Tag: Jesus Christ

Why Are Matthew’s and Luke’s Genealogies So Different?

On By Jason SmithIn Why I Believe1 Comment

Modern Americans aren’t as fascinated with genealogies as ancient Jewish people. It’s true that many have done ancestry research. My Grammy Smith did some pretty extensive research into our family’s ancestry, and I learned some cool things about my ancestors from her. But the majority of Americans can’t even name all of their great-grandparents.

Ancient Jewish people, by contrast, kept meticulous records of ancestry. Part of this has to do with the laws regarding tribal distinctions and inheritance (Leviticus 25:23; Numbers 36:7).

Many Christians are tempted to skip right past the genealogies when they come to them in their Bible reading. After all, we figure, what could all these hard to pronounce names have to do with me? That’s a fair question. However, every word of Scripture is God-breathed and recorded for a purpose (2 Timothy 3:16-17). So, even if there is no apparent reason for a particular passage in Scripture, it’s good for Christians to assume that there is a less obvious reason for it that might require some investigation. 

For one thing, Jesus’ genealogies demonstrate He was a real man in history and that His contemporaries could even trace His lineage back thousands of years. Just imagine if you could trace back your ancestry that far. Suddenly, those unknown names might carry more significance for you!

Careful readers of the Bible have noted discrepancies between Matthew’s genealogy for Jesus and Luke’s. Some have wondered, Why do they seem to contradict each other? Did one of them make a mistake?

Matthew was a former tax collector who was accustomed to keeping careful records of names and dates. We shouldn’t assume he blundered in his genealogical research. And Luke was a medical doctor and careful historian. When put to the test, even skeptics have been brought to faith through their historical inquiries of Luke.

The one-time skeptic, Sir William Ramsay, a highly decorated historian in his own right, was originally skeptical of Luke. He thought the miracles recorded in Luke’s Gospel ruled it out from being true history. But then he investigated all the people, places, and events in Luke and Acts (the two books penned by Luke). It slowly dawned on Ramsay that Luke was no amateur historian.  

On every point, Ramsay found Luke to be completely accurate. Even in the areas where he initially doubted Luke’s accuracy, he later found that it was him not Luke who was mistaken. Ramsay eventually concluded: “Luke’s history is unsurpassed in regard to its trustworthiness.” This led Ramsay to give his life to Jesus. 

But is it possible Luke fouled up Jesus’ genealogy? For many reasons, the answer must be no. First of all, the discrepancies between Matthew and Luke primarily come between David and Joseph. The differences are too vast to attribute to a scribal error or minor mistake. For example, they even list a different father for Joseph, something that would have been very easy to track down (Matthew 1:16; Luke 3:23). In his genealogy, Luke works backwards, beginning with Jesus (a practice common with ancient Greeks like Luke). Matthew, a Jew chronicles his genealogy beginning with Abraham, the first Jew, and ends with Jesus (the common practice for Jewish people).

Luke makes it clear that he was aware of previous records of the life of Jesus, and he’s likely including the Gospels of Matthew and Mark in that reference (Luke 1:1-4). So, let’s give Luke the benefit of the doubt that he wasn’t a complete buffoon who couldn’t spot the differences between his genealogy and Matthew’s that modern day reader spot right away.

Furthermore, Luke had his own reasons for creating a more expanded genealogy, not just a facsimile of Matthew’s genealogy. He wanted to trace Jesus’ genealogy not just back through David and Abraham, like Matthew did, but all the way back to the very beginning. To Adam. And that’s Luke reminding us that Jesus came for the whole human race, not just descendants of Abraham. Jesus came for you! 

The genealogies especially diverge between David and Joseph. Biblical scholars have come up with all kinds of possible reasons for the differences.

Some have argued that Matthew gives the physical descent for Joseph and Luke gives the royal descent for Joseph. On this view, the discrepancies are due to the fact that Joseph was a legal descendant of Heli, but a physical descendant of Jacob. This view invokes the law of Levirate marriage, that allows for a deceased man’s brother to father children for him through his brother’s widow (Deut. 25:5-10).

While possible, it should be noted that Levirate marriages were somewhat uncommon based on historical records, and it would seem odd for this to be the explanation for so many generations, and for these to all happen between David and Joseph.

I think a better explanation is found in the more traditional understanding that Matthew provides Jesus’ royal ancestry through Joseph, and Luke provides Jesus’ physical ancestry through Mary. By adoption, a more common method of becoming someone’s father, Joseph became the legal father of Jesus. Thus, the royal line was continued through Jesus, the firstborn of Mary, his wife. This fits with Matthew’s emphasis on Joseph in his birth narrative. 

On this view, Luke, who has been focusing on Mary, is giving us Mary’s ancestry through her father, Heli. Luke can call Joseph “the son of Heli,” because if a father had no sons of his own, he would often adopt his son-in-law as his own son. Alternatively, Luke could be just calling Joseph the “son-in-law” of Heli, because genealogies typically focused on the males only (Matthew’s genealogy is an exception for including several names of women). This makes sense, too, because there was no Koine Greek term for “son-in-law,” so this would have been the best way for Luke to record Mary’s ancestry while only including male names. 

