Swallow No Camels
I may strain a few gnats every now and then…..
Year: 2024
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In 2024, Lent begins on Wednesday, Feb. 14 (Ash Wednesday) and concludes on Thursday March 28 (the Thursday before Easter Sunday). The word ‘Lent’ comes from an Old English word meaning ‘spring season’ from the Old Dutch ‘lente’ or the German ‘lenz’ that referred to the ‘lengthening’ of the days in this season from winter…
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John’s Baptism As we approach the baptism of Jesus, it is important to think about how John’s baptism was viewed by his disciples and those who came to hear him. There had been 400 years without a prophet giving a word from God. A messenger had been promised. And John the Baptist arrives on…
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Hey John, is this good news or bad news? We have been talking about the message of John the Baptist, which is also the message of Jesus. “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” Jesus said his purpose was to “preach the good news of the kingdom of God” (Luke 4:43). But…
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We have discussed the message of John the Baptist, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” But we are not finished with the message. There is more. Before Jesus comes to be baptized by John in a few days (Feb 16), first he has some other visitors. John was at the Jordan for…
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John’s message: “Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” Matthew 3:2 So we have discussed the idea of repentance from John’s perspective. So what does he mean by “the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand”?1 The idea of the ‘Kingdom of Heaven’ is central to the gospel. You could say the coming of…
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Further notes on repentance— through Peter’s eyes. God is not surprised when we sin. He knows we are prone to sin. The Bible specifically tells us that, and many of you have memorized Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God”. (But have you memorized Romans 3:24? – more…
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John’s message: “Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” Matthew 3:2 Two words get translated as repent in our English translations: metanoeo and strepho. Metanoeo means to think differently or to reconsider (a mental process). Strepho means to make a change in direction or to turn back (a physical process). But John spoke…
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A Geographic note. John, Matthew 3 tells us, was preaching in the wilderness of Judea. The Gospel of John gives us a more accurate description. John 1:28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing. John calls it “Bethany beyond the Jordan” to differentiate it from Bethany, the hometown of…
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Jesus will not begin his ministry for about a month, but John has been preaching in the wilderness for at least several months. In the weeks (or likely months) before our study begins, John has been preaching in the wilderness and baptizing at the Jordan River. He is attracting quite a crowd. Matthew 3:3 tells…
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Have you ever had trouble figuring out what happened when in Jesus’ ministry? Have you ever wondered how much traveling Jesus did? Have you ever wondered how certain stories and teachings are related to their physical location? I have. We have 4 separate gospel accounts of the ministry of Jesus. Sometimes it is hard…
Swallow No Camels 