It is fascinating to see how much irony is found in the Bible. In Matthew 20, Jesus had just informed his followers that he would be crucified. To say the least that was not good news or a positive message. However, right after Jesus’ statement two of his followers, James and John, along with theirContinue reading “The Irony of Jesus’ Leadership”
Author Archives: dpfreitag
The Transforming Power of Jesus’ Death
As Jesus hung on the cross, the crowd taunted him saying that he saved others, he should save himself. Their taunt revealed how much they misunderstood Jesus They judged Jesus by their own standards, rather than by God’s love. Their value was to save themselves, to do what would benefit themselves and assumed that JesusContinue reading “The Transforming Power of Jesus’ Death”
Seeing God’s Image and Reading His Inscription
No one enjoys paying taxes, even in Jesus’ day. Jesus’ enemies hoped to put Jesus in an awkward situation regarding taxes, but Jesus used it to give us revelation about who man is and how God expects him to live. The trick question regarded paying taxes to Caesar (Luke 20:22). The trick involved putting JesusContinue reading “Seeing God’s Image and Reading His Inscription”
True Freedom Comes From Overcoming Fear
When Jesus gave his disciples counsel on the way to live their lives, his desire was to set them free and to live lives free of fear and anxiety. One example of this was when Jesus instructed his disciples not to fear men, but rather to fear God (Luke 12:4-13). When considering Jesus’ teaching hereContinue reading “True Freedom Comes From Overcoming Fear”
True Christianity
On one occasion, Jesus pointed out to his disciples that only those to whom the Son revealed himself would know him and the Father, not necessarily the wise and intelligent, but to childlike people. Then he blessed his disciples, because great people, prophets and kings, desired to see what they were currently seeing. Jesus’ pointContinue reading “True Christianity”
Freedom That No One Can Take Away
When Jesus declared to the 70 that they should not rejoice in their authority over evil spirits, he pointed out an important spiritual truth. We tend to equate our self-worth and value with what we can do or accomplish. The 70 had done great things with the authority that Jesus had given to them, evenContinue reading “Freedom That No One Can Take Away”
The Superiority of Jesus’ Leadership
In Luke 10, we read an account of Jesus sending 70 of his followers out ahead of him to do two things: to proclaim the nearness of the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He sent 35 teams of 2 out to the cities and villages to which he would come later. Previously,Continue reading “The Superiority of Jesus’ Leadership”
Love Your Enemies
In Luke’s account of the Sermon on the Mount, he recorded Jesus’ teaching to his disciples regarding how we are to act toward those who oppose us. Jesus said some surprising things that often go counter to how we understand self-preservation. Surprisingly, Jesus tells us to love and act kindly toward those whom we considerContinue reading “Love Your Enemies”
There Is Always More To Learn
Luke as did the other gospel writers recorded the episode where four men brought a paralytic to Jesus, but could not enter into the house because of the crowd around him. Not to be deterred, they went upon the roof and lowered the paralytic before Jesus. Seeing the men’s faith, Jesus declared to the paralyticContinue reading “There Is Always More To Learn”
Jesus Available To All
At the time of Jesus’ birth, outside Bethlehem an angel announced Jesus’ birth to shepherds. The angel declared to them that their Savior, the Christ/Messiah had been born. They would have a sign of a child lying in a feeding trough, wrapped in swaddling clothes. This sign to the shepherds enabled them to find Jesus,Continue reading “Jesus Available To All”
David Freitag 