Interestingly, this conclusion fits with other historical records, as even the Talmud mentions that Mary’s father was Heli. So Matthew traces Joseph’s royal ancestry, and Luke traces Mary’s royal ancestry. Either way, Jesus is the Son of David, both biologically and by royal adoption. 

Jesus was the head of a new humanity, redeemed by God, set free from the curse pronounced on Adam, the former head of the human race.In this way, Jesus fulfilled every promise of a coming Messiah.  Jesus came as the descendant of David who will sit on his throne, the Ruler promised to Judah, the Seed of blessing promised to Abraham, and the Snake-crusher promised to Adam (2 Samuel 7: 12-13; Genesis 49:10; Genesis 17:7; Genesis 3:15). 

Have thoughts on this post? I’d love to hear from you!

It Will Cost You Everything

On By Jason SmithIn Devotional, Theology for Life1 Comment 
In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be My disciples. (Luke 14:33, ESV)

In the 2001 animated film Shrek, we meet Lord Farquaad, the pompous, proud, and vertically challenged villain. In one of the best lines from the movie, Farquaad sends out his knights on a high-risk mission to rescue a princess from a dragon.

With great feeling, he tells them, “Some of you may die. But that’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make.”

The life Jesus Christ calls us to is radically different. Instead of expecting some kind of faux sacrifice akin to Lord Farquaad, Jesus demands a sacrifice that is personal and total. We’re called to surrender ourselves to Him and give our full allegiance to Him as the King who conquered death.

Jesus Himself came to slay the dragon and purchase His bride (the church) with His own blood. Almost every fairytale is just a dim reflection of the greatest story ever told.

Knowing Jesus made that ultimate sacrifice puts His demand on your life in perspective. In a world where you are encouraged to put yourself first, follow your heart, and live your truth, Jesus demands you deny yourself and follow Him. In fact, Jesus even said, “Unless you give up everything you have, you cannot be My disciple.” 

Notice that Jesus doesn’t tolerate the easy-believism so prevalent today that thinks of Jesus as a ticket to Heaven, but not as the Lord of our lives. Jesus asked that searching question, “Why do you call Me, Lord, Lord, yet don’t do what I say?” (Luke 6:46). As the risen Lord, Jesus calls us to give up everything for Him, to lay it all down at His feet and say, “Okay, Lord. It’s all yours.” 

This means that we choose to find our identity in Christ, first and foremost. How you understand your identity is so important, because if you know who you are (or better yet, know whose you are), you can know what you should do. To give up everything for Jesus means that every aspect of your day should fit your identity in Christ. How you view your relationships, your career, your church, your money, and where you turn for rest, should all be shaped by Jesus.

If you’ve never thought of your relationship to Jesus as something that requires sacrifice, that should raise a red flag. Jesus emphasized repeatedly that there is a cost to following Him. Yes, there are rich rewards, both in this life and the next, and we certainly don’t want to minimize that. But if you’ve never felt like you had to give something up for Jesus, then you’ve missed something essential.

When Jesus called four fishermen to follow Him, we’re told that “they left everything and followed him” (Luke 5:11, ESV). While Jesus won’t necessarily call you to leave your career, He does call you to surrender it over to Him. In the same way, Jesus called Levi (also known as Matthew the tax collector) to follow Him as a disciple. This meant leaving behind his tax booth, which represented his livelihood and opulent lifestyle. But Luke tells us: “And leaving everything, he rose and followed him” (v. 28). 

To reiterate the cost of following Him, Jesus gives two examples: a building project and a battlefield.

He says to the crowds:

“For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:28-33, ESV)

How foolish, Jesus says, to start constructing something you aren’t committed to finish. And who would engage in a war without considering what it will take to win?

Have you counted the cost? Are you willing to put everything on the line for Jesus–even your own life?

It’s important to ask yourself some honest, gut-level questions: 

Is there anything I’m not willing to give up for Jesus? 

Is there anything in my life that I’m prizing more than Jesus? 

Is there a sin I’m unwilling to repent of?

Am I giving Jesus time for communion with Him?

To live as His follower is to enter into His joy. Following Him will cost you everything, but the reward for following Jesus is beyond compare.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, following You is the greatest joy of my life. It’s an adventure of faith, and it’s exciting to see all the ways You are at work in my life and the lives of those around me. If there is anything in my life standing in the way of deeper intimacy with You or faithfulness to You, please reveal that to me by Your Holy Spirit. In Your Glorious Name. Amen.

Have thoughts on this post? I’d love to hear from you!

Charlie Kirk, Evil, and the Hope of Jesus Christ

On By Jason SmithIn Devotional, Theology for Life, Why I Believe3 Comments
Photo courtesy of First Freedoms Foundation

One of the most common objections to Christianity I hear is the problem of evil. How could a good God allow so much evil in His world? I think it’s good to think through this question as believers. It will inevitably come up as you interact with others about spiritual things and seek opportunities to tell others about the hope of Jesus Christ.

Let me first say that there is something very right about that question. It assumes evil is real. That may not sound too profound, but it’s the common ground we all have to deal with. Some things are truly evil. It’s not just that I don’t like certain things or that I get disgusted by certain things. There are some things in this world that are objectively and unambiguously evil, and we all know this, even if our worldview doesn’t have a basis for saying it.

