead…

Last time, we talked about the two blind men that Jesus healed at Jericho, on His way to Jerusalem, near the end of His ministry. But earlier in His ministry, Jesus had had another encounter with two blind men: Matthew 9:27-29 And as Jesus passed on thence, two blind [men] followed him, crying and saying,Read…

This is a parenthesis motivated by the story of the blindmen healed at Jericho, from Part 4 of my ongoing series. It is also motivated by a very good book by Theologian Michael F. Bird, “Seven Things I Wish Christians Knew about the Bible.” His chapter on the Divine Inspiration of the Bible and itsRead…

In this series I have been going through the last few days of Jesus’ public ministry. Once he knew his time had come, he set off toward Jerusalem with his disciples to precipitate the fulfilment of his mission. Soon a large crowd was following along, with a very different idea of what was about toRead…

Following the parable of the hired vineyard workers, Jesus begins his trip toward Jerusalem in earnest. (Matthew 20:17-19) And Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples with [him] apart in the way, and said to them, Behold we go up to Jerusalem, and the Son of man will be delivered up to theRead…