I saw today that Robbie Coltrane, the actor who played Hagrid, passed away at age 72. When I heard the news, the first thing that came to mind was this scene from Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s Stone. Go watch it. Then meet me back here. ***patiently waiting*** Welcome back. Rubeus Hagrid, keeper of keys & grounds at Hogwarts, is…
14 Not until halfway through the festival did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach. 15 The Jews there were amazed and asked, “How did this man get such learning without having been taught?” 16 Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me. 17 Anyone who chooses to…
32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 They said to him, “Sir, give us…
16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking…
After Jesus miraculously feeds the 5,000, the crowds begin to say that Jesus is the Great Prophet who has come into the world. But they wanted that to mean something that it did not mean. They are interested in the liberation and flourishing of Israel. Jesus is after the liberation and flourishing of the whole world. So, we begin to…
“Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, ‘Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.’” John 6:11-12 The distribution of the food doesn’t end until everyone…
Jesus is withdrawing to the other side of the Sea, and a large crowd is following him. Why? Because he’s a great preacher? No. Because he’s healing the sick. Now, it’s not wrong to want healing. But it is worth observing that crowds are presented as those generally interested in what Jesus can do for them, not generally interested in…
27 And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to…
Jesus expresses a relationship with God the Father that is fundamentally unlike anything a human being can experience. Let’s just look at several of these statements from John, Chapter 5: Verse 19: The Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. Verse 20: The Father loves the Son and shows him all…
There is a feast in Jerusalem, so the old city is popping and everything is festive. For whatever reason, though, Jesus finds himself at a pool in this courtyard-like area with roofed colonnades (John 5:1-18). The first century world, like much of the developing world today, really did not have a place for anyone with severe physical or mental problems…