This last week, the world witnessed true evil. Charlie Kirk, a 31-year-old Christ-follower and popular conservative with a massive social media following, was murdered with a single bullet. The event shocked the world. In fact, I’ve talked with many people who have said they were shocked, but not surprised. 

I think what people mean is they are morally shocked by the act of cold-blooded murder, but intellectually, they know evil is sadly abundant in the world, so they aren’t all that surprised. I want to affirm the rightness of being morally shocked by the evil of murder. It is sadly the case that we are so inundated with news about murder, war, gang violence, and school shootings, that it would be easy for us to become calloused and forget how heinous each act of murder and violence truly is. 

Charlie Kirk was an outspoken Christian. He was very vocal in his views, so his name and his online presence were well-known. Many people sharply disagreed with Charlie’s views, and he was constantly on the receiving end of mockery, insults, outright hatred, and death threats for him and his family. And he was shot in broad daylight while debating college students in his trademark fashion that made him so popular among conservatives. All of this helps us understand how shocking his murder was. 

But I hope that we can see what is often lost in the noise: every murder is a violation of the sixth commandment. Murder is unequivocally evil, because every human life bears the image of God and has inestimable worth in God’s eyes. The Bible doesn’t offer a pat answer to the problem of evil or give us a clean explanation for the origin of evil. The fall in Genesis 3 explains the origin of human evil and the brokenness of the world, but the absolute origin of evil (Why did Satan rebel?) is not provided. This is likely because evil is ultimately irrational and incomprehensible. 

We aren’t called to fixate on evil, but to think about things that are lovely, pure, true, and beautiful (Philippians 4:8). We are to fix our eyes on Jesus, the spotless Lamb of God who so lovingly and graciously gave up His life to rescue a world ensnared in the darkness of our own making. 

So, while the Bible doesn’t offer a thorough explanation of evil, it does give us the resources for calling something evil and then finding hope in a purely good God.

We know evil is evil because of its contrast with a perfectly good God. God alone is the standard of absolute goodness, and it’s only by looking to Him as our fixed reference point for all reality that we can see what evil, by contrast, looks like. Those who say evil makes no sense if God is real need to consider how calling something “evil” could make sense if there is no God. Every time you call something like murder evil, you are assuming a standard of goodness. You are saying, “This (murder) is wrong, because it does not conform to that which is good, true, and beautiful (protecting and honoring each human life as sacred).”

If your worldview has no room for God, then on what basis are you calling something “evil”? If we are just the product of a natural, blind, irrational process with no divine Mind behind it, we can talk about survival of the fittest, but not the arrival of moral absolutes. It is only because there is a transcendent Authority on good and evil that we can step back and call something unquestionably “evil.” But the Christian hope gives us more than a basis to call evil what it is; it offers us Jesus Christ as the redemptive hope for a lost world.

In one talk he gave in 2023, Charlie said, “Here is the gospel in four words: Jesus took my place.” Charlie recognized that he was a sinner in need of a Savior, and that Jesus and His sacrifice are the only hope for forgiveness and eternal life.

Jesus, too, was outspoken in His views on God, morality, and truth, and Jesus, too, was murdered graphically and publicly. 

What made Jesus unique, however, is that because He is the sinless Son of God, His death had the power to ransom evil people from their self-destruction and deliver them to the Kingdom of God.

Jesus said, “For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father” (John 10:18-19, ESV)

Jesus took our place. He laid down His life to suffer the consequences of the evil you and I have done, but because He is Lord, He took it up again and rose to life. Jesus called people to repent and believe this good news. Outside of Jesus, we each have to deal with the judgment our sins deserve, and it’s only in Jesus that love will overcome hate. 

May the death of Charlie Kirk spark a revival in our nation, with countless turning to Christ in faith. What man intends for evil, God intends for good (Genesis 50:20).

Jesus alone is the only hope for a lost and dying world, and because He is King, a glorious day is coming when all will be set right.

Have thoughts on this post? I’d love to hear from you!

Who Is Discipling You?

On By Jason SmithIn Devotional, Theology for Life1 Comment 
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” (Matthew 7:24-27)

Who are you following? Although many cultural analysts have pointed out that the younger generations (Gen Z and Millennials, like me) have a low view of authority, I always feel the need to question that (please note the irony). Jokes aside, it’s largely true that our culture has a suspicion of institutions and authoritative figures. On the other hand, as congenital sinners, we all come into this world with a rebellious aversion to authority–namely God’s (see Romans 1:18-25)! 

However, it’s also true that everyone still has an authority they look to for guidance. It may be a parent, a professor, a coach, a mental health professional, or whomever you’re following right now on X or YouTube. 

While Christians generally speak of discipleship to Jesus, everyone is a disciple because everyone is inheriting a worldview and way of life from others. To be a disciple is to be a learner or student who sits under the teaching of another. Jesus said, “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher” (Luke 6:40, ESV).

A disciple adopts the thinking and way of life of his or her teacher. Whether it’s subconscious or not, everyone is being discipled by someone. Some people are discipled by their phones or by Google. Some people are discipled by their peer group. Others by their favorite author.

We are all being guided and formed by those to whom we listen and receive instruction. Usually, our discipleship is informal and hardly acknowledged. A teenage boy who constantly listens to music that is degrading to women is being discipled to think a certain way that will lead to certain attitudes and behaviors. 

