What happened with Jesus, Simon the Pharisee and the sinful woman?
What happened with Jesus, Simon the Pharisee and the sinful woman? This is a wonderful lesson about the importance of faith, humility and forgiveness. Jesus' mercy and compassion is contrasted by the self-righteous, judgmental attitude of the Pharisees.The Pharisees were the religious teachers of the Jewish Law. Many of them were prideful, thinking they [...]
Where is Jesus now?
Shortly after his resurrection, Jesus was elevated to a new, glorified level of existence. After he had disappeared from their sight, the apostles who had witnessed Jesus’ elevation were told by two angels that Jesus was “taken up…into heaven” (Acts 1:8-11). Later, Stephen, a member of the early Christian church, was granted a vision of [...]
"For we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men" (1 Corinthians 4:9). How were the apostles made a "spectacle" to the angels?
Paul was aware that some members of the early Christian church had begun to regard him, the other Apostles, and other early Christians such as Apollos and Cephas as “spectacles” (“spectacle…to men” in 1 Corinthians 4:9), but unlike the angels, they had begun to identify themselves as followers of these individual men, and not as [...]
Why did an angel appear to shepherds to announce the birth of Jesus? Why choose shepherds? (Christmas)
These were lowly shepherds being rewarded for their humility with this incredible message. The humble shepherds out tending their sheep were given the gift of being able to observe and participate in this world-changing event. Luke 2:8: (NASB) “In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their [...]
What does Philippians 1:23 mean? ("For I am in a strait betwixt two having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ, which is far better)
The Apostle Paul was a prisoner in Rome when he wrote the letter to the church at Philippi that would eventually become the book of Philippians. Paul refers to his captivity as being “in my bonds” in Philippians 1:7, and again in Philippians 12-13. However, even imprisonment did not diminish Paul’s determination to remain faithful [...]
What does 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 mean? (Apostle Paul running a race)
The Apostle Paul uses the illustration of an athlete’s training to illustrate the lifestyle of a faithful Christian. Several Bible commentaries make reference to the Isthmain games, named because they took place in the isthmus where Corinth stood. For example, Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers: “These, like the other games of Greece—the Olympian, Pythian, and [...]