“And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne.” (Revelation 5:6-7 ESV)

Once Israel had conquered the enemies of the Promised Land each tribe was given a portion of the land as an inheritance. Occasionally a family would fall on hard times and would be forced to sell their land and serve the new owners as hired workers. When the property was sold two documents were used as proof of the transaction; a sealed scroll and an open scroll. The open or unsealed scroll stated the purchaser as the new owner of the land. It was the public transaction of the purchase. The sealed scroll contained the details of the sell and the terms of redemption. This scroll had the signatures of witnesses on the back. Continue reading →

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.” (John 15:1 ESV)

Branches that are not connected to the vine, die. They may look good for a while, but they soon wither for lack of nourishment making it impossible for them to bear fruit. Jesus made it clear that the only way to bear fruit was to be connected to him. He said that he was the “true” vine, leaving us to believe that there are other vines that may claim to be true but are false. And to be connected to them would not bear the fruit of righteousness. Continue reading →

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12 ESV)

When Jesus was just eight days old and newly circumcised, his parents took him to the temple to offer a sacrifice according to the law. Upon entering the temple they meet a man named Simeon, a righteous man who was led to the temple by the Spirit. With the Spirit resting on him he took Jesus in his arms and said, “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” (Luke 2:21-32 ESV) Continue reading →

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11 ESV)

Isaiah prophesied, “Behold, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.” (Isaiah 40:10-11 ESV) The Lord God came in the form of a man (Jesus Christ) and called himself the good shepherd. Continue reading →

So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.” (John 10:7-9 ESV)

When Jesus referred to himself as the door he drew his comparison from the image of a door to a sheepfold. Many of the sheepfolds of Jesus’ day were stone enclosures with thorns and briars placed on the top of the walls. They had an open court where the sheep could sleep. The folds were built to offer protection from thieves and wolves or other predatory animals. Continue reading →

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.” (John 11:25-26 ESV)

The story begins to unfold when the two sisters of Lazarus send word to Jesus that Lazarus is ill. Jesus immediately knew that the illness would not lead to permanent physical death, but that he would be glorified through it. So, he and his disciples wait two days before they leave for Bethany. Upon leaving Jesus said to his disciples, Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. (John 11:15 ESV) Jesus purposefully waited for Lazarus to die so that he could raise him from the dead. His motive was so that his disciples would believe him that God sent him; that he was the Son of God and so the Father and the Son would be glorified (John 11:4, 15, 42). Continue reading →

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:4-6 ESV)

We live in a culture where right and wrong have become increasingly subjective. In an effort to make everyone “feel comfortable” absolute truth has been kicked to the curb in lieu of sentimentalism. Subjectivism has not only established a foothold in the world but in the church as well. The Apostle Paul spoke of our day when he wrote, “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” (2 Timothy 4:3-4 ESV) Continue reading →