It’s unavoidable, because it’s part of our wiring as image bearers of God. We were made to live under authority. Contrary to popular thinking, there’s no such thing as a totally autonomous individual. Those who think they are most liberated from all authoritative constraints are generally the most blind to the ways their peers and their culture have formed their life and thinking.

Enter Jesus. When the Son of God visited this planet, He knew how you are wired and that you need instruction for living. He didn’t merely come to heal us (but thank God, Jesus is a humble and gracious Savior).  Jesus came to teach us the truth. 

While standing before Pontius Pilate, He gave the good confession:

“For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” (John 18:37, ESV)

Jesus came to open our eyes to the reality of God as a holy and loving Father. He proclaimed an authority that transcended this world: the kingdom of God. He called people to deny any claims to autonomy, take up their cross, and follow Him unconditionally. Most importantly, He was crucified for our sins and rose again, demonstrating He truly is King and the way to eternal life. And He gave His Holy Spirit to all who trust in Him, to unite His people as the church, and empower us to follow Him together as His witnesses.

Jesus said that to hear His words and put them into practice is to build your life on a solid rock (Matthew 7:24). No other foundation for life will do. 

So, are you living as a disciple of Jesus Christ? Have you repented of sin and wrong thinking? Have you yielded your life to Him, received His forgiveness, and embraced His call on your life?

If you don’t follow Jesus, you will follow someone.

Have thoughts on this post? I’d love to hear from you!

Why Jesus Prayed for Unity

On By Jason SmithIn Devotional3 Comments 
“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” (John 17:20-21, ESV)

Unity is hard for Christians. I’m not saying it should be hard for Christians. We have the deepest things in common with one another, and we are indwelled by the same Holy Spirit. So, unity shouldn’t be such a challenge, but because we are not going to be everything we should be this side of Christ’s return, unity is hard. It takes work. It takes faith and recognition of what we have in common.

But it’s not just Christians. Unity is hard for everyone. It’s challenging to get everyone on the same page, working toward a common goal. We live in a nation called the United States of America. I love that this was intentionally at the bedrock of what it means to be an American. It means we are in some sense united to every other American. We are fellow citizens of “one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” 

But does that mean unity is easy in this country? Sadly, no. In fact, in many ways we don’t look like the United States at all. We are a very divided country right now. 

So, unity is very difficult to achieve, but essential for a nation to thrive. But for the church of Jesus Christ, it is even more imperative. The world, the flesh, and the devil threaten to divide and destroy Christians. So, Jesus prayed that we–His followers–would be “one” just as He and the Father are one. Stop and consider what Jesus is praying for. That’s an extraordinary request. He prayed that the same eternal and unbreakable unity found among the members of the triune God would mark His Church. 

“I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.” (John 17:21, NLT)

This prayer is instructive on many levels, but it teaches us three important things:

  1. Unity doesn’t come easy, or else Jesus wouldn’t have to pray for it.
  2. Unity among His people will draw others to faith in Him.
  3. Unity will ultimately come about because Jesus did in fact pray for it.

I have to ask myself, Do I desire the same kind of unity for the Church that Jesus desired? What would that say about the Church of Jesus Christ if Christians in particular were known for their remarkable love for one another, their lack of selfishness, and their desire to build one another up rather than tear each other down. 

Paul urged believers in Ephesus to work for unity among themselves. He gave them a clear prescription. It requires “all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:2-3, ESV).

So, Jesus prayed for unity in the church. Paul urged us toward unity. And the Holy Spirit is the basis for unity. Clearly, unity should matter to us. It should be a top priority for the church. But how is it achieved?

In that same context of His prayer for the Church, Jesus prayed, “sanctify them in the truth; your Word is truth” (John 17:17). This reminds us that while in many ways truth divides, truth is also the eternal basis for unity.

1,700 years ago, in AD 325, followers of Jesus battled controversy and heresy that threatened to split the church apart. More than 300 bishops met in Nicaea to answer the question, “What does a Christian need to believe?” And they came up with the Nicene Creed. 

I think Jesus’ prayer for unity points us to the power and beauty of the local church. Consider that all over the world, Christians of different political stripes, backgrounds, ethnicities, and nationalities gather at a local church to worship their Savior, Jesus Christ. Each individual walking through the door has his or her own personal goals, desires, preferences, and opinions. Each person has his or her idiosyncrasies and thoughts, so there could be a million ways one might disagree with the person sitting in the next seat. But because they are gathered as one church to honor their one Lord, the varying opinions can start to fade into the background. The focus is not on the self; it is on Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Together, they sing to Him. They hear His Word preached. And they, as one, pray for Him to intervene in their lives.

Here’s my encouragement. Never take for granted the power of the local church and the way in which–however imperfectly–the power of Jesus Christ is put on display when we gather as one body.

If Jesus prayed for unity, so should we. I encourage you to do that now.

Lord Jesus, You prayed for unity among Your followers, which tells me how much You love Your Church. And, lest we forget, it is Your Church. May our witness grow and may a supernatural love mark Your people who gladly worship You and eagerly await the perfect unity we will enjoy at Your soon return. I ask for You to do this by Your Holy Spirit and the power of Your Name. Amen.

