Contemplative Bible Reading

John 7:25 (New Living Translation) Some of the people who lived in Jerusalem started to ask each other, “Isn’t this the man they (our leaders) are trying to kill?…” The leaders of the Jews in Jerusalem wanted to kill Jesus of Nazareth. What is a little surprising is that lots of just plain folks seemed […]

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John 7:14-15 (New Living Translation) 14 Then, midway through the festival, Jesus went up to the Temple and began to teach. 15 The people were surprised when they heard him. “How does he know so much when he hasn’t been trained?” they asked. Could Jesus read? I Googled that question and found a large number […]

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John 3:21 (American Standard Version) But he that doeth the truth cometh to the light, that his works may be made manifest, that they have been wrought in God. Another well-known passage in an older translation. We don’t use this language anymore. In some sense, these words have been pushed to the back corner of […]

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John 1:4 (American Standard Version) In him was life; and the life was the light of men. Let’s look at a familiar passage in what today is an unfamiliar translation. I don’t see well in the dark. I guess that is an understatement as I can’t see anything in the absence of light. God made […]

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John 19:11 (New Living Translation) Then Jesus said, “You would have no power over me at all unless it were given to you from above. Jesus is talking to Pilate. Pilate is having one of those days when you ask yourself, “What did I do to deserve this?” Pilate is hanging out in his political […]

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Acts 12 (New Living Translation) 5 But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him. 11 Peter finally came to his senses. “It’s really true!” he said. “The Lord has sent his angel and saved me from Herod and from what the Jewish leaders had planned to do to me!” 15 […]

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Acts 12:6 (New Living Translation) The night before Peter was to be placed on trial, he was asleep, fastened with two chains between two soldiers. Others stood guard at the prison gate. Peter is on death row. On the morrow, he was to go to trial. The outcome of the “trial” was known to all. […]

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John 15:5 (New Living Translation) Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. This is Jesus describing the Christian life. On this occasion, He is speaking to followers—those who have already accepted Him as the Son of […]

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John 14:27 (New Living Translation) I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. Jesus gives us peace of mind and peace of heart. No one else can give that. World leaders can give what most […]

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John 1:46 (New Living Translation) “Nazareth!” exclaimed Nathanael. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” “Come and see for yourself,” Philip replied. I have heard Philip described as, “The Apostle for the rest of us.” Philip provides what may be the most powerful statement in spreading the good news about Jesus the Messiah, “Come and see […]

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