[John 20] The disciples were together in fear (20:19-23). They listened to the sounds of the street, also at night. When would the soldiers come? It was in this state of fearful waiting that they heard Mary knock. Her familiar female voice prompted them to open for her, hear her incredible news and race to…
Category: Christian, Bible Study
138. He does what He said He would do.
[John 20] THE RESURRECTION Christianity as a whole is based on the Resurrection. It was customary to visit the tomb for three days after the burial. They also believed that the spirit of the person hovered for three days and only then departed. Thereafter the body would become unrecognizable through decay. For Jesus they could…
137. The cross and the grave.
[John 19:17-42] THE CROSS There was no death more terrible than by way of crucifixion. Even the Romans trembled by the thought and found it despicable. No Roman citizen could be crucified. For a Roman, execution was mostly beheading or forced suicide by drinking poison. Crucifixion was for slaves and criminals. The cross was originally…
136. The trial of Jesus – Pilate and Herod
[John 18:28-40 and 19:1-16 – Part 2] Pilate has always been a tragic figure in the events around the death of Jesus. I should probably not feel sorry for him, as he was cruel and hardened, with little regard for life. Even so, he was a product of the powerful, arrogant pagan empire he was…
135. The trial of Jesus.
[John 18:28-40 and 19:1-16] Part 1. In the literature of the world many books have been written on the trail of Jesus as recorded in the Gospels and sources outside the Bible. There is no doubt about the historical Jesus and the impact of His life and death on the history of Palestine in the…
134. A lonely man, a dark night.
[John 18] Everything that takes place in the dark is different from anything in daylight. People getting together during the day are working or visiting for a quick word or two. Lunch parties are so essentially unlike dinner parties. The evening brings a certain relaxation, a time frame that could be stretched. These days dressing…
132. Words of glory and truth.
[John17] In the very beginning of the study of John we have marveled at the miracle of a word becoming flesh. If I may repeat myself: St Augustine said in everything he ever knew about the world, everything he read and regarded as worth studying, he had never heard of a word becoming a man. [Pebbles…
131. The prayer of prayers.
[John 17] We have come to the end of the long summaries of Jesus’ conversations with His disciples. In this chapter He prays for them. It is remarkable that John records this prayer in so much detail. It is clear that Jesus’ words made a huge impression on him and it was part of the…
130. A discussion about the future.
[John 16] Anybody who reads my little pieces would know that I am fascinated by time. Past, present and future – oh how I had to study to express myself in English (not my mother tongue) with the intricacies of the past and future perfect, continuous tense in the past, present and future and the…
129. Revelation of truth.
[John 16] It might have happened to you too. Somebody would say: don’t worry, this is the better way and you would gasp in exasperation and confusion as to how on earth this could be better. Maybe it happens to children more often, when they just cannot grasp the full extent of circumstances and adult…
Pebbles of Perpetuity 