If you have thoughts on this post, I would love to hear from you.

What Hope Does God Offer Families of Flood Victims?

On By Jason SmithIn Devotional, Theology for Life4 Comments
Photo by Patrick Keely via Reuters

This last Friday (the 4th of July), flash flooding devastated central Texas. As of this writing, there are 104 confirmed deaths, including 27 campers and counselors at Camp Mystic, a Christian girls camp outside Hunt, Texas. My heart breaks for the grieving families. As a husband and father, it’s difficult to imagine what they must be going through right now. Their sense of loss must be unbearable.

In times of tragedy, people ask, “Why would a God of love allow something so terrible to happen?”

I don’t even want to pretend I have an answer to that question. While the question is often asked, my response must be, “I don’t know why God allowed this particular tragedy.” Some things must be left to the inscrutable wisdom of God.

But here’s what I do know. I know that God is not a cold and distant God, unaware or uninterested in what happens in our life. In fact, I have spoken with many people who have told me that it was right in the middle of tragedy and devastating loss that God drew near and made His presence more real to them.

“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18, NIV)

Somehow, in the midst of all the tears and heart-wrenching grief, God Himself comes near in love. He enfolds the crushed in His arms of compassion. 

“God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.” (2 Corinthians 1:3, NLT)

Ultimately, it is the love of Jesus Christ that can bring healing to our deepest wounds. Although no answer to the “why” can ever bring a daughter or a sister back, it can help to know that our God knows what it’s like to live in a broken world under the curse of sin. When we wonder if God cares about our misery, consider Jesus, who clothed Himself in human flesh and walked this planet alongside the hurting, the broken, and the dying. He Himself experienced the grief of losing His dear friend, Lazarus. 

Consider that Jesus didn’t turn away but gazed into the eyes of Mary as she wept for her dead brother. He saw those mourning and felt the deep pangs of emotion stirring in His perfect soul.

When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled. (John 11:33, NLT)

Jesus wasn’t merely disturbed; He was angry. How can the Son of God be angry at something in the world He created? Jesus felt a keen sense of anger at what sin and death have done to this world of human beings He created. His compassionate heart longed for the day when He would put all things right, when every tear would be wiped away and death would be no more and His creation would be made new (Revelation 21:4-5).

According to the Bible, it is not God but man who brought death into this world, but Christ’s empty tomb proves that death does not get the last word. 

“Just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man.” (1 Corinthians 15:21, NLT)

Does God care about the flood in Texas? Does He see those parents mourning the loss of their little girl? Beyond question, He does. If you look at the nail-scarred hands of Jesus, you can know that He endured the agony of sin’s curse at a level we could never know in order to redeem this world from that curse. And one day, He will accomplish the final defeat of death, “the last enemy” to be destroyed (v. 26).

I invite you to pray with me for those grieving families.

Father God, You alone can bring the comfort we most need in the midst of devastating heartbreak. Show Your unfathomable love to those grieving families who were devastated by the Texas flood. We can’t understand why, but we thank You for the great love proved by the Cross. And we thank You for the hope of the resurrection of Jesus. May countless people turn to Your merciful heart in this time of deep loss. In Jesus’ mighty Name. Amen.

If you have thoughts on this post, I would love to hear from you.

A Buddhist Encounters Jesus

On By Jason SmithIn Why I Believe2 Comments

Some of my favorite books to read are memoirs of people who have come to faith in Jesus Christ. There is something powerful about hearing an individual’s story of how God rescued him or her from spiritual darkness. It reminds me that while God sovereignly reigns from Heaven over the whole world, He is also providentially calling individuals to Himself. And every testimony is unique. 

Jesus famously said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). Jesus is the only hope of the world and there is no salvation outside of Him. At the same time, God uses various avenues to bring His gospel to a lost soul.

I recently finished reading the book Leaving Buddha: A Tibetan Monk’s Encounter with the Living God by Tenzin Lahkpa. It was fascinating to learn Tenzin’s firsthand account of what life as a Buddhist monk is like. Not only is a Buddhist monk required to live a celibate life, every day comes with a rigorous set of disciplines, such as repeating mantras, studying the life and teachings of Buddha, tirelessly using a prayer wheel, and practicing meditation. As a child, Tenzin’s mother “offered” him to the temple to become a monk.

I learned that many Buddhists live in constant fear of the “all-seeing eye” of Buddha. Tenzin writes:

“The concept of karma was taught to me as a child to keep me from doing anything my mother did not want me to do. My mother discouraged me from having bad thoughts, skipping prayer, or neglecting my duties as a Buddhist. If I did, Buddha would know. His all-seeing eye saw everything. I could not hide.” (37)

After meeting a relative who was a Christian, Tenzin asked his teachers about Jesus. It was intriguing to learn that many Buddhists have a fear of even mentioning the name of Jesus. Tenzin’s teachers viewed Jesus as a “dangerous deceiver” (172). Ironically, it was his teachers’ strong aversion to Jesus that piqued his interest even more. What was it about this Jesus that is so unspeakable?

While recovering from a bout with tuberculosis, Tenzin met a doctor from Sweden who wore a cross around his neck. When Tenzin asked about it, the doctor said it means he’s a follower of Jesus. Tenzin wanted to know more, so the Swedish doctor brought him booklets with information about Jesus. 

