Love Truth Blog

As I’m reading through John 20-21, I am reminded that in as much it is helpful to attempt a harmony between John and the other New Testament Gospels, it is likewise important for readers to keep in mind the deeply profound theological points John wants to communicate through his own telling of the post-resurrection accounts. What strikes me is this Gospel has some of the more memorable eye-witness accounts to the risen Lord, which are united together with author’s purpose of presenting Jesus Christ as the Son of God so that those who believe might have eternal life (20:30-31). In these chapters Mary Magdalene, Thomas, and Peter come face to face with the resurrected Lord, and find comfort in their despair, but through their interactions they are revealed another dimension to the reality of the Son of God—Jesus Christ. In John’s Gospel, Mary Magdalene discovers the empty tomb and weeps over not knowing where the body of Jesus had gone. Even when the Lord appears before her eyes, she

The last blog I addressed Matthew’s resurrection account, and the reasons why the Gospel writer sought to end the account with Jesus commissioning His disciples in Galilee. What about Luke’s perspective? Luke 24 has the women—Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and others—finding the empty tomb and being told Christ has risen (vv. 1-7). Whereas Matthew contrasts the women’s joy in telling about the risen Lord against the guard whom were bribed cover up the incident, Luke explores the reaction of the disciples. He reports upon hearing the news the disciples did not believe, though Peter went to verify the tomb was empty, and wondered what had happened (vv. 8-12). Luke lets readers know that it was the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus that rekindled the faith of the men who doubted the testimony of the women. The risen Lord first appeared to two disciples on the road to Emmaus, whom had to interact with Jesus for quite a while until they realized who they were t

One of the soul challenging aspects of doing apologetics is the opportunities to resolve alleged Bible contradictions. One that recently came up concerned a supposed problem between Matthew and Luke regarding the location where the resurrected Lord appeared to the disciples. According to Matthew, the resurrected Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene and another gal named Mary, and He instructs them, “go and take word to My brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they shall see Me” (Matt. 28:10, NASB). The women then told the disciples and the disciples went to Galilee, saw the risen Lord, and received their commission (Matt. 28:16-20). Now Luke agrees that the women first saw the risen Lord (Luke 24:1-9), and they told Peter, which led him to investigate the empty tomb (Luke 24:10-12); however, he then tells readers that on Resurrection Sunday Jesus appeared to two disciples traveling to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35). The same evening, the risen Lord appeared to the disciples in Jerusalem (Lu

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser…I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:1, 5) Nowadays discernment is needed, as it is so easy to get the wrong idea about fruitfulness. An example of this is the whole idea of “seed faith,” which is the misnomer that if one sows a $eed in faith one would get a supernatural return. So if they give, they would get back from God more $eed than they gave—in some instances up to a thousand times more. Of course, this is just a perverted understanding of faith and one of the extreme ways wealth is misunderstood in the Bible. Yet, the biblical message on Christians and fruitfulness is far different. Key to understanding Christians and fruitfulness is coming to grips with Jesus last “I am” statement, which concerns the vine and branches. What a profound statement it is! The identification of the vine as Jesus and the vinedresser as the Fa

This morning it was my turn to play some electric guitar, so I packed up the ole Tele and headed down to church to for 8am rehearsal. (Which was more like 7am because the whole “spring forward” thing…) But today was something special, since our worship team leader Chuck decided to put together a Rich Mullins set. I have to admit the music of Rich Mullins has always been something special to me, and tunes like “Sometimes by Step,” “Creed,” “I See You,” and “Awesome God,” are just a few wonderful expressions of divine worship. “Sing Your Praise to the Lord,” popularized by Amy Grant, which is certainly one of those exception to the rule of "10 years later ½ as good” tunes that really presents something of preeminent quality from the world of Contemporary Christian music. (I think the whole “Bach Fugue #2 in C minor” intro was for piano players in my younger years practically the equivalent the signature licks a guitarist’s learns like “Sunshine of Your Love,” “Purple Haze,” “Smo

Browsing the news online, I came across Time magazine Matti Friedman piece entitled Clashes Erupt at Sacred Jerusalem Site. It concerned a clash between Muslim worshippers and Israeli riot police, which ended in some injuries, particularly a Palestinian woman who suffered a head injury from a rubber bullet. This all happened near the Western wall, perhaps a artifact from the Jerusalem before it was destroyed by Rome in AD70, near the what Jews call the Temple Mount and Muslims call the Nobel Sanctuary. The trouble centers on social, political, and theological differences between Muslims and Jews in the region, but the catalyst is an Israeli decision to include two West Bank shrines on a list of national heritage sites— the site that Jews call the Cave of the Patriarchs and Muslims call the Ibrahimi mosque, and the other site is Rachel's Tomb, adjacent to the city of Bethlehem. Of course this is just one more squabble in a whole series of squabbles that erupted beginning with Isr

Remembering those who have been counted worthy to follow in the footsteps of Christ to suffer martyrdom always inspirational. Here am I in America, and the worst I get is maybe some name calling, but never has my life been put on the line. (I pray that the Lord would empower me to stand if that day should come). So there is nothing but respect that I have for a Christian like Bonhoeffer, who  would not flee to America for his own life, but remain in Nazi Germany to lose his own life, for the sake of Christ, and expericne martyrdom. The following is one of the last messages he wrote from a Gestapo prison prior to his martyrdom: New Year 1945 With every power for good to stay and guide me, conforted and inspired beyond all fear, I’ll live these days with you in thought beside me, and pass, with you, into the coming year. The old year still torments our hearts, unhastening; the long days of our sorrow still endure. Father, grant to the soul thou has been chastening that thou

This morning I flipped open this old copy of Cost of Discipleship that I had for years, tore up cover held together with some clear packing tape, and as I read through the introduction, I came across the poem entitled "Who Am I." It is a wonderful meditation on the very earthly struggle between one's own flesh and spirit, which occurs deep within the soul. Bonhoeffer writes, Who Am I Who am I? They often tell me I stepped from my cell’s confinement Calmly, cheerfully, firmly, like a squire from his country-house. Who am I? They often tell me I used to speak to my warders freely and friendly and clearly, as though it were mine to command. Who am I? They also tell me I bore the days of misfortune equally, smilingly, proudly, like one accustomed to win. Am I then really all that which other men tell of? Or am I only what I myself know of myself? Restless and longing and sick, like a bird in a cage, struggling for breath, as though hands were yearnin