Jan Koenig

In Sunday’s Epistle, Jesus—the Alpha and the Omega, the one sitting upon the throne—makes the universal promise: “Behold, I am making all things new.” (Rev. 21:5)  Who?  Why?  How?  When? Who is this who makes such an impossible promise?  It is the eternal Son of God by whom all things were made!  As He is… Read more »

Jesus, The Good Shepherd, identified His sheep thus:  “My sheep hear my voice.”  This means of identification was recognized in Jesus’ day.  A shepherd could simply speak and his sheep—and no one else’s sheep—would come running to follow. Sheep recognized their shepherd’s voice. Throughout history the Good Shepherd would speak and His sheep would hear,… Read more »

The accounts surrounding the Christ are quite fishy.  They are “fishy” not in that their validity is to be questioned, but in that the topic of fish arises repeatedly.  Granted, the life of Christ occurred in a fishy region, but there appears to be more to it.  The theme of fish is part of the… Read more »

Thomas is our twin.  We, like him, need something tangible, something to touch through which to realize the risen Savior.  For Thomas, Jesus invited him not only to touch the marks left by the nails of crucifixion, but additionally Thomas was invited to thrust his hand into the spear-opened side of Jesus.  At the cross… Read more »

In describing the resurrection of our Lord the Apostle Paul was inspired to write:…he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures ( 1 Cor. 15:4b).   Obviously there must be some place in the Old Testament where Christ’s resurrection on the third day is predicted.  Not only does Paul mention this third… Read more »

As I was privileged to teach in Ethiopia I observed the numerous and common beasts of burden, the donkeys.  The Lord of the universe rode such a beast of burden into Jerusalem on that Sunday before His crucifixion. Zechariah, often called the prophet of Holy Week, was inspired to predict:  Behold, your king is coming… Read more »

God is able to take that which is horrible and turn it into something spectacularly good!  Yes, in our own lives He performs this wonder, taking that which is horrible and working it for good, often for the good of others.  He demonstrates this miraculous reversal in His eternal Son.  The heavenly Father takes the… Read more »

You who are using the one-year lectionary must have rejoiced last week as I inadvertently based the Cross Words essay on that Gospel reading (Luke 11).  I wish I could say I did it on purpose, and maybe in the future I will purposely write on the one-year lectionary Gospel so you one-year people don’t… Read more »

To be “blessed” is to receive a good thing from God.  How wonderfully blessed is the mother of Jesus!  Elizabeth, encountering the Christ in utero, was inspired to declare to Mary, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” (Luke 1:42)   The humble virgin was then moved by the Spirit… Read more »

Thank God that the Lord Jesus would be tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.  (Heb. 4:15).  He accomplished this for us, that we would know that His victory over temptation is our victory.  Be encouraged in this victory of Jesus as you now consider the relationship of our Lord’s temptation to… Read more »