The Bible in Context
Why did Jesus wrap a towel around his waist and wash his disciples’ feet? Why did he make “himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant” (Phil. 2:7)? Here’s what he says in John 5: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he … Read more
Dreams are strange. They leave a deep impression, make us question reality, then disappear. Certain thinkers, such as Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung, delved deeply into the meaning of dreams in their psychological analyses. Freud believed that dream content came from the events of the previous day and childhood and he especially highlighted latent sexual … Read more
Life in the U.S. is easy. I know it’s not easy for everyone, but I’m speaking in general and in comparison with life in other countries. After living in China for most of the year and returning to the U.S. for a visit, I was struck with the comfort of life in my home country: … Read more
Religious pride is a problem, a major problem. It subtly seeps into our thinking until we are completely absorbed with ourselves. This lethal gas can fill our hearts before, during, and after religious activities. For instance, after we have gone to church, or prayed, or read the Bible, we can be proud of what we … Read more
Jesus was frequently misunderstood. On many occasions, his listeners failed to comprehend what he was saying or misinterpreted his words. After his resurrection, they also failed to recognize him. Here’s a list of examples in the Gospels. When Jesus was twelve years old he said to his parents, “‘Why were you searching for me? . … Read more