Dr. John C. Reddy

Home  “ Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came.  So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”    [John 20:24-25]  “My Lord and my God!”  T homas said to the other disciples, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” We should not jump to the conclusion that Thomas should be blamed for not being present with the other disciples the first time Jesus appeared to them.  Nothing is said to indicate the reason for his absence. Thomas is to be blamed for his unbelieving attitude. He must have visible, tangible proof of the Lord’s resurrection, otherwise he will not believe. This is the attitude of many today, ...

Home  “ When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.  I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’  So he got up and went to his father.   “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. ”   [Luke 15:17-20]  " For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.  "  T he God the Father is here depicted as a certain man who had two sons. The younger son typifies the repentant sinner, whereas the older son illustrates the scribes and the Pharisees. The younger son is also known as the prodigal son.  A prodigal is one who is recklessly extravagant, who spends mo...

Home  “  Jesus asked her, "Would you please give me a drink of water?" "You are a Jew," she replied, "and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink of water when Jews and Samaritans won't have anything to do with each other?" Jesus answered, "You don't know what God wants to give you, and you don't know who is asking you for a drink. If you did, you would ask me for the water that gives life.  ”   [John 4:8-10]  " WHOEVER DRINKS THE WATER I GIVE THEM WILL NEVER THIRST  "  T he woman recognized Jesus as a Jew and was amazed that He would speak to her, a Samaritan. The Jews had a deep dislike for the Samaritans. They considered them half-breeds. That is why this woman said to the Lord Jesus, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” Little did she realize that she was speaking with her own Creator, and that His love rose above all the petty distinctions of m...

Home  “ A Pharisee invited Jesus to have dinner with him. So Jesus went to the Pharisee's home and got ready to eat.  When a sinful woman in that town found out that Jesus was there, she bought an expensive bottle of perfume. Then she came and stood behind Jesus. She cried and started washing his feet with her tears and drying them with her hair. The woman kissed his feet and poured the perfume on them. ”   [Luke 7:36-38]  " ...whoever has been forgiven little loves little. "  S imon, the Pharisee, had asked Jesus home to eat with him, perhaps through curiosity or perhaps through hostility.  A sinful woman appeared in the room at the same time.  We do not know who she was; the tradition that she was Mary Magdalene lacks scriptural support. This woman brought a white translucent flask of perfume. As Jesus reclined on a couch while eating, with His head near the table, she stood at His feet. She washed His feet with her tears, wiped them...

Home  “ ...who [God] wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.  For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus,  who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time.”   [1 Timothy: 2:4-6]  "...there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind..."  G od is one; therefore, He is the God of all men, and prayer should be addressed to Him in behalf of all men. As the one God, He desires the salvation of all men.  If He were one of many gods, He might be concerned only about His own worshippers. Secondly, One is Mediator between God and men. This being so, no man can come to God in any other way. A mediator is a go-between, a middleman who can stand between two and communicate with both. Through Christ, Himself Man, God is enabled to approach men with forgiveness of sins. Consequently any poor sinner can approach Him, and will by...

Home  “ At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them.  And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. ”   [Matthew 18:1-5]  Children do not have to become adults to be saved, but adults have to become little children  T he disciples had always thought of the kingdom of heaven as the golden age of peace and prosperity. Now they began to covet positions of preferment in it. Their self-seeking spirit found expression in the question, “ who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Jesus answered with a living object lesson. Placing a little child in their midst, He said that men m...

Home  “ One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.”   [Psalm 27:4]  "MARY HAS CHOSEN WHAT IS BETTER"  T he Lord centers His attention on the word of God and prayer as the two great means of blessing. Mary sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word, while Martha was distracted by her preparations for the Royal Guest. Martha wanted the Lord to rebuke her sister for failing to help, but Jesus tenderly rebuked Martha for her fretfulness! Our Lord prizes our affection above our service. Service may be tainted with pride and self-importance.Occupation with the Lord is the one thing needful, that good part which will not be taken away. The Lord wants to convert us from Marthas into Marys. While the Master does appreciate all that we undertake for Him, He knows that our first need is to sit  at His feet and learn His w...

Home  “ Then Esther spoke to Hathach and commanded him to go to Mordecai and say,  “All the king's servants and the people of the king's provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law—to be put to death , except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter so that he may live. But as for me, I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days.””   [Esther 4:10-11]  "Queen Esther decided to go to the king uninvited to plead for her people"  B y official order Haman was to be paid homage as one second only (next) to the king. But Mordecai refused to bow to a mere man, especially to an Amalekite.  The fear of God overcame any fear of man. The law of Moses did not forbid showing due respect to those in authority, but it did forbid the worship of any but God.  Eastern monarchs often demanded such worship.  Instead of dealing with Mordecai alo...

Home  “ Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.  And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”   [Hebrews 13:15-16]  Sacrifice of P erson, P raise and P ossessions  I n the New Testament all believers are priests. They are holy priests, going into the sanctuary of God to worship, and they are royal priests going out into the world to witness. "You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light"[1 Peter 2:5, 9]. There are at least three sacrifices which a believer-priest offers.  First , there is the sacrifice of...