Sayings from the Cross #2: Tenderness

‘Woman, behold your son!’…. ‘Behold your mother!’ (John 19:26,27) I cannot imagine the pain and heartache of Mary at this moment.  Stood nearby as her son was viciously nailed to the cross, then hoisted up and clearly dying in agony, what must she have been thinking?  Yes, there was the small comfort of her companions […]

Demetrius: Imitating good (3 John 11,12)

Read 3 John 11,12 on BibleGateway The fascinating letter of 3 John contains brief portraits of three characters. I have previously posted about Gaius (vv5-8), an impressive man who walked in the truth and generously offered hospitality to others, and Diotrephes (vv9,10), a divisive, power-hungry and self-promoting man who posed real danger to the church. […]

Diotrephes: Who loves to be first (3 John 9,10)

Read 3 John 9,10 on BibleGateway An introductory warning: All of my posts so far on ‘The Sharpened Sword’ have focussed on easily unnoticed characters that appear in the pages of Scripture. Each person, though, has provided an example for us to imitate as we seek to live lives that honour God. This post is […]

Gaius: Walking in truth & generously hospitable (3 John 1-8)

Read 3 John 1-8 on BibleGateway The apostle John wrote this short letter of 3 John in about 90AD to a man named Gaius. John introduces himself as ‘The elder’ (v1) which indicates both his status as a well-respected and long-standing figure in the church and also underlines his love and care for the church. […]