The Book of Revelation gives us many names for Jesus Christ, all of them designed to teach us something about Him. In the first chapter He’s called “the faithful witness” (v4), and repeated in 3:14. A witness, in a legal setting, is someone who confirms the truth of something they have seen. In the New Testament, a witness is someone involved in preaching what he has seen and knows. The apostles were witnesses of the resurrected Jesus, and as Peter explained in Acts 10:41-42, they were ordered to preach and testify this truth. This was often difficult because apostolic preachers regularly faced violence, opposition, and threats of imprisonment and death if they continued to preach as witnesses. Therefore Jesus urged them to be faithful in their important work as witnesses, despite the dangers. Continue reading
Jesus
When the Tempter Came
Matthew tells us that Jesus fasted forty days and forty nights (Matt.4:1-2). I don’t know how a human being could accomplish such a feat of self-discipline, but Jesus did it. Perhaps his time alone in the wilderness was needed just before his teaching ministry began, thus he needed time to concentrate and pray. And into the midst of his solitude came the devil himself.
I couldn’t begin to imagine how hungry a man would be after fasting that long. A piece of bread must have seemed as valuable as gold. The devil challenged him to miraculously turn some wilderness rocks into bread, something Jesus could easily do. He wanted Jesus to prove Himself, that he was really the Son of God. Jesus refused. Continue reading
Living in Nazareth
Jesus went to Nazareth, his hometown. He did some teaching there. The residents marveled at his knowledge but they rejected him – “They took offence at Him.” Jesus’ observation was, “Only in his hometown and his own house is a prophet without honor.” Matt.13:27
In Nazareth He was just one of the local boys that had grown up there. They knew his parents and they knew him, but they didn’t know Him. It seems it was familiarity that lay behind their unbelief. Complacency was involved. Continue reading
Victoria’s Day
Canada is the only country that sets aside an official day to remember Queen Victoria’s birthday, May 24th. Apparently we were doing this well before we became a country; in fact Upper Canada passed legislation about it back in 1845. I could understand that if we were living when she was alive, but our ancestors chose to keep the holiday even after she died in 1901. Why? She was the Queen at Confederation in 1867; she holds the record as the longest-reigning monarch (63 years); and she symbolizes the glories of the Victorian age. But in our northern country the holiday has come to signify the beginning of good weather, the banishment of frost (we hope!), and the weekend each year when we go camping for the first time and open up the cottage. Continue reading
Matters of the Heart
Simeon startled Mary in the temple when he suddenly declared about her baby, “This child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed – and a sword will pierce even your own soul – to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” (Luke 2:34-35) There would be great things ahead for which Jesus’ mother could be proud, but she also would feel tremendous pain. Every mother can identify with that. Continue reading