Real Voices

Just because we have an close walk with Jesus we are not immune from the desire to have positions of power. The disciples were no exception to this very human desire. At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” (Matthew 18.1). The devil took […]

Matthew records three instances when Jesus predicted what he was about to face in Jerusalem. This is the second of those three predictions. As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and on the third day […]

The men and women who followed Jesus from Galilee to Jerusalem must have had characters of great resilience and strength. They witnessed amazing events, such as the healing of the blind, the lame, and lepers being cleansed, but they also faced tremendous opposition from the religious authorities. Consider this conversation between Jesus and his disciples […]

The account of the transfiguration is sandwiched between several passages that highlight the intense difficulty Jesus would face in Jerusalem. His followers were certainly disturbed by the news of Jesus’ imminent death. They were probably puzzled by the idea that they would see him in his heavenly glory, as he told them that some would […]

The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous states that the first requirement of their program is to be convinced that any life run on self-will can hardly be a success. It teaches that we’re always in collision with something or somebody, even though our motives are good. The analogy they use is a person who acts […]

Isaiah 53 begins with these words, “Who has believed what we have heard?” The prophet proceeded to outline the characteristics of the Suffering Servant in the remainder of the chapter. No one believed that the Messiah would be a Suffering Servant characterized by Isaiah’s words. When Jesus identified himself with the Suffering Servant, his disciples […]

The passage in Matthew 16.13-20 forms a turning point in Matthew’s narrative. The disciples have gradually come to a deeper understanding of Jesus’ true nature. In this passage, Peter makes it crystal clear what they think about the One with whom they have been walking. Jesus often asked questions to draw out people’s faith and […]

One of the things I most appreciate about the Bible is how it treats the primary characters. We see Jesus’ followers, who would become the pillars of the church, flawed and at times doubtful. The way the Bible treats the heroes of the faith is dramatically different from other ancient pieces of literature. In those […]

We are at a turning point in Matthew’s account of Jesus’s ministry. At this time, the ministry to Galilee is ending, and Jesus will now turn his attention to traveling to Jerusalem, where the climactic events of his work will take place. Conflict and opposition have been part of the theme up to this point. […]

When healing missions come to impoverished nations lacking health care, the pictures show lines of people waiting to be seen by medical personnel. When Jesus went to an area populated by Gentiles, the word went out that a healer was present. Matthew’s good news account records a similar experience as that of today’s medical missions. […]