Category Archives: Bible Exposition

Jesus and the Cup of Cold Water

“Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.” (Matthew 10:40-42)

In today’s Gospel, Jesus says: “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.”

These are remarkable words. Jesus literally identifies himself with his disciples. To welcome one of Christ’s followers is to welcome Almighty God himself. They remind us that God is not distant from human suffering but is present among those who bear witness to his kingdom.

Jesus speaks these words as he sends his disciples into a world that will not always welcome them. Some will reject them, denigrate them, and even persecute them. Yet Jesus assures that those who receive them are receiving Christ himself.

This is a profound affirmation of dignity. In Palestine where many feel ignored by the international community, forgotten by powerful nations, or reduced to mere statistics, Jesus declares that those who belong to him are never invisible. Christ so identifies with his followers that by welcoming them we are literally welcoming him.

This truth has both a comfort and a challenge.

Throughout the Gospel, Jesus identifies himself with those whom society overlooks. He was born under foreign military occupation. His family became refugees hiding in Egypt. He grew up among ordinary people far from the centres of power.

When Jesus says, “Whoever welcomes you welcomes me,” he reveals a God who is found not primarily in palaces or military headquarters but in villages and towns struggling to exist; among families mourning loved ones; among those working for peace and justice; among those refusing to surrender their humanity, emigrate or deny their faith. The Gospel challenges the world to recognize Christ in those it is tempted to ignore, and Jesus uses the imagery of a cup of cold water to rebuke those indifferent to or responsible for human suffering.

“Whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones… will certainly not lose their reward.”

Giving someone a cup of cold water is a simple act but it can save a life. It does not solve every problem. It does not end wars or dismantle systems of injustice. Yet Jesus elevates such acts because they express and reveal the heart of God.

Palestinian society has long been known for hospitality. Even in difficult economic circumstances, guests are welcomed, meals are shared, and neighbours support one another. Jesus teaches that these ordinary acts of kindness are sacred. They are signs that God’s kingdom is already breaking into the world.

When resources are scarce, generosity becomes even more significant.

Continue reading →

Challenging Christian Zionism

This webinar addresses how the US administration is embracing Christian Zionism and “end time” theology to justify unconditional support for Israel and unprovoked war against Iran.

View my presentation on YouTube.

You can download an outline of my presentation here

See here for other translations and additional resources

Easter Sunday: Christ is Risen! (John 20)

When you think of ‘membership’ what comes to mind? It probably depends on how exclusive or expensive the membership is, or how badly we want it. There are arts societies, sport associations, health clubs, university alumni and professional bodies. The list of ‘memberships’ is endless, and your wallet is probably full of plastic to prove it. Some memberships are open to anyone who can pay the fee while others are exclusive and by ‘invitation only’. For many people, their membership provides a rich social life in which friendships and common interests can be pursued and shared. What may surprise you, however, is to discover that ‘membership’ is a Christian word. It appears in the Bible to describe how we become members of God’s family. The apostle Paul writes,

“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” (Romans 12:4-5)

Continue reading →

Why Good Friday? Because Jesus is our Passover Lamb

The Book of Isaiah, written around 700 years before the coming of Jesus Christ, is quoted more times in the New Testament than any other book of the Hebrew Scriptures. Why is that? 754 of Isaiah’s 1292 verses are predicting the future. That means 59% of Isaiah is prophecy. Isaiah contains 11 direct prophecies concerning Jesus and it is cited or alluded to in at least 50 NT passages. Why? Why? Lets find out. With the eyes of faith we see Isaiah 53 so explicitly refers to the Lord Jesus it doesn’t need much by way of explanation. Indeed it became so obvious that Isaiah was referring to Jesus after he was crucified and rose again from the dead, that, as the Church separated from the Synagogue, Isaiah 53 was no longer read as part of the Jewish lectionary. There are five paragraphs, each of three verses, and it begins in chapter 52:13.

1. The Predicted Saviour: The Servant’s Role (52:13-15)
2. The Rejected Saviour: The Servant’s Life (53:1-3)
3. The Representative Saviour: The Servant’s Suffering (53:4-6)
4. The Crucified Saviour: The Servant’s Death (53:7-9)
5. The Glorious Saviour: The Servant’s Resurrection (53:10-12)

Continue reading →

An Unexpected Journey this Christmas

“Far over the misty mountains cold.
To dungeons deep and caverns old.
We must ere break of day.
To seek the pale enchanted gold.”

Is that a line from

A. Nativity 2?
B. James Bond?
C. Life of Pi?

The correct answer is
D. The Hobbit.

J.R.R. Tolkein’s fantasy takes place in “Middle-earth.” Middle Earth is not some never-never land. It is simply an adaptation of the Old English Middle–erthe from Middan-geard which is the name inhabited lands “between the seas.” Which means, in some profound sense Tolkien’s intended his fantasy world to be a mirror, or reflection of our own. So what has a fairy story about elves and dwarves got to do with Christmas? Lets try and find an answer through three riddles.

Continue reading →

Always Pray and Do Not, Repeat Not, Give Up (Luke 18:1-8)

Scientists tell us that we can survive for about three weeks without food, three days without water but only about three minutes without oxygen. If that is true physically, it is also true spiritually. Our gospel and epistle readings for today, while written by Luke and Paul with different purposes in mind, actually complement each other. They describe the two most fundamental ways we grow to know God and become more like Jesus. Bible reading and prayer can be likened to breathing. Spiritual breathing. We breathe in God’s word and breathe out God’s word in our prayers – that is, the scriptures guide us in what to pray, when to pray and how to pray.

