Pastor's Blog
By Pastor John Whitehead

When Jesus hears that John has been arrested, He withdraws to Galilee—not out of fear, but into purpose. He steps into a region considered spiritually dim, a place Isaiah once described as “people sitting in darkness.” And it’s there, in the ordinary rhythms of fishing villages, that the light of God begins to shine. Jesus doesn’t begin His ministry in Jerusalem’s temple courts or among the religious elite. He begins among people who are working, mending nets, tending to dail

There are moments in Scripture when everything slows down—moments when a single sentence becomes a doorway into the heart of God. John the Baptist’s declaration is one of those moments. He doesn’t say, “Look, there’s Jesus,” or “Here comes the Messiah.” He says, “Behold.” Behold is an invitation to stop. To pay attention. To see differently. Seeing Jesus for Who He Truly Is John doesn’t point to Jesus as a teacher, a miracle worker, or a moral example, though He is all of tho

The Jordan River scene is one of the most quietly astonishing moments in all of Scripture. Jesus—sinless, radiant with divine purpose—steps into the muddy water and asks John to baptize Him. John is bewildered. We would be too. Everything in us wants to say, “Lord, this is backwards.” But Jesus answers with a phrase that still reshapes discipleship today: “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” A Savior Who Stands With Us Jesus do

John opens his Gospel not with a manger, shepherds, or angels, but with eternity. Before creation stirred, before light first broke across the waters, the Word already was. John wants us to see Jesus not simply as a teacher or healer, but as the eternal Life of God stepping into our world. The Light That Shines John tells us that the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it. This is not just poetic language—it is a promise. Darkness is real: grief, fe

Beloved Maple Grove family, Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ, the One whose light no darkness can overcome. As we celebrate this holy season, Teri and I give thanks for each of you and for the joy of sharing life and ministry together. This year, the words of the prophet Isaiah have rested deeply on our hearts: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them light has shined.” (Isaiah 9:2) In a w

Matthew’s account of Jesus’ birth is not wrapped in sentimentality or ease. It begins with confusion, fear, and the unraveling of expectations. Joseph discovers that Mary is pregnant, and the future he imagined collapses in an instant. Yet it is precisely in this moment of uncertainty that God draws near. Joseph’s story reminds us that the work of God often begins where our understanding ends. He is described as a “righteous man,” but his righteousness is not rigid or self-pr

Reflection John the Baptist, the fiery prophet who prepared the way for Jesus, now sits in prison. His boldness has cost him his freedom, and in the darkness of confinement, doubt creeps in. He sends his disciples to ask Jesus directly: Are you really the Messiah? Jesus’ response is not a simple “yes” or “no.” Instead, He points to the evidence of God’s kingdom breaking into the world: • The blind see. • The lame walk. • Lepers are cleansed. • The deaf hear. • The dead a

Reflection John the Baptist bursts onto the Advent scene like a prophet of old, clothed in camel’s hair, eating locusts and wild honey, crying out in the wilderness. His message is urgent: repent, for God’s kingdom is near. • Preparation: Advent is not only about waiting—it is about preparing. John calls us to clear away the clutter of sin and distraction so that our hearts are ready for Christ. • Repentance: Repentance is more than regret; it is turning around, reorienting o

Advent is a season of waiting, but not passive waiting—it is active, hopeful, and watchful. In Matthew 24:36–44, Jesus reminds us that the timing of His coming is hidden in the Father’s wisdom. The point is not to calculate or predict, but to live faithfully in readiness. • Unexpectedness: Just as the flood came suddenly in Noah’s day, so will the coming of the Son of Man. The call is to be prepared, not surprised. • Faithful Living: Readiness is not about anxiety or fear, bu

Jesus answered him, Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise. At Calvary, Jesus is nailed to the cross between two criminals. One mocks Him, demanding proof of His power. The other, broken and humbled, recognizes Jesus’ innocence and turns to Him with a simple plea: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” In that moment, Jesus offers one of the most profound promises in all of Scripture: “Today you will be with me in paradise.” This exchange remin

As Jesus gazes upon the grandeur of the temple, admired for its beauty and permanence, He speaks a sobering truth: “Not one stone will be left upon another.” The disciples, stunned, ask when such things will happen. Jesus doesn’t give a timeline. Instead, He offers a roadmap for faithfulness in the face of chaos. This passage is not just about the destruction of the temple or the trials of the early church—it’s about how we live when the world around us feels unstable. Wars,

Paul writes to a community unsettled by rumors and false teachings about the Day of the Lord. Some were convinced it had already come. Others were paralyzed by fear. Into this confusion, Paul speaks clarity: “Let no one deceive you in any way” (v.3). He outlines signs yet to unfold, but more importantly, he reminds the church that deception is not just external—it’s spiritual. The “man of lawlessness” is not merely a figure of history or prophecy, but a symbol of rebellion ag

The story of Lazarus is not just about a man raised from the dead—it’s about the God who meets us in our grief and transforms it. Martha’s words to Jesus are raw and real: “Lord, if you had been here…” It’s the cry of every heart that has known loss, disappointment, or delay. She doesn’t hide her pain. She names it. And yet, in the same breath, she utters a phrase that changes everything: “Even now…” Even now, when the tomb is sealed. Even now, when hope seems buried. Even no

God, be merciful to me, a sinner. — Luke 18:13 Jesus tells this parable to those who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt. Two men go to pray: a Pharisee who boasts of his religious record, and a tax collector who pleads for mercy. Only one goes home justified—and it’s not the one with the résumé. This parable is a mirror. It asks not what we do, but how we approach God. The Pharisee’s prayer is a performance—he’s not really speakin

Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them they should always pray and not give up. A persistent widow kept coming to an unjust judge asking for justice. At last the judge granted her request because of her persistence. Jesus contrasts the unjust judge with God, reminding his followers that if an unjust judge can be moved by persistence, how much more will a loving God respond to those who cry out day and night for justice and faithfulness. The parable calls us to a pray

Jesus travels between Samaria and Galilee and encounters ten men with leprosy who call out for mercy. He tells them to go and show themselves to the priests. As they go, they are healed. Only one returns, a Samaritan, to give thanks, falling at Jesus’ feet. Jesus names the grateful man’s faith as his salvation. The passage exposes a surprising truth: healing and wholeness are gifts that may arrive before we have finished making sense of them. Nine of the healed move on with r

The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’ The disciples’ plea—“Increase our faith!”—feels so familiar. It’s the cry of every...

But Abraham said, Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but...

In this parable, Jesus tells the story of a dishonest manager who, facing dismissal, shrewdly reduces the debts of his master’s debtors...

Jesus tells two parables—the lost sheep and the lost coin—to reveal the heart of God: a relentless, joyful pursuit of the lost. These...