The Surprising God

This post exegetes John 1:15-51, providing context for the Gospel reading on 1/18/26, the 2nd Sunday in the season of Epiphany. Insights are drawn from "The Bible Expository Commentary" by Warren Wiersbe and from "The New Bible Commentary." "The Calling of Peter and Andrew" by Caravaggio (public domain via Wikimedia Commons)  Introduction In the first chapter of his Gospel, John proclaims Jesus to be divine: fully God. John does so by giving seven names/titles of Jesus. In vv 1-14, John looks at two of those titles: Word and Light-Life. Now he addresses the other five: Son of God, Lamb of God, Messiah, King of Israel, Son of Man.  Jesus: Son of God  John 1:15–28 15 John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.'" 16 From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace...

This post exegetes Matthew chapter 3, providing context for the Gospel reading on 1/11/26, the 1st Sunday in the season of Epiphany. Insights are drawn from "The IVP Bible Background Commentary New Testament" by Craig Keener, "The New Bible Commentary" by RT France, and "The Bible Knowledge Commentary" by Louis Barbieri. "Baptism of Christ" by Zelenka (public domain via Wikimedia Commons) Introduction In chapter 2, Matthew addressed Jesus’ infancy. Now he takes us forward about 30 years to the events surrounding the start of Jesus’ public ministry. Here Matthew tells of John the Baptist’s proclamation, and Jesus’ baptism (which includes heaven’s affirmation).  John’s proclamation  Matthew 3:1-12 1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea 2 and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepar...

This post exegetes John 1:1-14, providing context for the Gospel reading on 1/4/26, the 2nd Sunday in Christmastide (the season of Christmas). Insights are drawn from commentary by Warren Wiersbe in "The Bible Expository Commentary." Jesus , by Mironov (public domain via Wikimedia Commons) Introduction “Will God dwell on earth?” asked Solomon in dedicating the temple in Jerusalem (1 Kings 8:27). God’s glory had dwelt in the tabernacle in the wilderness (Ex. 40:34), and then it descended on Solomon’s temple (1 Kings 8:10–11). But eventually it departed from disobedient Israel (Ezek. 9:3; 10:4, 18; 11:22–23) and a long dry spell ensued. But then a marvelous and new thing happened: the glory of God came to His people again, but this time in person—specifically the person of God’s one and only Son, Jesus Christ.  The writers of the four Gospels give “snapshots” of our Lord’s life on earth. Matthew wrote with his fellow Jews in mind and emphasized that Jesus of Nazareth fulfilled ...

This post exegetes Matthew chapter 2, providing context for the Gospel reading on 12/28/25, which this year is the 1st Sunday in the season of Christmas. Insights are drawn from commentary by Craig Keener in "The IVP Bible Background Commentary New Testament," by RT France in "The New Bible Commentary," and by Louis Barbieri in "The Bible Knowledge Commentary." Introduction Matthew chapter 1 examines Jesus’ royal genealogy and miraculous birth. Now in chapter 2, Matthew addresses Jesus’ infant years in order to show from prophecy that Jesus truly is the promised Messiah. "Flight Into Egypt" by Girardet (public domain via Wikimedia Commons) Pagan seekers  Matthew 2:1-12 1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." 3 When King Herod heard this he ...

This post exegetes Isaiah 7:1-17, providing context for the Old Testament reading on 12/21/25, which this year is the 4th Sunday of Advent. Insights are drawn from commentary by Derek Kidner ("New Bible Commentary") and John A. Martin ("Bible Knowledge Commentary"). "Virgin with Child" by Bonsignori (public domain via Wikimedia Commons) Introduction Isaiah chapters 7 through 12 are often called “The book of Immanuel” given its focus on the promised child (Isa. 7:14; 8:8) whose nature and reign emerge in Isa. 9:1–7 and Isa. 11:1–10 against a background of local menace (Isa. 7:1–9) and world-wide dispersion (Isa. 11:11–16). Though these prophecies arose out of a contemporary crisis, they extend to the last days (Isa. 9:1) and the whole earth (Isa. 11:9–10; 12:4–5). In this post, we'll look at Isa. 7:1-17, which sepaks to the Sign of Immanuel. Confrontation  Isaiah 7:1-9 1 When Ahaz son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, was king of Judah, King Rezin of Aram a...

This post exegetes James 5:7-12, providing context for the Epistle reading on 12/14/25, which this year is the 3rd Sunday of Advent. Insights are drawn from commentary by Warren Wiersbe ("Bible Expository Commentary"), Peter H. Davids ("New Bible Commentary") and Luke Timothy Johnson ("James, Anchor Bible").   "The Sufferomgs of Job" by Chiesa (public domain via Wikimedia Commons) Introduction The book of James begins with an exhortation to suffering Christians to persevere (James 1:1-5), and now its conclusion begins with a similar plea to “be patient…until the Lord's coming…” (James 5:7). Perseverance and patience are needed as we await the “blessed hope” of Jesus’ return (Titus 2:13)—particularly when the going gets tough. And it often does. Jesus said: “In this world you will have trouble" (John 16:33). And Paul noted, "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22). And so we need patience (see...