But Jesus is.

When arguing with a group of opponents, Jesus quoted Psalm 82, referring to people who live like gods yet understand nothing.

Members of the elite were upset because Jesus had just told them, I am the good shepherd: I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.

These little gods refused to believe Jesus came from the Father, despite the miracles he performed (this argument followed the healing of a man blind from birth). Jesus said to look at the evidence, but the gods refused to open their minds to the true God standing before them.

This interaction reminds me that I’m not the shepherd. I have the choice to listen to Jesus and follow (i.e. read the Scriptures and apply his words) or wander off on my own amidst the wolves and thorns.

Many in that crowd chose to believe. Not so much the powerful, although a few turned to Jesus, but mostly ordinary people. People in need of a shepherd.

People like you and me.

John 10 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Biegun Wschodni

The end of October is a time for ghosts and goblins, werewolves and vampires. Some of my neighbors enjoy setting up displays of skeletons crawling along the ground or ghouls with glowing eyes. I’m fine with the sack of candy I buy for trick-or-treaters but mostly eat myself.

Our culture tries to have fun with the idea of terror. Perhaps it’s a way of dealing with our fears. But few of us face stark, abject terror. No armies invade my city, no enemy soldiers burn my home or slaughter my children. Those who refuse to believe in the afterlife, or hope only goodness will come, fail to grasp the malevolence of demonic powers or the possibility of a wrathful God.

The Scriptures tell a different story. Ezekiel prophesied the downfall of Tyre, a fabulously wealthy and powerful city of trade. No one expected the destruction. But when predicting the calamity Ezekiel wrote these words from the Lord:

Will not the coastlands tremble at the sound of your fall, when the wounded groan and the slaughter takes place in you? Then all the princes of the coast will step down from their thrones and lay aside their robes and take off their embroidered garments. Clothed with terror, they will sit on the ground, trembling every moment, appalled at you.

The people of Tyre ended up on the wrong side of the Lord’s wrath. It’s possible to get there, the Bible is clear on that point. Those who reject the Lord, who stiff-arm his offers of grace and salvation will eventually in this world or the next sit clothed in terror at the consequences of what they’ve done.

Things don’t need to turn this way, of course. The Lord offers his favor liberally, wanting none to perish but all to come to repentance. Pray for eyes to open, both to God’s terror and especially to his grace.

Ezekiel 26 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Hailey Kean

I love walking into a big box store filled with flat screen televisions. Huge displays reveal images of coral reefs and exotic fish, the colors mesmerizing. They call out my name, urging me to go bigger and better. But every now and then one of the TVs is turned off, and I immediately notice the darkness. The lack of light stands in contrast.

The apostle John recorded Jesus speaking about darkness and light. Preaching to a crowd of both skeptics and believers, Jesus said, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.

Beyond televisions, my world of screens also includes computer monitors, smart phones, vehicle displays, and even a home thermostat. Helpful for work, screens also flash lights of consumption and the bling of entertainment. There seems to be no escape, but that doesn’t matter because I’m not running away. Instead, I rotate among my screens like a pig in slop.

However, none of these enchantments carry light to my soul. Like the moon versus the sun, they look pretty but never bring warmth or produce life.

Only Jesus possesses the illumination I need—light that’s eternal, hopeful, and brilliant. May the Lord move us beyond the flash of the paparazzi to the constant flow of light for our soul.

John 8 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Erik Mclean

Contemporary listeners describe Abraham Lincoln as a fabulous story-teller, keeping a crowd engaged for hours. Too bad we don’t have video of him in action. I feel the same way about Jesus. What would it have been like to hear him teach live and in the flesh?

A team of temple security officers were sent to pull Jesus in for questioning. These were hardened men, used to preachers spouting off and charged with keeping order throughout the chaotic grounds.

They joined the crowd and listened as Jesus proclaimed in a booming voice, Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.

The guards stood rooted in place. Something sparked in their souls. After a time they returned empty-handed to their bosses who scolded them for not bringing Jesus with them. They responded, No one ever spoke the way this man does.

Indeed, no one has spoken like him since. My mind fills with noise from news channels and social media and entertainment and sports. But nothing compares to Jesus. He’s the source of living water, and he’s worth our ear.

John 7 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Gustavo Leighton