Continue reading →

Church at the Crossroads: Our Response to the Public Calls of Palestinian Christians

Christians gathering at the Church at the Crossroads conference in Glen Ellyn, Illinois in September, issued a vital and timely declaration. In it, they sought to respond to two public calls from our Christian siblings in Palestine and the Middle East: “An Open Letter from Palestinian Christians to Western Church Leaders and Theologians” (October 2023) and “A Collective Call to the Global Church from Middle East Evangelical Leaders” (August 2024).

Unable to attend personally, I nevertheless wholeheartedly endorse the declaration and urge you not only to sign it, but pledge to share it and endeavour, with God’s help, to make it a reality.

Read and endorse the Declaration here

View resources and recordings from the conference here

Church at the Crossroads was held on September 11-13 in Glen Ellyn, IL.

It is a gathering of Christians who recognize that the church stands at a defining moment–Jesus is urgently calling us back to the narrow way of the cross. As violence escalates in Israel and Palestine, and some in the Church use Scripture to justify war, occupation, or silence, we must ask: Have we traded the gospel of peace for the false promises of security and comfort?

At this crossroads, the Church must choose. Will we follow the political idols of our day—or Jesus, who disarmed the powers and made peace through His blood?

Rooted in Scripture and led by Palestinian Christian leaders—alongside pastors and peacemakers from across North America—this conference invites American Christians to engage in honest reckoning, prophetic reflection, and faithful action. Through worship, prayer, teaching, and fellowship, we are called to repentance, renewal, and courageous discipleship. This is a space to confront harmful theologies, rediscover the gospel of the Kingdom, and stand with all who seek justice in the land.

Jesus is calling the Church—not to comfort, but to faithfulness, peace, and costly love.

Will we follow?

Palm Sunday: Three Barriers to Surrendering to God

Surrender is not a popular word, is it? Almost disliked as much as the word submission. It implies losing, and no one wants to be a loser. Surrender evokes unpleasant images of admitting defeat in battle, forfeiting a game, or yielding to a stronger opponent. The word is almost always used in a negative context. In today’s competitive culture we are taught to never give up and never give in. So, we don’t hear much about surrendering. If winning is everything, to surrender is unthinkable. We would rather dwell on winning, succeeding, overcoming and conquering not yielding, submitting, obeying, or surrendering. It is ironic then that surrender is at the heart of the Christian faith.

Palm Sunday is all about surrender. Jesus rode on a donkey not a horse. Jesus came in peace not war, to surrender not conquer. Jesus came to give his life as a ransom sacrifice, to be the Passover lamb, to make atonement with God. And when some in the crowd laid their coats on the ground, it was a sign of their surrender to him. Because surrender is the natural response to God’s grace and mercy. Our surrender is called many things in scripture: consecration, taking up your cross, dying to self, yielding to the Spirit, presenting ourselves as a living sacrifice. What matters is that we do it, not what we call it.

Continue reading →

How To Overcome Temptation (Luke 4:1-13)

I once had a friend who was trying to diet. Caught with a bag of doughnuts, he explained, “I was passing a Krispy Kream store and prayed “Lord, if you want me to buy some donuts, please send me a sign, provide me with a parking space right outside the shop”. And guess what, the Lord answered my prayer. On my tenth time I drove past the shop, there was my parking space.” It was Oscar Wilde who made famous the phrase, “I can resist everything… except temptation.”

We all know what temptation is. Supermarkets still stack sweets at child height. Petrol stations do the same. But if you want the bread or milk where is it? Goodness knows. But the chocolate and sweets – you know where they are don’t you. They follow you all the way from the door to the checkout.

Jesus called us to be fisherman. But did you realise Satan is a good fisherman too? “First, he chooses the right bait. Satan knows us like a skilled angler knows fish. He notes our habits. He observes our hangouts. He’s had thousands of years’ experience preparing tailor-made lures and he knows how to cast them so they drop right in front of our noses. Second comes the appeal. He can’t make us bite, but he does know what happens inside us when we catch a glimpse of that tantalizing bait. We are drawn to it. We linger over it. We toy with it. We roll it over in our minds until it consumes our imagination. Third, the struggle begins. Immediately, our conscience jabs us in the ribs, warning us of the danger. We know it’s wrong to take a bite. We may even see the barbed consequences poking through the bait. But Satan’s invitation looks so delicious. What do we do? Fourth, the temptation ends with the response. Either we resist or yield. Either we swim away or we swallow it whole. When you’ve resisted you know the feeling of freedom that decision brings. On the other hand, when you’ve yielded you know the feeling of emptiness that follows and the pain of the hook in your cheek.”^[i]

Continue reading →

The Jesus I Never Knew (Luke 9:28-36)

First impressions are important aren’t they? They say, you never get a second chance at a first impression. But first impressions can also be shallow? Especially if people are different from us. If they are of a different ethnic group. A different culture or have an unusual accent. But when you think about it, isn’t that also true of the way we view Jesus? William Blake described the dilemma we face:

“The vision of Christ that you see
Is my vision’s greatest enemy.
Yours has a great hooked nose like yours,
Mine has a snub nose like mine…
Both read the Bible, day and night,
But you read black where I read white.”

What were your first impressions of Jesus? My first memory of Jesus was about the age of six or seven when I attended Sunday School. I remember two things. Singing “Jesus loves me this I know…” and looking at a painting of Jesus on the wall. He carried a lamb in his arms and was surrounded by little children – except they were all different colours. There was an African child, a Chinese child, an Indian child and many others that were different to me. But I do remember, reassuringly that Jesus had long golden hair and a European complexion. My first impressions were of a white Jesus.

Continue reading →