When the sun has gone down and it is dark and you need lots of light to get your work done, it can be very frustrating. How you wished for more light! When the sun comes up, then you will be able to see again. But can you imagine darkness that lasts years? decades? centuries or more?! (more…)
The heart monitor by the bedside is beeping and keeping rhythm. It reassures that life is still here, still being lived.
How many surgeries has it been? Is this the fifth or sixth? A close relative I know has had over twenty, which I can barely imagine. And then, one week later, and I’m in another hospital, at another bedside, a completely different set of circumstances but another heart monitor, another intensive care room visit.
The cries go up to God. “Help, Lord!” “Heal, restore complete health!” “Please take away the pain!”
It’s clear that we need help. (more…)
When you travel, you probably have a destination in mind. Yet even with a destination defined, it is rarely a straight line to get there. Jesus goes into the desert, which was not exactly a detour, but it isn’t the most direct route that human wisdom would choose for bringing in God’s Kingdom. What important lesson needs to be learned in the wilderness? Let’s see… (more…)
No sooner did John promise One greater would come after him, the Messiah (Christ), than Jesus appears with a request that defied all expectations.
Then Jesus appeared at the Jordan River, arriving from Galilee, and he wanted to be baptized by John. John wanted to prevent it from happening and said, “I need to be baptized by you, and you’re coming to me?!”
Jesus answered, “Let it be this way. It perfectly fits within God’s will to fulfill all righteous requirements.” So John allowed it.
After being buried in the waters, Jesus immediately came up out of the water and the heavens opened up and he saw God’s Spirit descending and landing on him like a dove. A commanding voice from heaven spoke: “This is my precious, beloved Son. I am so happy with him!” (Matthew 3:13-17)
Jesus comes to John to be baptized. John recognizes Jesus as greater than him, holier than him and having no need (more…)