Is Jesus the good shepherd?
It should be understood that Jesus is “the” good shepherd, not simply “a” good shepherd, as others may be, but …
Tag Archives: Jesus
“It’s better to be wise than strong; intelligence outranks muscle any day.” ~King Solomon
There is a better way. What? Yes, God shows us. It is a God thing. It is called wisdom. It …
“You are the light of the world.” ~Jesus
Jesus makes a declaration about His followers in the Jesus Manifesto (Matthew 5 – 7). We are the light of …
Glory – Is the glory of Jesus God’s glory?
The glory of God is the beauty of His spirit. It is not an aesthetic beauty or a material beauty, …
“First let me ask you a question. Answer my question and then I’ll present my credentials.” ~Jesus
The religious elites and leaders have it in for Jesus. They are going to try and trap Jesus. Do I …
“Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.” ~Apostle Matthew
God is the author of healing. Now that is some stunning news. That is the good news of the Kingdom …
Prophet – Did people anticipate the coming of a prophet? Is Jesus that Prophet?
The Messiah is anticipated by the Jewish people as the Prophet of God. Jesus is that Prophet. Jesus the Messiah …
“You are already pruned back by the message I have spoken.” ~Jesus
Jesus is the true source of everything I am or have. Jesus is the real vine. My role is to …
“Do you have any idea how difficult it is for the rich to enter God’s kingdom?” ~Jesus
Jesus, as always, asks a very penetrating question. The “rich young ruler” had just turned and left. He was very …
“Silence!” ~Jesus
One word. Jesus rebukes the storm. Jesus is in the power of the Holy Spirit, as the Son of God. …
Baptism – Does sprinkling with water symbolize spiritual cleansing?
I must prepare myself spiritually to fellowship with God. The Old Testament priest had to go through various washings and …
“If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this tree, ‘Be uprooted and be planted in the sea’; and it would obey you.” ~Jesus
Faith is not something I conjure up on my own, nor is it something I am born with. Faith is …
“If I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” ~Jesus
Is Jesus my Master? Am I His slave? Does Jesus own me? Jesus is the King, anointed by the Holy …
“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow (accompany) me” ~Jesus
Jesus demanded disciples become slaves of the Master (aka Owner). This isn’t optional even though it sounds repugnant. I am a …
Patience of Jesus – Do His disciples have it in relation to people?
God is patient with sinners. Jesus perfectly models that for me. Jesus is my example. Jesus shows me the way. …
“In all things God may be glorified through Jesus the Messiah, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever.” ~Apostle Peter
God’s glory is to be my highest motive. God wants me to know that He sees what no one else …
“Go sell whatever you own and give it to the poor. All your wealth will then be heavenly wealth. And come follow me.” ~Jesus
Jesus looks me hard in the eye. Jesus is clear. Jesus isn’t going to pull any punches with me. …
Anger – Does Jesus reflect the anger of God?
Does Jesus get angry and upset? Jesus the Messiah shows controlled emotion arising from his unswerving opposition to evil and …
“Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?” ~Jesus
Jesus has a question for Philip. Jesus called Philip to be a disciple as he (Jesus) was leaving Bethany after being baptized by John. …
Gentleness – What is the example of Jesus?
I have a lot to learn from Jesus. Jesus is gentle and shows compassion. Jesus has compassion for those in …
“Why is your Teacher eating with the tax collectors and sinners?” ~Religious elites to Jesus disciples
Jesus gets in trouble a lot. The religious elites don’t like who He hangs out with. They let Jesus know. …
“Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” ~John the Baptizer
Jesus the anointed King and Messiah’s ministry of forgiveness was foretold. God has a plan. God executes it in His …
Purity – Are God’s people to live pure lives?
Jesus challenges me. “Happy are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” Clearly, I am to be pure. …
God sees right through all such smoke screens and holds me to what I’ve done.
The wrath of God is revealed against all ungodliness and unrighteousness. There are atheists, God-deniers and God-haters who suppress the truth. …
Obedience – Did it mean the ultimate personal cost for Jesus?
