Exploring John’s unique testimony. by R. Herbert The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke all record the arrest, trial, and crucifixion of Jesus, and each gives its own details regarding these events. But the Gospel of John provides many unique insights into what occurred leading up to the death of Christ, with its whole second […]

The post The Disciple at the Cross appeared first on Bible Advocate.

Big lessons from small leftovers. by R. Herbert All four Gospels feature Jesus’ miraculous feedings of great    crowds: the four thousand in Matthew (15:32-39) and Mark (8:1-9) and the five thousand in Matthew (14:13-21), Mark (6:32-44), Luke (9:12-17), and John (6:1-14). All the accounts make it clear that after these meals, the disciples picked up […]

The post Nothing Lost appeared first on Bible Advocate.

The supremacy of Jesus in the fourth Gospel. by R. Herbert While all four Gospels weave rich verbal tapestries depicting the life and ministry of Jesus, each with its own details, John has the most material not found in other Gospels and gives us many unique insights. A particularly interesting example is found in John’s […]

The post Greater Than Moses appeared first on Bible Advocate.

Seeing the humanity of Jesus in the Gospel of John. by R. Herbert In the first half of the prologue to his Gospel, the apostle John gives us seven names/titles of Jesus that show His divine nature as the Son of God (see “From the Beginning” in the January-February BA). In the prologue’s second half […]

The post He Dwelt Among Us appeared first on Bible Advocate.

The preexistent Jesus in the Gospel of John. by R. Herbert In the opening passages of his Gospel, the apostle John gives us the most detailed description of the nature of God’s Son in the whole New Testament. As most Bible readers know, John frequently organizes his key points into groups of seven. In a […]

The post From the Beginning appeared first on Bible Advocate.

A closer look at the Love Chapter. by R. Herbert Have you ever noticed that in his famous description of the nature of love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, the apostle Paul begins and ends his list with the same trait? It is patience: “Love is patient, . . . it . . . always perseveres.” Although […]

The post Why Love Needs Patience appeared first on Bible Advocate.

Another look at the rich man and Lazarus. by R. Herbert Sometimes a little biblical detective work can open new windows into our understanding of New Testament stories and how they relate to us today. We can do this in one of Jesus’ parables. The priest The Gospel of John tells us that when Jesus […]

The post The Priest, the Plot, and the Parable appeared first on Bible Advocate.

The high price tag of forgiveness. by R. Herbert It might seem strange to talk of putting a price on forgiveness, yet that is exactly what Jesus did in His parable of the unmerciful servant (Matthew 18:21-35). Here Jesus painted a detailed word picture of a king’s servant who owed the ruler ten thousand talents […]

The post Costly appeared first on Bible Advocate.

Luke — and the believer’s proper position. by R. Herbert Not surprisingly, humility is displayed in all the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ life. For example, although we tend to think of Matthew as the Gospel of kingship — the Gospel that frequently alludes to the messianic kingly role of Christ — Matthew also records many […]

The post The Gospel of Humility appeared first on Bible Advocate.

Sometimes we need a lower view of ourselves in ways we do not realize. by R. Herbert When we think of the biblical concept of rest, we probably think first of the Sabbath (Exodus 20:8-11) or Jesus’ words to His disciples: “Come . . . and rest a while” (Mark 6:31, ESV). But beyond commanding and encouraging […]

The post Finding Rest — in Humility appeared first on Bible Advocate.

God’s salvation after His silence. by R. Herbert Where does the story of the New Testament begin? The Gospel of John gives us a prequel, introducing the preexistent Word who became the Son of God. But the actual first events of the New Testament are recorded in Luke 1. As the gospel story begins to […]

The post An Unexpected Prophet appeared first on Bible Advocate.

Among the many promises God gave through His Old Testament prophets, one stands out in particular regarding His self-revelation and this year’s theme “Meeting God in Scripture.” That promise is the great Immanuel prophecy of Isaiah: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel” (7:14). Immanuel means, of […]

The post The Immanuel Promise appeared first on Bible Advocate.