Tenzin quickly devoured everything the doctor gave him. Tenzin recalls:

“On one page, it told how Jesus paid the price for man’s sin. His grace paid the debt. This was a shocking difference between Buddha and Jesus. Buddha taught that followers had to do many things to earn their way into a better afterlife.” (172)

Perhaps the clearest contrast between the two was Christianity’s central theme of love. It struck him that Christians can say, “I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

“In Buddhism, enlightenment and knowledge drive our motives, not love. Maybe you could say that we love knowledge, but you could not say that we follow Buddha because we love him or because he loved us.” (174)

In time, Tenzin recognized that it was the love of Jesus that he most needed. All the prayer wheels and Buddhist disciplines were attempts at saving himself, but Jesus came to offer His own life to save him. He could never know how much sacrifice Buddha demanded of his disciples. By contrast, Jesus gave the ultimate sacrifice on the cross so he could be forgiven of all his sin. Unlike Jesus, Buddha never claimed to be God and he had not given his life so others could live. Tenzin asked Jesus to come into his life, and he now follows Jesus, not Buddha.

There is no love like the love of Jesus. No so-called “savior” that even comes close. Jesus alone claimed to be God who came among us, and He alone rose from the dead.

Sometimes looking at other religions and faiths helps me see anew how Jesus really is the Light of the world. Across our world and in our community are countless people who are trapped in spiritual darkness. May we, as followers of the risen Lord, be fearless in proclaiming the Name of Jesus.

“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

Prayer

Father, give me eyes to see the lost and hurting all around me each day. Help me to love others with the mighty love of Jesus. Grant me opportunities and boldness to speak the name of Jesus and declare His message of salvation to those trapped in spiritual darkness. By the only Name that saves. Amen.

If you have thoughts on this post, I’d love to hear from you.

The Fear of Death and the God of Life

On By Jason SmithIn Devotional, Theology for Life3 Comments 
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies.” (John 11:25, BSB)

The fear of death has long plagued humanity. It’s a universal dread that hangs over the whole world. It’s the knowledge that one day, we won’t wake up. One day, our loved ones, our family members, our favorite pet, all those we treasure most in life, will no longer be here. That’s a sobering thought.

And the fear of death is one that humans have tried to deal with from the beginning. How do we escape this fear? What hope do we have? What answers and assurance are there for us?

In his Gospel, the Apostle John wants us to see that the only remedy for the fear of death is the God of life, whom we meet in Jesus Christ. That’s why John puts so much focus on who Jesus is. He knows that nothing else matters if we get Jesus wrong.

God doesn’t want you to live your whole life in fear of death. He wants to give you the assurance of life found in Christ.

John 8 narrates a high-octane dialogue between Jesus and His biggest critics, the religious leaders of Israel. Jesus makes some astounding claims, calling these leaders “slaves to sin” and saying the devil is their daddy.[1] As you can imagine, those comments didn’t sit well with them.

These religious leaders figured, “Well, we can fight fire with fire!” So, they come back with this attack:

The Jews answered him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?” (John 8:48, NIV)

Calling Jesus a “Samaritan” was supposed to be a racial slur, but that’s not the thing that bothered Jesus. However, calling the holy Son of God “demon-possessed” is outright blasphemy. So why would they do that?

See, it was so hard to deny that something supernatural was happening with Jesus. Even the Jewish Talmud concedes that Jesus was doing some kind of supernatural deeds, but they attribute them to satanic sorcery. Some Jews today still believe that Jesus was in league with the devil.

In fact, Rabbi Daniel Asor, not long ago said, “Jesus was a false prophet, for he acted only through sorcery. He himself is the embodiment of Satanism.”

But today, that’s a minority opinion on Jesus. Most people today think of Jesus as a kindly “Mr. Rogers” type of guy who was just a great example of love and compassion. People like Madonna and Justin Timberlake have worn T-shirts calling Jesus their “Homeboy.” Oprah Winfrey has said that she finds Jesus to be an “inspiration,” and Brad Pitt has said that he “respects” Him. That sounds pretty safe. Who wouldn’t want to get on board with a Jesus who is there to cheer us on and left an example of love and kindness?

Now, it’s true that Jesus was full of love and compassion. In fact, no one else comes even close. But what if this view of Jesus is so watered down that it’s not even recognizable when we look at what the real Jesus said and did?

There’s a sense in which people like Brad Pitt say they “respect” Jesus because it allows them to stay a safe distance away and avoid the biggest truth about who Jesus claimed to be. But Jesus doesn’t merely want to be respected or inspire us to be nice. He came into this world making the most earth-shaking claims imaginable. So, to downplay what Jesus actually said is to ignore the real Jesus.

See, who Jesus really is matters because if Jesus claimed to be God 2,000 years ago, that claim still stands today. If it was true in the first century, it must be true in the 21st century.

So, Jesus sets the record straight.

“I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.” (John 8:49-51, NIV)

And here Jesus makes an enormous claim. “Whoever obeys [or holds to or commits themselves to] His Word will never see death.”

Jesus is referring to spiritual death: separation from God. He’s speaking in the same sense as when John earlier said, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.”[2]

Jesus is saying that He alone holds the answer to the timeless question of our mortality.