Jesus was not wrestling with God’s will or resisting God’s will. Jesus is obedient. He was yielding Himself to God’s …
“I’m telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you’re not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in.” ~Jesus
I am concerned and worry about lots of things. One of them is how am I doing compared to others. …
Merciful – What should disciples do? Can I pass the mercy test?
Can I pass the test? Let’s call it the mercy test. Jesus orders me to be merciful. Am I? Jesus …
“So thick-headed! So slow-hearted! Why can’t you simply believe all that the prophets said?” ~Jesus
Jesus is resurrected to an incorruptible body after having been crucified. It is three days after His death. He is …
“A sterling reputation is better than striking it rich; a gracious spirit is better than money in the bank.” ~King Solomon
Jesus warns us constantly and consistently about the dangers not focusing on God and focusing on wealth. It is a …
“No one can use my name to do something good and powerful, and in the next breath cut me down. If he’s not an enemy, he’s an ally.” ~Jesus
We love to form groups. Even early on, the disciples had figured out who was in and who was out. …
I said, ‘I am the Son of God’ ~Jesus
I believe that Jesus, God’s anointed King (aka Messiah) is God’s Holy Son. Jesus is God’s Son in that He …
“You don’t understand now what I’m doing, but it will be clear enough to you later.” ~Jesus
There are days I just don’t understand what Jesus is doing or saying. I like to think I do. I …
“For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me.” ~Jesus
I know what I know about Jesus because Jesus is His own spokesperson. Prophets are spokesmen for God. When the …
There are ungodly and unrighteous people. What to do?
There are ungodly and unrighteous people. They are evil. They have rejected God and His Son Jesus, the anointed King …
“And though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of the beauty of God (glory).” ~Apostle Peter
Peter knows about Jesus and goes over the top in love for him. Jesus stood by him after Peter abandoned …
“You’re not yet taking God seriously!” ~Jesus
How am I doing with my faith and belief in God and Jesus? Am I taking God seriously? Confidence in …
“He who has received His testimony has set his seal to this, that God is true.” ~Jesus
Consider this: Truth is not what makes people feel good. Jesus knows this. Jesus knows truth because He knows the Father …
“Behold, the Lamb of God!” ~John the Baptizer
This is hard to understand since there is no sacrificial system in religious life today. The jewish, christian and islamic …
Jesus is not my own genie who jumps out of His little bottle when I rub it and ask Him for what I want.
We have lost this incredibly important concept of Jesus as Master and I am His slave. We have a man-centered …
“He’s a dangerous man, endangering the peace.” ~Religious elites about Jesus
Jesus is being tried. He has been arrested. When it was morning, the religious elites and the high priests and …
“Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the religious elites, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” ~Jesus
Jesus continues His manifesto. I have a lot to learn here. Jesus is being clear, as He always is. This …
“These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.” ~Jesus
In some circles, the end game is to be saved. Now that is important but it is not the end …
“This cup which is poured out for you is the new agreement in My blood.” ~Jesus
In the scriptures, a covenant (agreement) is between God and His people or certain specific individuals, like myself. The fulfilment …
God’s Goal — What is the focus of Jesus?
Jesus has a real focus. Jesus is going to do what God wants Him to. I need to get the …
“Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.” ~Jesus
Paul tells the church that the spiritual blindness of Israel is a “mystery” that had not previously been revealed (Romans …
“We must obey God rather than men.” ~Peter
Jesus is clear. Peter heard Him and took it to heart. Jesus said “Render to the government (aka Caesar) the things …
“Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” ~Jesus
Jesus the Messiah was baptized by John: Jesus sets the example for us and was baptized by John. God is …
“Are You the Son of God, then?” And He said to them, “Yes, I am.” ~Jesus
Here is the good news! Jesus is the Son of God. Everyone who encounters Him comes away knowing it. It moves …
Word of God — Is Jesus the Messiah the incarnate Word of God? Is Jesus God in the flesh?
