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John 3 - What Does It Mean to Be Born Again?

John 3 - NIV Enduring Word Commentary - John 3 Key Verses - John 3:3-8 3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” 4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[b] gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You[c] must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” Commentary This is one of my favorite stories of the bible, although I always say that. We so often hear someone say, " He or she is a born-again Christian" ! I almost want to say, " Is there any other type of Christian?" I was par...

John 2 - God Saved the Best for Last!

John 2 - NIV John 2 - Enduring Word Commentary Verses for the Day - John 2:7-10 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.  8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”  They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” Commentary John's gospel is unique in that it uses the word " signs ", and the other three gospels use the word " miracles ". The word miracles focuses more on the power of Jesus. The Greek word for "miracles" is " dunamis ", which is where we get our term " dynamite ". A sign is something that point...

John 1 - What Are You Full Of?

John 1 - NIV John 1 - Enduring Word Commentary Verses for the Day: John 1:1-3,14 The Word Became Flesh 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. Commentary Today we begin my favorite gospel, and one of my favorite books in the bible, the gospel of John. John was also called, "the disciple whom Jesus loved".  I love John because it gives us a glimpse of the relational side of Jesus, with many stories that are not included in the other gospels. I.e. Nicodemus, Lazarus, the women at the well, and the woman caught in adultery. John is also unique from a theological perspective. Whereas the first three gospels, also known as the "synoptic gospels",...

Luke 24 - If Jesus Didn't Rise From the Dead, Don't Even Bother Going to Church Tomorrow!

Luke 24 - NIV Luke 24 - Enduring Word Commentary Key Verses for Today Jesus Has Risen 24 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” 8 Then they remembered his words.  9 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother...

Luke 23 - Look Up At the Cross!

Luke 23 - NIV Luke 23 - Enduring Word Commentary Key Verses 13 Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, 14 and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. 15 Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16 Therefore, I will punish him and then release him.” 18 But the whole crowd shouted, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!” 19 (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.) 20 Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. 21 But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Commentary What is so interesting to me about this text is that here you have the two men with the most power, Pontius Pilate and King Herod, and they find no basis to charge Jesus with anything. Certainly he had done nothing deserving of ...

Luke 22 - Satan's Conversation with God!

Luke 22 - NIV Luke 22 - Enduring Word Commentary Verses for Today 31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” 33 But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”34 Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.” Commentary  " Sift as wheat " is a metaphor that could also be expressed as “ shake someone apart ” or “ break a person down. ” Amos 9:9 gives us a similar image of God shaking Israel: “ For I will give the command and will shake Israel along with the other nations as grain is shaken in a sieve, yet not one true kernel will be lost” (NLT). It was not just Peter who was in danger, though. The word for “you” in Luke 22:31 is plural. Jesus was speaking to Peter, informing him that Satan had his sights set on all the disciples. Some translat...

Luke 21 - How Can You Be Ready for the Second Coming of Christ?

Luke 21 - NIV   Luke 21 Enduring Word Commentary Key Verses for Today 34 “ Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:34-36 Commentary This chapter can be a little confusing. Is Jesus talking about the destruction of the temple in A.D. 70, or about the end times?  I think this is the best explanation.  Luke 21 addresses both the destruction of the Temple and the end times, often weaving them together as a "prophetic type" where one event serves as a precursor or foreshadowing of the other.  After describes the imminent destruction of the temple, he talks about the signs which will precede Jesus' second coming. These include...