Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Amen.  Jesus’ raising of Lazarus from the dead is the pivotal moment at the dead center of John’s Gospel (pun intended).  It is the last miracle Jesus performs before his own death and resurrection.  And, of course, Lazarus […]

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!  Amen.  Last week we were to stand on Mt. Zion in Jerusalem, where King Solomon built and devoted the first Temple of Yahweh, the LORD God of Israel.  Today we stand opposite of Mt. Zion on a slightly taller mountain […]

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!  Amen.  Elijah’s showdown with the prophets of Baal occurs during a dark time in the history of the kingdom of Israel.  King Ahab was the most wicked man ever to sit upon the throne, and his wife, Queen Jezebel, introduced […]