Mark’s gospel continues to reveal more of the authority of Jesus, this time as He forgives the sins of the paralytic. Israel’s prophets announced forgiveness but only as third parties speaking for the God that could forgive. Jesus was not only offering the forgiveness of sins, but was the agent of forgiveness itself by the divine authority […]
In this passage we continue see the Jesus Mark has introduced, with authority to heal disease, and with compassion to heal the sick and despised. By healing this leper He cleanses the unclean and gives him new life. But this passage also prepares us for a greater revelation about Jesus: Our sin is more shameful than any disease. It makes […]
Jesus came to preach the good news of the kingdom of God. The gracious mercy of God is what Jesus’ hearers received once they believed this good news preached to them and placed their trust in Him. But Jesus was unable to preach effectively without first seeking His Father’s will through persistent, fervent prayer. So it is with […]
Mark’s gospel continues to reveal the inbreaking of the kingdom of God through his account of the earthly ministry of Jesus. Here Jesus’ power and authority over the effects of sin were revealed as He alleviated the suffering of the sick and demon-possessed. But His compassion was revealed as well through his longsuffering attention all who came […]
When Jesus began teaching in the synagogues His words were like no others. They bore an authority not attributed to the scribes, the revered arbiters of Jewish doctrine in that day. The strength of His teaching evoked astonishment, even fear in His hearers. His command over demons demonstrated His unique power to subjugate sin and its effects, and […]
In his letter to Titus, Paul continues to shed light on why Jesus came. Jesus came to redeem us, to purify us, to make us his treasured possession so we are predisposed to serve Him and our neighbor with good works. What a bright outlook this is for us as we begin a new year. Note: If […]
In asking “Why did Jesus come?”, we have looked primarily to the gospel accounts. But Paul’s epistle to Timothy also adds this explicit declaration “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”. We may often agree that we sin, but we shrink from the painful truth of our entire identity as sinners. Paul, in noting the depth of his […]
In this text, the apostle John continues to answer our question, “Why did Jesus come?” Here he declares that Jesus came to take way sins and destroy the devil’s work. We are incapable of cleaning out the accumulated guilt from the sin of our lives, no matter how hard we try. Only Jesus can exchange our sin for […]