If a man makes a great claim about himself, he should be ready to present evidence to back up his claim. In John 5:17-47, Jesus made the most astonishing claims imaginable for a human being. By his own admission, if he alone held this opinion of himself, we should not believe him. Therefore, he backed up his claims with the most expert witnesses possible. For this reason, we can believe him. (full sermon notes)
Through a series of mistakes by the disciples, Jesus taught them and us what following him is not.
As opposition grew toward Jesus, he anticipated that it would reach his followers as well and prepare them for how to live.
Although not exactly a parable, the judgment scene that concluded Jesus’ public teaching in Matthew brings together important themes of his parables of the...