In Jesus' final public teaching in the Gospel of John (10:22-42), the people of Jerusalem tried to pin him down. They wanted him to declare openly who he was. In keeping with his indirect public style, Jesus pointed them to his words and works. He also boldly declared, "I and the Father are one." This statement sent them looking for rocks to stone him, since they thought he was a man who made himself out to be God. They grasped that he claimed identity with God, but they got things exactly backwards. (sermon notes)
The same joy that the first disciples experienced upon seeing Jesus again is available to us.
In the famous story of Daniel in the lions’ den, we learn about being blameless and see again that God reigns and rescues.
Although faith in Christ has become more and more of an individual matter in the West, those who became Christians in the New Testament...
