Archive for December 2021

Hosea 13-14, Job 28, John 15:9-17, Revelation 3:1-13 John 15:9-17: What a way to begin this morning—as the Father has loved Jesus, so Jesus has loved us! What an extraordinary thought! That the very infinite, divine, fathomless, unending, unceasing, immeasurable, and immovable love of God the Father to God the Son—that very love is the love with which…

Hosea 9-12, Job 27, John 15:1-8, Revelation 2:18-29 John 15:1-8: A powerful and beguiling picture of the vine and the branches is now presented by Jesus—a picture that teaches important truths about our relationship with God. The vine resonates with reflective imagery from the Old Testament about God’s people as a vineyard. But now Jesus himself is the…

Hosea 7-8, Job 25-26, John 14:22-31, Revelation 2:1-17 John 14:22-31: Judas (not Iscariot) asks a question that many of us have asked. Why is it that Jesus shows himself to us but not to the whole world (14:22)? Jesus answers the question indirectly. If someone loves him, he will keep his word, and then he and the Father…

Hosea 4-6, Job 24, John 14:15-21, Revelation 1:9-20 John 14:15-21: In so much of our thinking, love is discontinuous from performance, action—and certainly from obedience. Our affectional life is distinct from our duties, we often think. It is hard for us, then, to understand the kind of connection that Jesus makes frequently in this passage. “If you love…

Hosea 1-3, Job 23, John 14:1-14, Revelation 1:1-8 John 14:1-14: The disciples are naturally enough disturbed, indeed “troubled,” by the news of Jesus’ imminent death and departure. Jesus therefore commands them not to be troubled (14:1). But there is no point giving such a command without following up with a reason, which Jesus straightaway does. Too many times…