Contemplative Bible Reading

John 11:47 (New International Version) Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin.    “What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs. What a great question: What are we accomplishing? This group of religious leaders gathered to consider what to do with and about this man […]

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Isaiah 28:29 (New English Translation) This also comes from the Lord who commands armies, who gives supernatural guidance and imparts great wisdom. The word “supernatural” has come to be associated with witchcraft and other things condemned by the Bible. Sometimes I need to step back a little and reconsider words, especially in light of the […]

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Nehemiah 6:16 (New International Version) When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God. Nehemiah wrote these words as a small group of Jews are rebuilding Jerusalem after the captivity in Babylon. […]

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Mark 6:36-37 (New International Version) 36 Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” 37 But he answered, “You give them something to eat.” These statements are part of Mark’s recording of the feeding of 5,000 men. Verse 36 is what the Apostles […]

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John 10:33 (New International Version) “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.” Speaking here are Jews in Jerusalem. They are going to execute Jesus for a capital crime. Jesus of Nazareth claimed to be the Son of God. To […]

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2 Samuel 14:14 (New International Version) Like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be recovered, so we must die. But that is not what God desires; rather, he devises ways so that a banished person does not remain banished from him. In this verse, a “wise old woman” is speaking to King David. David’s […]

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John 10:22-23 (New International Version) 22 Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. The Festival of Dedication doesn’t mean much to me. I recently learned that this festival is today known as Hanukkah or the Festival of Lights. Wikipedia […]

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Isaiah 59:1 (New English Translation) Look, the Lord’s hand is not too weak to deliver you; his ear is not too deaf to hear you. This verse is a great comfort. The Lord is listening to me. He hears my prayers and my thoughts. The Lord is strong and active. He will do some of […]

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