In the letter to the church in Philadelphia in Revelation 3:7-13, we read the second of two letters that contains only praise and encouragement from Jesus for the church. Although the church in Philadelphia looked weak, it was actually strong, because it had done the one simple thing that all churches and all Christians must do: keep Christ’s word. Jesus’ instruction to them (and to us) was correspondingly simple: hold on to what you have.
The model described in Colossians 4:2-6 of ministry to those outside the church is very simple: pray, walk, and talk.
Even though his people grumbled and quarreled, the Lord satisfied their needs at his own expense.
All of a sudden, in John 11:55-12:26, Jesus not only permitted but encouraged people publicly to recognize him as king. What had changed? What...