The Surprising God

The post exegetes Matthew 8:1 — 9:34, providing context for Gospel readings on June 7 and 14, 2026 . Insights are drawn from Craig Keener ("IVP Bible Background Commentary New Testament"), TR France ("New Bible Commentary") and Louis Barbieri ("Bible Knowledge Commentary"). "Christ Healing the Blind" by Colombel (public domain via Wikimedia Commons) Introduction In words and acts, Jesus demonstrates his power (and authority) as Messiah, the promised King of Israel. In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) a large audience heard Jesus’ words of power. Yet many doubted, wondering: “Is Jesus really the Messiah? Can he really bring about the changes necessary to institute the kingdom?” Matthew now replies with accounts of Jesus’ miraculous acts of power. These demonstrate Jesus’ kingly authority over multiple realms where humanity is enslaved. Jesus alone has the authority and power to set humankind free! And we experience this God-given freedom as ...

In 2009, Dr. Gary Deddo gave a lecture in which he overviewed several of the core teacings of a theology that is Trinitarian and Christ-centered. Below are the notes that Ted Johnston took from that lecture (a repeat of a post on this blog in 2009). Dr. Gary Deddo Jesus, the center As we study scripture we come to see that it has a  center , which is not a What, a Why, or a How, but a Who, namely Jesus Christ. He is the central figure - person - message -truth of all scripture. If our view of scripture is  eccentric  (off centered) it “wobbles.” If everything organizes and emanates out of the true center, we get re-centered. True theology, which progresses in and out of this center, is necessarily  trinitarian  because Jesus is the Son of the Father, who sends the Spirit. Jesus' ministry is to take us to the Father and to send the Spirit. What he does, is who he is. When you deal with Jesus, you deal with the whole  Triune  God. Jesus, God's supre...

This post exegetes Genesis 1:1-2:3, providing context for the Old Testament reading on 5/31/26, which is Trinity Sunday. Insights are drawn from commentary by Bruce Waltke ("Genesis, a Commentary"), Allen Ross ("The Bible Knowledge Commentary") and Gordon Wenham ("The New Bible Commentary" and "Word Biblical Commentary"). "Creation of Adam" by Michelangelo (public domain via Wikimedia Commons) Introduction Genesis 1:1-2:3 serves as the prologue to the book of Genesis (and all the Pentateuch). It is divided into ten sections, each beginning with the phrase: "This is the account of" (account of = Hebrew toledot ). The prologue provides the interpretive key for the book. This key is theological, showing who God is and why he creates. It is also covenantal, showing that the God of the covenant (with Israel and through Israel with all humanity) is the same as the Creator of all the cosmos.  The prologue seems to be in the form of p...

This sermon expounds on the Gospel reading for 5/24/26, which is Pentecost Sunday. Jesus breathes on his disciples. (Artwork: "The Great Commission" by Nalini Jayasuriy via Princeton Theological Seminary) Introduction We begin in chapter one of John's Gospel: (John 1:14, 16) The Word became flesh and made his dwelling [tabernacle] among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth…. (16) From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. To help us celebrate the grace of God in Jesus Christ, the apostle John uses symbols from the Feast of Tabernacles. God dwelt with Israel in a tent (tabernacle). But now he dwells among his people in and through his Son, Jesus—God in the flesh, tabernacling with us. Let’s now fast-forward to the last months of Jesus’ earthly life: (John 7:2-5) When the Jewish Feast of ...