Many philosophers have made the case that the fear of death drives nearly all human behavior. Even when we’re not conscious of it, it’s there under the surface, shaping the way that we approach all of life. Some have said that philosophy itself is the mind’s way of trying to transcend the looming specter of death.

But of course, it’s not just philosophers that have tried to overcome the fear of death.

Here’s what the Bible says. Jesus died for us, “that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery” (Hebrews 2:14-15, NIV).

Interestingly, people have tried all sorts of ways to get around death, to stave it off, and avoid it. But God calls us to confront the reality of our own death, so that we will be prepared for what comes next. So, here’s a question: How often do you reflect on your own death? Most people try to avoid the subject as much as possible.

If you were to ask the Bible, “Why do we die?” The answer is that we were never meant to die. Death is an enemy and a foreign invader into God’s good world (1 Corinthians 15:26). It’s here because sin is here (Romans 5:12). When our first parents rebelled against God, death made its first entry. That’s because when you rebel against the God of life, death is the result. This fear of death tells us that things are not as they should be. And people have come up with all sorts of ways to try to deny death.

Believe it or not, there are those today who have the hope that through medical advancements, like stem cell research and nanobots, they will be able to avoid death altogether. The logic goes something like this: We know that death is caused by certain diseases, disorders, or bodily malfunctions, so all we must do is find a cure for every disease and disorder, and we will be able to live indefinitely.

The first Facebook president, Sean Parker, has boasted: “Because I’m a billionaire, I’m going to have access to better healthcare… I’m going to be like 160 and I’m going to be part of this, like, class of immortal overlords.”

He’s not the only one talking this way. In a recent TED talk, British researcher Aubrey de Grey claimed that through nanobot technology, “the first human beings who will live to 1,000 years old have already been born.” As it turns out, the search for the mythical fountain of youth has continued even in the 21st century.

But at the end of the day, I have to say, it’s all incredibly foolish. There’s only One who can save you from death, and I assure you, it’s not nanobots! It’s the One who called Himself “The Resurrection and the Life.”

Have thoughts on this post? I’d love to hear from you!

[1] John 8:31-44

[2] John 3:36, NIV

Why Read the Bible in a Year?

On By Jason SmithIn Devotional3 Comments

The Bible is a massive book. Actually, it’s a library of 66 different books of various genres, written by around 40 different authors from wide-ranging backgrounds. Nevertheless, the Bible is one complete story about reality. From Genesis to Revelation, the careful reader will notice a unified narrative that follows the story arc of four main themes: Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration.

So, the Bible is a story—a true story!—but it’s a story that beckons the reader to step into the plot and participate in what God is doing in and through the people He has called to Himself, out of a spiritually dark and lost world. Most importantly, this story is all about Jesus Christ. He said so Himself:

“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me.” (John 5:39, ESV; cf. Luke 24:27, 44)

By immersing oneself in Scripture, our minds and hearts are formed after the image of our King and Redeemer, Jesus Christ (Romans 12:1-2). As we step into the story, we are also learning what it means to follow our king.

It is for this reason that I believe one of the most important investments of time and energy a follower of Jesus can make is to spend each day reading the Bible. The Bible is straight from the mouth of God and “able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15-17). Many Christians are intimidated by the idea of reading the entire Bible in a year, but, really, this shouldn’t be the case.

Did you know that if you invested a mere twelve minutes a day to reading Scripture, you could complete the entire Bible in a year?

Twelve minutes! Consider how much time you spend watching the latest hit show on Netflix or some compilation of hilarious cat videos on YouTube. The average American adult spends 168 minutes a day watching TV.[1] That could be on your phone or on your big screen, but either way, that is an exorbitant amount of time to be spend absorbing the messages our culture wants to send. In other words, even if you did spend only 12 minutes a day reading your Bible to finish it in a year but still watched even half as much TV as the average American (84 minutes/day), you would still be spending far more time in front of a screen than you would absorbing the words of the living God. Now, some of what you watch might be profitable, but all of it?

If this all sounds very judgey, I promise I don’t mean it to. God has been convicting me about how much time I’ve spent in the last year in front of screens. And one resolution I have for myself this year is to intentionally have less screen time (phones included) and more time doing other fruitful activities (like going on a run, taking my family to the park, learning and playing instruments, and reading Scripture and other books).

Every Christian I have ever asked has indicated that they want to grow closer to Jesus. Now, at the beginning of 2025, is a great place to turn that desire into a commitment.  If you want to grow closer to Jesus, spending at least 12 minutes a day reading His Word is a perfect way to start. Don’t let a day go by when you don’t listen to your Father’s loving guidance and learn what it means to be a Spirit-empowered disciple of Jesus. Remember, you have been put on this earth to make an eternal impact in the lives of others for the glory of God.

Here’s my bold challenge for you: Commit to reading (and even studying) the Bible this year on a daily basis. The enemy will try to convince you that it’s not worth your time, but that’s because Scripture is the very Sword of the Spirit that slices through his web of lies (Ephesians 6:17). And it is always worth your time to invest in reading and studying God’s love letter to you. You can do it!

