To Know the Love of Christ

This chapter begins with the "gloomy proverbs." We discuss the spiritual and practical application of a few. We see that the dark side of these thoughts only highlights the whole purpose of life. It is not all about wisdom and mourning, righteousness and sadness. What are the things that we should remember? Forget? Ask?

The author continues his dark thoughts but also offers little glimmers of light. Those dark times make the light seem even brighter and vice versa. It seems that if we were to write a 12-chapter book about lives, it could possibly be like this book. The love of Christ (John 1:4-5, 9-10) can be seen if we look for it (Matthew 7:7).

To be rich or poor, that is the question! The wise author dissects what life is for the two. Is it good to be rich? To be poor? There are consequences and rewards for both. Where can we find the love of Christ in wealth, or is it all hevel?

The author seems to be sharing random thoughts in the same format as the proverbs. This way of sharing nuggets of wisdom or nuggets of despair continues for several chapters. We spend time breaking down and digesting the full nature and intent of the author's contemplations. Temporal things and events are hevel. Being alone in the temporal is hevel. And, without God, all of it is utterly hevel...

There is a time for everything. The opening poem of this chapter is beautiful, yet the author spirals again into despair. The poem labels seasons of life that humans experience both physically and spiritually. Although the author knows the nature of God, he is distraught at the finiteness of man. Where do you see the love of Christ?

The author is a "been there - done that" man. We discuss what he possibly meant by being guided by wisdom in these experiences even though it seems that some of these things are not wise. As he looks back at what he's done, the author spirals from pride to depression. Then the truth of it all ends his dark train of thought.

Vanity of vanities - all is vanities! Is it truly all vanity? The author says that wisdom and knowledge is madness and folly. Yes, yes it is...when the earth and all that's in it, from the sun and wind, to the streams and seas, revolve around ME!   We are just starting to dig into this book that seems dark and heavy. Can we find the love of Christ in this chapter? Where do you find His love?

Welcome to season 4!  Ecclesiastes is part of the wisdom genre of the Bible. Let's discuss when, what, who and why of this Old Testament book.

"Do not be alarmed, You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; He is not here." These were the first words spoken to a chosen few - the first words of good news!  A charge was laid before them - "Go, tell His disciples and Peter that He is going before you to Galilee. There you will see Him, just as He told you." Is that all? What happens next? Does this command apply over 2...

Excruciating physical pain. Unbearable emotional pain.   Everything about this tremendous event was planned, deliberated, and calculated.  Every single thing from the words spoken to the garment worn. He intentional did it all because of love.

Jesus has been judged worthy of death. Because the Sanhedrin was limited in its power to pronounce the death penalty, they got the Roman Empire involved. The Roman governor would much rather release the King of the Jews. Not only did the Jewish mob choose a notorious criminal instead, but they cried out for the most gruesome punishment available.   The brutality inflicted on a human through c...

Jesus is now arrested and brought secretly before the Sanhedrin. Witness testimonies do not agree, but the absolute truth is still declared: judgment is coming! While this kangaroo court is in session, Peter gets cornered. How does he face this temptation? After he sees his Friend, he cries. For anyone who loves the Lord, this pain is all too real.

It's the darkest hour in history. Weakness. Turmoil. Sweat drops of blood. Agony. Humanity. In this darkest hour comes a kiss from a "friend." Betrayal. Violence. Healing. Humanity. Weakness in abandonment. Strength in arrest. It's the darkest hour in history.

Many are gathered in Simon the leper's home. There is anointing & worshipping, observing & curiosity, watching & learning, accusing & betraying. Amid this event, Jesus comes to the defense of someone. At the same time, a major unseen event occurs. Later, He and His apostles observe the first day of Unleavened Bread/Passover. As they eat, Jesus tells them that one of them is a betra...

Jesus is still sitting and talking to the two sets of brothers and uses another fig tree as the center of a divine lesson. One point to take away is the importance of being ready, awake, and on guard. A faithful worker does not sluff off his responsibility but is prepared and diligent with his work and focus.  Passover is a Jewish holiday, a memorial of a judgment when the Lord passed over th...

Look at this wonderful temple, the pride and joy of Jerusalem, now called the abomination of desolation! What? When? How? Jesus gives an exclusive answer to two sets of brothers who may not have been fully ready to hear about it but also get encouragement from the Lord about His elect. The warnings Jesus bookends in His reply undeniably debunk popular religious beliefs. There will be no excuse. Th...

Word entrapment is the name of their game! More religious leaders are ganging up on Jesus now. However, the common people gladly listen to some lessons that expose the motives of their leaders. As scripture does when we study it, the divine flow of the incident smoothly transitions to humility, generosity, and faithfulness, even amid a chaotic world. Where do we find ourselves in this scenario? Wh...

Jesus returns to the temple after turning over the tables the day before. Again, the leaders of the temple question His authority. This is the beginning of an onslaught of questions. Jesus, in all His patience, skillfully answers a question with a question, then teaches one of the last of His parables that puts the evil plan of the leaders into motion. Verse by verse, we examine this parable and f...

Jesus goes in and out of Jerusalem in these verses. He gets the deserved high praises upon His first entrance but withers a fig tree for not producing the expected fruit. When He returns to Jerusalem the next day, He overturns the tables of the money-changers. In every incident, He teaches lesson after lesson. How many times have we given Him the deserved high praises of "Hosanna! Hosanna!" and th...

The third time is not always the charm because the disciples haven't fully grasped what Jesus is telling them. This time He gave gruesome details. What do you want me to do? What do you want me to do? Jesus asked this question twice and heard two different replies. Oh, the many times we have approached the Good Teacher with our requests! What would our request be if He were to ask today: What do y...

Commands that seem to have become difficult through the ages are explained and made clear despite the attempts to test the Lord: divorce, covetousness, and having gods before God. What seems impossible is really a call to be closer to the Lord! Find out what the children do because the kingdom belongs to them!

Again, Jesus tells His disciples that He will be killed but be risen after three days. How quickly that leaves their minds...again...as now the Perfect Teacher must take a moment to teach them about humbly serving rather than desiring to be the greatest. John tries to shift the focus off them to someone who is not following them, but Jesus brings it back to His lesson. What He teaches is as severe...

What a big way to kick off season 3 - the transfiguration of Jesus! We get to hear another declaration from God in Heaven about God on earth when Peter tries to give equal honor to Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. Immediately (as Mark likes to say) after this momentous event, Jesus walks straight into conflict and becomes the Mediator of a faithless dispute. He perfectly draws out a father's faith with s...

Here we go! A profession of Jesus as the Christ, the awaited Messiah, the One that the apostles are ready to defend to the death. He gave them a command to keep it quiet. We studied that it is because their knowledge wasn't complete at this point. When Jesus starts sharing some details of dark events to come, Peter, who represents all of us at some time in our lives, tells the Lord how things real...

Jesus and His disciples return to Decapolis, but it's very different this time! Was it a result from the last visit? The fearful now follow, the hungry are fed, but the followers are faithless. The blind man is then healed, but do the "blind" see clearly?