Jesus invites me to know Him. Who is Jesus? The Apostle John tells me Jesus is the Word of God. …
Pretense — Is it practiced by people in their approach to God?
I need to be careful. It is one thing to be a hypocrite. It is another to be pretentious. Pretense …
“If any of you wants to serve me, then accompany me.” ~Jesus
Jesus wants me to accompany him. Jesus wants me to go where He has gone and is going. Jesus wants …
“This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” ~God
What does God want from me? Listen to His Son Jesus. It is a simple and straightforward challenge. God didn’t …
Wisdom — Was it foretold of Jesus? Is it recognized in Jesus?
I start with Jesus. I must. That is where wisdom starts. The fear of the MASTER is the beginning of …
Loyalty — Why does God show His loyalty to us?
God is loyal. God is faithful. That is just who God is. It is His very nature. When God says …
Jesus wants me to speak strongly!
Jesus wants me to speak strongly. Jesus has a good news message He wants heard and acted on. When I …
Second Coming – What does Jesus the Messiah say about it?
I think many followers of Jesus avoid discussing the second coming of Jesus and the rapture. I know I have …
“For the Mighty One has done great things for me; and holy is His name.” ~Mary, Mother of Jesus
Mary, who carried Jesus in her womb and gave birth to Him, breaks out into an amazing song as she visits …
Truth — Is it reality and is it found in Jesus?
The new covenant encompasses the Greek idea of truth as reality, as well as the Hebraic concepts of faithfulness and …
“You will have complete and free access to God’s kingdom, keys to open any and every door.” ~Jesus
The Apostle Peter rightly declares the Jesus is the Messiah, the anointed one from God. Anointed to be King in …
“Get ready for trouble.” ~Jesus
There is a time to get prepared. That time is when trouble is on the way. I must listen and …
“I can do nothing on My own initiative.” ~Jesus
Jesus is completely obedient to the will of His Father. 24/7 it is all about what does God want right …
“Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.” ~Jesus
What am I working for? Jesus wants to know. Jesus has some commands for me on this. I must act …
“I have not come to call the righteous but those who miss God’s goal to radically change their thinking.” ~Jesus
Jesus challenges me to radically change my way of thinking. Repentance (the original Greek means radically changing my thinking) is of central …
31 Questions that Jesus Asks in the Good News According to Luke
It is stunning how masterfully our Master Jesus, the Messiah, uses questions (read more here) to teach vital spiritual truths. …
Immaturity — Is that the cause of backsliding?
I started out strong. I imagine you did too. And then … Something happened. Or several things. We went off …
“But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?” ~Apostle John
Jesus is clear. His apostle John is clear. My heart testifies to me what I ought to do. There …
“Courage! It’s me. Don’t be afraid.” ~Jesus
In the Bible, courage is also called “good cheer” as in Mark 6:50 when Jesus gave the command to the disciples who …
“Lazarus died. And I am glad for your sakes that I wasn’t there. You’re about to be given new grounds for believing.” ~Jesus
Here I see the care and compassion of my Master. It appeared somewhat callous to begin with. Lazarus is sick. …
“Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves!” ~Apostle Paul
I shouldn’t let my faith go on cruise control. The Apostle Paul urges disciples of Jesus to examine themselves. I …
Self-Denial — Is it a requirement of following Jesus the Messiah?
There is much to be said about self denial and the scripture repeats this theme over and over. Jesus is …
Despite all the love … refusing to know God
This sad. It breaks God’s heart. There are a lot of people who simply refuse to know God. Despite all …
Victory — Is it complete in Jesus as He defeated Sin?
Jesus the Messiah triumphs over and disarms all the powers of evil arrayed against him. Believers are able to share …
“My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.” ~Jesus
Is justice a quality displayed in Jesus the Messiah’s life? Absolutely. God is God. God has given Jesus, His Son, the …
“Jesus the Messiah might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example.” ~Apostle Paul
God is very, very patient with me. Jesus the Messiah is perfectly patient. I am so thankful for that. Where …
“But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great.” ~Jesus
Jesus wants me to love. Jesus wants me to do good. Jesus wants me to not expect anything in return …
“Frauds!” ~Jesus
Jesus has the number of the religious elites. They are constantly trying to trap him. They are constantly trying to …
Prayer — What does God expect when I talk with Him?
