Recent content by Jeff Wickham

The topic of the blessings of Abraham makes me think of Galatians 3. Paul wrote, "Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, 'And to seeds,' as referring to many, but rather to one, 'And to your seed,' that is, Christ" (Gal. 3:16, NASB). So the "seed" of Abraham is...

A question would help initiate discussion, wouldn't it? Here is one: If Moses' snake represents union with Christ, and if that snake came from and turned back into Moses' staff, what might the staff represent? And what might be the significance of Moses using the staff to lead the children of...

Interesting point. Thank you!

In the Bible, the snake is usually a symbol of Satan, evil, and sin. However, in John 3:14-15, Jesus compared Himself to the bronze serpent that Moses hung in the wilderness. In fact, God used the snake symbol multiple times with Moses, and each experience reveals something about Jesus. This...

I think this sentence is a nice summary. In my mind, it all comes down to the right attitude, one where we wholeheartedly seek to know and do God's will, depending on Him for strength. This is repentance. A person who adopts this attitude may not have amassed any good works, but given time and...

In Christian circles the term "born again" is very common, so much so that I believe sometimes it has lost the force of its original meaning. This video explores four key lessons from the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus about being born again. And in it, we also explore a derelict...

Yes, those are the words of Jesus. John 13:8-10. I believe He stated it this way because there are two types of sin - deliberate, and ignorant. When we sorrow for our sins and turn away from them (which is repentance), He releases us from the guilt of our past sins. But then He continues working...

Someone may perfectly live up to the light they know and still have areas where they incompletely understand God's will. As God reveals His will, they surrender those new areas to Him as well, depending on Him for strength. In this sense Christ is continuing to cleanse them. I believe this was...

In your view, was that washing a one-time thing or an ongoing experience?

In this story Jesus referred to His body as the temple (John 2:19-21). The Father dwells in Him (Colossians 2:9; John 14:10). One's house is the place where he dwells, so Jesus is His Father's house. But believers are also part of that house (1 Peter 2:5; 1 Corinthians 3:16). And Jesus cleanses...

Jesus cleansed the temple but then revealed that the true temple is His body. The time He drove out the money changers was an illustration of the greater work He desires to do within His members. He approaches this work in an aggressive and refreshing manner, like a moose chasing away threats...

If the time was not right for Jesus to do a miracle, He would not have done one. Interestingly, every other time in the book of John when Jesus referred to His time or hour, it was in reference to His death and glorification. (See John 7:30; 8:20; 12:23-27; 13:1; 17:1.) It was not time for Jesus...

If that is the case, what did Jesus mean when He told Mary, "My hour has not yet come"? His hour for what?

I agree that the literal blood of Jesus is not what saves. Jesus Himself said so in John 6:53-63. But interestingly, in those verses Jesus made the connection between the blood and His Spirit, not between the blood and His death. Under the New Covenant, we are to drink His blood (Matthew...

John 20:31 records two purposes for why John was written. "These have been written so that [1] you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and [2] that believing you may have life in His name." John holds very closely to these two themes, on the one hand presenting witness after...