“I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer” (Ruth 3:9 ESV). The little books of Ruth and Jonah have much in common. Four chapters, literary works of art, easily seen as 4-act plays, and more… But more profound is that they both foreshadow great doctrines of our
“Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” (John 4:29 ESV). The Samaritan woman that Jesus met at Jacob’s well was ready to share Jesus with others after only one encounter. Jesus had given her the clearest statement concerning His identity that He had given anyone,
“A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven” (John 3:27 ESV). John the Baptist’s followers worried that more people were following Jesus than John. When John heard them saying this, he rebuked them. He recognized that God determined spiritual results. He also understood that his ministry was called to
“Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night” (John 3:1-2 ESV). Nicodemus came to speak with Jesus at night. Perhaps he wanted a private conference and night time was the only time Jesus wasn’t surrounded by crowds. Or perhaps it was
“Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was
“I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” (John 1:31 ESV). John the Baptist and Jesus were cousins born six months apart. Both births were miraculous, foretold by the prophets and announced by the angel Gabriel. Yet, John said that he
‘And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”’ (John 1:19 ESV). Although he was the son of the Levite priest, Zechariah, in the line of Abijah, one of the twenty-four orders of priests in the line of Eleazar, son of Aaron,
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death” (Proverbs 14:12 ESV). Many today claim to have found a new and better “way.” Some say theirs is the way of freedom. Others claim their way is as good as any other. “Aren’t all ways the same?”
‘Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you; the Lord will rule over you.”’ (Judges 8:23 ESV). Gideon, the hesitant judge, would not be coaxed into being king. He recognized that it was the Lord, and not the people, who had called him to be
‘And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”’ (Luke 23:42-43 ESV). Jesus was crucified between two criminals. One mocked him, but the other believed in him. Jesus responded to the one who believed