So what is prayer? The most basic definition of prayer is “talking with God.” Prayer is not meditation or passive reflection; …
“Encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.” ~Apostle Paul
Can I be gentle in caring for the weak? Every person is powerful. I can speak words that influence others. …
“Sky and earth will wear out; my words won’t wear out.” ~Jesus
What does Jesus say? I know what He says. I can read His words. I can study them. I can …
“Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, the Messiah.” ~Jesus
Jesus isn’t enamored with my being a leader who serves. Jesus calls on me to be a servant or a …
“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.” ~Jesus
Jesus is my Master. As my Master, Jesus has some commands for me. They are not optional if I follow …
“Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.” ~Jesus
Jesus has just finished talking about not judging and hypocrisy in the Jesus Manifesto. At first sight and hearing, this is …
Compassion — Is it shown in actions?
Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, exemplified all of the Father’s attributes, including His compassion. When Jesus saw His …
Friends — Will I find unity in the love and fear of the Master Jesus?
The Master Jesus the Messiah gave us the definition of a true friend: “Greater love has no one than this, …
“Don’t listen to them; just trust me.” ~Jesus
Jesus wants to perform a miracle in my life. There are many competing voices telling me it won’t happen. Who …
Jesus — Is Jesus the Messiah?
“Christ” means “Messiah” or “anointed one”. As the Messiah, Jesus is the one who fulfills all old testament expectations. I …
“For your husband is your Maker, whose name is the Master of hosts; and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, who is called the God of all the earth.” ~Isaiah
Without faithfulness to God there can be no discipleship life. Following Jesus is based first on faith that God is, …
“I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd puts the sheep before himself, sacrifices himself if necessary.” ~Jesus
King David knew that our Master (Lord) is our shepherd. We all love Psalm 23. Jesus is the good shepherd. …
“Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.” ~Jesus
Glory of Jesus Jesus the Messiah’s beauty, radiance and splendor reflects the glory of the Father. It is both revealed to and …
I AM — “I am the Bread of Life” ~ Jesus
“I am the Bread of Life” (John 6:35) is one of the seven “I Am” statements of Jesus. Jesus used …
Reconciliation — Does God take the initiative in bringing about reconciliation?
I miss God’s goal (aka sin) for my life. That separates me from God. I need reconciliation to God. When …
“Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.” ~Matthew about Jesus
This is striking. The first thing to note here is that Jesus saw the people. He didn’t look past them. …
What is God’s response to those who reject Him and His Son Jesus?
The godless have abandoned God. They have rejected God. I see it everywhere. You see it as well. It seems …
Rest — Do I need it? Can Jesus provide it?
I need rest. I get tired. There is good news. Jesus gives me rest. I find it in Him. Jesus, …
“Courage, it’s me. Don’t be afraid.” ~Jesus
The five thousand had just been feed. It was a stunning day. God had been shown, through His son Jesus, …
“Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Master Jesus the Messiah.” ~Apostle Paul
Can I do good? I want to but there is this evil nature that can get in the way. God shows …
“Watch out for the religion scholars.” ~Jesus
Jesus is constantly challenging the religious elites and leaders of His time here on earth. He still does today. This …
Hypocrisy — What happens when my deeds do not match my words?
Jesus is clear. Jesus detests hypocrites. Jesus calls it out all the time. My contempt allows me to ignore its …
Did some religious elite appoint me as a spokesperson for Jesus?
I am astounded at how many companions in faith I have. Due to the power of the world wide web, …
“Happy are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad!” ~Jesus
How did Jesus expect me to react under persecution? Rejoice and be glad! That is right. I’m jump up and down for …
