jesus Archives » Reasons for Hope* Jesus

What is Maundy Thursday? The Basin & The Towel

by Shari Abbott, Reasons for Hope* Jesus

[Video Below] When Jesus said, “With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer” (Luke 22:15), He was making reference to an evening meal during the week of Passover. He was not referring to the actual Feast of the Passover, or to the...

What Does It Mean to Be Created in God’s Image?

by Shari Abbott, Reasons for Hope* Jesus

This year (2020), the National Sanctity of Human Life Sunday is January 19th (the Sunday closest to the anniversary of Roe v. Wade.) It is a day to remember the sanctity of all life. It’s a day to remember that we must speak out agains abortion and take a...

A Christmas Morning Prayer

by Reasons for Hope* Jesus

On Christmas morning we bow before the cradle. When we do so, we set our eyes on Jesus. May we always remember to look to Him for wisdom in all things and to seek Him for guidance in every situation. Let us also remember the “great cloud of witnesses”...

How Did the Wise Men (Magi) Know This Was the Messiah? How Did They Know to Follow His Star?

by Shari Abbott, Reasons for Hope* Jesus

How did the Wise Men know? The Wise Men/Magi were educated and notable men who studied the stars and apparently knew the prophecies well (see also Who Were the Three Wise Men? Why Did Herod Fear Them?). It is thought to have been Daniel the Prophet who first...

Who Were the Three Wise Men (Magi / Kings) ? Why Did Herod Fear Them?

by Shari Abbott, Reasons for Hope* Jesus

The Bible refers to the three wise men in the gospel of Matthew: Matthew 2:1-2 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for...

What are the Five Solas of the Reformation?

by Shari Abbott, Reasons for Hope* Jesus

The Five Solas are five Latin phrases that summarize the theological convictions/essential beliefs in the Christian faith. They originate from the Protestant Reformation that began when former Roman Catholic monk Martin Luther (1483-1546) nailed his 95 Point Theses...

What about people who don’t believe in Jesus, but live good lives? Shouldn’t they go to heaven?

by Alex McFarland and Shari Abbott

Many people who don’t believe live good lives — good lives by worldly standards. But living a good life will not get anyone into Heaven. Jesus said that the way to enter Heaven is to be perfect (Mat 5:20, 48), not good. No one can do that. If it weren’t...

What are the 7 “I Am” Statements and 7 “I Will” Statements from Jesus?

by Shari Abbott, Reasons for Hope* Jesus

In the Gospel of John are seven well known “I Am” statements, by which Jesus reveals Himself as God, Redeemer, Protector, Hope, and so much more. There’s also a lesser known group of seven statements made by Jesus during His earthly ministry. They...

How Can I Effectively Witness?

by Alex McFarland and Shari Abbott

Let me answer this by giving an example of a college student that I met at a secular university who proudly introduced herself as an “ex-Christian.” She had begun to question God after prayers for a cancer-stricken loved one seemed to go unanswered. Often rejection of...

Does Mark 16:9-20 Belong in the Bible?

by Shari Abbott, Reasons for Hope* Jesus

Question A friend recently asked me why different Bible versions have different endings for the last part of Mark 16. Should the chapter end at verse 8? Or should verses 9-20 be included? I couldn’t give an answer that satisfied either myself or my friend. Can you...