Archive for October 2021

Lamentations 4-5, Song of Solomon 8:8-14, John 7:25-36, 1 Peter 5:8-14 John 7:25-36: Jesus’ teaching is not being accepted during this great feast, and indeed seems to be confusing those who listen to him. They are asking lots of questions, wondering if this is the man that the authorities are looking to kill, why it is they have…

Lamentations 3, Song of Solomon 8:1-7, John 7:14-24, 1 Peter 5:1-7   John 7:14-24: Jesus now begins to teach at the great feast. He does so in the temple, in a public place, ensuring that what he is teaching can be heard. There is nothing wrong, and everything right, with ensuring that God’s Word is proclaimed as clearly,…

Lamentations 2, Song of Solomon 7, John 7:1-13, 1 Peter 4:12-19 John 7:1-13: Jesus is in Galilee, not Judea, because he knew the Jewish leaders were seeking to kill him. Sometimes it is the wise course to flee danger, to avoid persecution, and not to rush in where angels fear to tread. Zeal is good, as long as…

Lamentations 1, Song of Solomon 6, John 6:60-71, 1 Peter 4:1-11 John 6:60-71: Some of Jesus’ teaching is harder for people to swallow than other parts. Who could deny that it is good teaching to say “love your neighbor”? But how many are there who find it difficult to chew on that strong meat which says “but also…

Jeremiah 52, Song of Solomon 5, John 6:41-59, 1 Peter 3:13-22   John 6:41-59: Such strong teaching provoked “grumbling” as it so often does. Do not think that past Christian leaders or heroes from yesteryear had no opposition! Spurgeon was so opposed and so shook by his opponents that his wife had posted on the bedroom door for…

Jeremiah 51, Song of Solomon 4:8-16, John 6:25-40, 1 Peter 3:8-12 John 6:25-40: Having appeared on the other side with unexpected speed, the crowd find Jesus and ask him when he came there. Jesus, not to be distracted by a simple question of geography and circumstances, gets right to the heart of the matter. They are not seeking…

Jeremiah 50, Song of Solomon 4:1-7, John 6:16-24, 1 Peter 3:1-7 John 6:16-24: After such extreme exertions, you would think there would be a period of extended recuperation. But now we come to one of the most astonishing—and famous—miracles of them all. God neither slumber nor sleeps, and while the incarnate Jesus was fully human, he was also…

Jeremiah 49, Song of Solomon 3, John 6:1-15, 1 Peter 2:18-25    John 6:1-15: Jesus is followed by a large crowd because they saw the signs he did healing the sick. Sometimes people will be drawn by our deeds of mercy, as much as Christ’s deeds of miraculous mercy. George Whitefield had his orphanage, as did Spurgeon; there…

Jeremiah 47-48, Song of Solomon 2, John 5:31-47, 1 Peter 2:9-17  John 5:31-47: The conflict is heating up, and Jesus now begins to clarify what sort of testimony there is that he is who he says he is. Unlike false religions, Christianity does not ask us “just to believe” without any evidence, facts, or testimony. The faith of…

Jeremiah 44-46, Song of Solomon 1, John 5:16-30, 1 Peter 2:1-8  John 5:16-30: Behind the opposition of the Jewish leaders (again, the “Jews” in John means not just those who are Jewish, but the particular Jewish leaders who were in opposition to Jesus), there is a deeper reason than merely the Sabbath. They discern that Jesus is claiming…