Some suggestions:

  • Begin each time in prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to give you clarity and understanding, and to apply what you’re reading to life.
  • Consider investing in a study Bible, like the ESV Study Bible or The Gospel Transformation Bible, that helps you focus on understanding context.
  • Set a daily reminder on your phone or purchase a habit tracker to help you remember to stay committed to reading each day.
  • As you read, ask questions such as: “What does this say about God/Jesus?” “What does this say about me/the people of God?” “Is there something in my life that needs to come into greater alignment with what I’m reading?” “How is what I’m reading here something that can encourage someone else in my life?”

Have thoughts on this post? I’d love to hear from you!

[1] https://www.oberlo.com/statistics/how-much-tv-does-the-average-american-watch

The Man Jesus Called “Dad”

On By Jason SmithIn Devotional2 Comments

If there is one truth that Christians have always believed about Christmas it is that Jesus was conceived not by natural human means, but supernaturally in the womb of a virgin named Mary.

The Nicene Creed of AD 325 states, “For us men and for our salvation He came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man.” And yet, this same Jesus of Nazareth was known during His lifetime as the son of Joseph of Nazareth. Joseph was not the birth father of Jesus, but he was his father by adoption. Not only do Mary and other Nazareth locals call Joseph Jesus’ father, Scripture itself speaks this way: “The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him” (Luke 2:33, ESV).

In every culture, children are inevitably known through their parents. After Jesus baffled His hometown with His profound teaching, many asked, “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son?” (Matthew 13:55). In other words, “How did old Joseph’s boy learn to talk like this?”

We don’t always consider how central Joseph was to Jesus’ upbringing. Joseph would have been there for all of Jesus’ firsts. Because Jewish men at this time were more likely to be literate than the women, it was likely Joseph who lifted the boy Jesus on to his lap and read Him the Torah.[1] As a blue collar worker,[2] Joseph was the man working hard to provide for his family. What little we do know about Joseph is that he was willing to make sacrifices to care for his family (see Matthew 2:13-23). And given what we know about that culture, Jesus would have spent vast amounts of time alongside Joseph, learning the trade of carpentry from His father.

New Testament scholar Gary Burge writes:

“Like other boys in his village, from the age of six to ten Jesus became literate in Hebrew through the study of the Torah in the Nazareth synagogue, and he memorized vast quantities of Scripture.  From ages ten to twelve he became acquainted with the oral laws under the direction of the synagogue teacher and custodian, the hazzan.  At this point he ended his schooling and began working full time with his father.”[3]

Jesus would have called Joseph Abba (“Dad” or “Daddy”) from a young age. When Joseph had something to say, Jesus would listen. When Joseph needed Jesus to run an errand for him in town, Jesus gladly obeyed. The Bible says Jesus was obedient and submissive to both Mary and Joseph (Luke 2:51). As the One who fulfilled the Law of God, Jesus honored both parents perfectly.

In a first century Jewish culture that prized father-son relationships highly, the local townspeople couldn’t help thinking of Joseph every time they saw Jesus. He was His father’s son—not biologically, but in every other sense, humanly speaking.

Interestingly, we don’t have a recorded word from Joseph in Scripture. Joseph may have been the strong silent type, but we know he was a man of action. Scripture describes him as “a just man” who kept the law of God faithfully (Matthew 1:19). You can imagine the hurt Joseph felt when he learned that Mary, his betrothed, was pregnant. Yet even in his anguish, he was “unwilling to put her to shame,” one more clue that Joseph was a man of both integrity and compassion.

When God sent an angel to reveal the truth—Mary had conceived Jesus by the Holy Spirit—Joseph stepped forward to fulfill his calling of taking Mary as his wife as God intended.

“When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son.” (Matthew 1:24-25a, ESV)

As the legal father, Joseph even had the privilege of naming his son “Jesus,” just as the angel had instructed (v. 25).

Despite the scandal of marrying a pregnant woman in that culture, Joseph stepped up to the challenge. He was willing to bear the shame along with Mary, and together they submitted to God’s glorious plan of raising His incarnate Son—a daunting task difficult to fathom.

Joseph’s role in the story of Christmas is not peripheral. Although he is a silent character in the narrative, his part is crucial to everything that unfolds. The angel calls him “Joseph, son of David” to remind him of his royal ancestry and to foreshadow the messianic claims that will be granted to Jesus, his legal heir. Joseph is a strong and faithful man—a true knight of his day who honors women, protects the vulnerable, loves his family, and courageously follows the orders of his King.

In a culture that often devalues the role of husbands and fathers, we need to see again the impact that Joseph had on the life of Jesus. Although he was put in his role by God’s grace alone, everything we know about Joseph tells us that Jesus was raised by a good man and was honored to call him “Dad.”

[1] While New Testament skeptics have said things like “Jesus was an illiterate peasant,” these skeptics underestimate how essential it was for Jewish boys to go to synagogue from a young age and learn the Hebrew Scriptures, often from their fathers (see Deuteronomy 6:4-9). Do we really want to suppose that the same Jesus who often prefaced a quote from Scripture with the question, “Have you not read?” was Himself not reading that very Scripture? This is why blatant skepticism of Jesus cannot be taken seriously; it ignores the evidence and crafts a Jesus with which skeptics are more comfortable.

[2] The Greek word tekton can mean both carpenter and craftsman.

[3] Gary M. Burge. The New Testament in Antiquity (Zondervan, 2009).