Somebody hailing from Nazareth did not fit the image of the One foretold by Moses and the prophets. Nathanael said as much but quickly changed his mind after Philip introduced him to the Lord. By comparing scribes and Pharisees to whitewashed tombs filled with decay, Jesus criticized the rottenness of their hypocrisy. Jesus wants His followers to become faithful, responsible servants, ready to welcome the Master whenever He comes again. Sometimes we get busy or interrupted or worn out. How much inner resolve do we really have to respond to peop

Putting his share of goodness into the world seemed doable to a young man until Jesus said to sell his possessions, give to the poor, and follow Him. He went away sad, and even the Disciples wondered if anyone could gain eternal life. Putting it another way, Peter wanted to know what the Apostles would get out of all that they had given up. In a parable, Jesus compared the kingdom of heaven to a wedding feast for a king’s son, but many didn’t love the king or the son and declined the invitation. In another parable, workers who had put in a

Halls of fame recognize greatness, but the Disciples wanted to know who ranked as the greatest in heaven. Jesus answered that anyone without the humility of a child will not even get in the door. Children readily accept help with the many things they cannot do on their own. Sharing God’s concern for the strayed, the faithful can forgive and correct a sinner, one to one or, if that fails, as a group. Mary’s relative Elizabeth called the Virgin blessed for believing that the Lord would fulfill His promises, and Mary responded that her soul pr

In the Old Testament, the hero in the Book of Daniel received God’s promise of freedom from Babylonian captivity and had visions of the Father, the Son of Man (Jesus), and heaven. Later, three of the Disciples witnessed the Transfiguration of the Lord, who appeared to them in heavenly glory. Begged by a Canaanite woman to cure her daughter, Jesus mimicked the wrong-hearted opinion that helping her would be like throwing food meant for children (Israelites) to the dogs (Gentiles). She persisted, and Jesus worked the miracle. Peter tried to wal

Martha confirmed her belief in Jesus as the Son of God, who could do whatever she asked. He raised Lazarus, her brother, from the dead. Like a tiny mustard seed that grows into a huge plant or the yeast that raises a whole batch of dough, even a little goodness can grow, but so can a little evil. In a revelation to Jeremiah, God compared His people to clay in the hands of a potter, who sees a project progressing badly and uses the same clay to try again. God persists in helping us! In Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth, people knew Him as the son of

Micah, an Old Testament prophet, expressed hope in the compassion and mercy of God, who does not stay angry forever and stamps out guilt. Mary Magdalene mistook the Risen Lord for a gardener until He exclaimed her name. Jesus counts anyone who does the Father’s will as family and knows us by name. In a parable of seed scattered on all kinds of ground, Jesus taught the importance of receptiveness to the Word so that we remain well grounded and able to grow in faith. The mother of James and John wanted Jesus’ assurance that her sons would sit

Jesus worked miracles but said that even the small kindness of giving a cup of cold water to a disciple of His will get rewarded. We can learn from children, wise beyond their years and schooling. Think of a toddler presenting a crayon scribble, saying “It’s for you,” and having no doubt that Grandma or Grandpa will love it. On the other hand, Pharisees made a big deal of Jesus allowing the Disciples to pick and eat heads of grain while walking along on a Sabbath. Burdens in our lives may seem unnecessarily heavy. When we want the Lord to