“Jesus Wept”

Jesus Wept

The shortest verse in the English Bible contains just two words: “Jesus wept” (John 10:35). Yet there is much to be learned from this brief statement. The context describes Jesus’ response to the death of Lazarus, who was a personal friend of His. Jesus would raise Lazarus from the dead, but an emotional scene preceded this event.

Therefore, when Mary came where Jesus was, she saw Him, and fell at His feet, saying to Him, ‘Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.’ When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled, and said, ‘Where have you laid him?’ They said to Him, ‘Lord, come and see.’ Jesus wept” (John 11:32-35).

What can we learn from this passage? Let us consider a few points.Continue Reading

Reasoned Preaching

Paul preaching in Thessalonica

In Paul’s preaching, he appealed to reason. We see this example in his two visits to Ephesus. During his first brief visit, he “entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews” (Acts 18:19). When he returned to Ephesus, after being forced to leave the synagogue, he was “reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus” (Acts 19:9).

This style of preaching was not reserved for the people of Ephesus because of their particular background or circumstances. Instead, this was the kind of preaching Paul did everywhere he went. When he went to Thessalonica, Luke records: “And according to Paul’s custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead…” (Acts 17:2-3).

Paul’s preaching was very different from the preaching done by many in the religious world today. Notice what Paul did not do:
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In Spirit and Truth

Prayer, worship

But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:23-24).

This passage is often cited to show how we are to worship. We must worship God in spirit and truth.
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