Back to the Bible Canada with Dr. John Neufeld

Throughout history, people have reinterpreted Jesus—as a social reformer, a prophet, even just a good teacher. Dr. John explores Matthew 20:29-34, where two blind men publicly declare Jesus as "Son of David"—the Messiah. For years, Jesus kept His identity secret, but now, on the road from Jericho to Jerusalem, He allows the declaration to stand and heals the blind men in front of the crowd. This moment marks the end of the messianic secret and sets the stage for His crucifixion for claiming to be the Son of God.
The Ministry of Our Lord: Join Dr. John Neufeld for a journey through Matthew 19-20, where Jesus makes His final trip to Jerusalem. The crowds are growing, expecting triumph and glory. But what Jesus teaches is startling: humility over greatness, sacrifice over power. This Messiah will not rule from a throne—He will reign from a cross. Discover what it means to follow a suffering King.

We all want to be great—to achieve something memorable, to be recognized and honored. Dr. John explores Matthew 20:20-28, where James and John ask Jesus for the seats of highest honor in His kingdom. Their request reveals the human hunger for status and recognition that we all share. But Jesus turns greatness upside down: "Whoever would be great among you must be your servant." True greatness isn't found in ruling over others but in laying down your life to serve them, just as Jesus gave His life as a ransom for many.
The Ministry of Our Lord: Join Dr. John Neufeld for a journey through Matthew 19-20, where Jesus makes His final trip to Jerusalem. The crowds are growing, expecting triumph and glory. But what Jesus teaches is startling: humility over greatness, sacrifice over power. This Messiah will not rule from a throne—He will reign from a cross. Discover what it means to follow a suffering King.

"Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me?" This challenging question from the parable of the workers leads Dr. John to explore God's sovereignty—even over Jesus Himself. In Matthew 20:17-19, Jesus predicts His suffering in precise detail for the third time, revealing that the Father had predetermined to crush His Son for our salvation. Dr. John shows how God sovereignly ordains even our sufferings for His glory and our eternal good.
The Ministry of Our Lord: Join Dr. John Neufeld for a journey through Matthew 19-20, where Jesus makes His final trip to Jerusalem. The crowds are growing, expecting triumph and glory. But what Jesus teaches is startling: humility over greatness, sacrifice over power. This Messiah will not rule from a throne—He will reign from a cross. Discover what it means to follow a suffering King.

Why does God reward the thief on the cross—who believed at the last moment—with the same eternal life as the apostle Paul, who suffered a lifetime of hardship for the gospel? Dr. John concludes his exploration of the parable of the workers in the vineyard from Matthew 20:1-16. The frustration we feel at this "unfairness" reveals a dangerous assumption: that our service to God places Him in our debt. All of God's rewards are grace, not wages—the generosity extended to the last will equal that given to the first.
The Ministry of Our Lord: Join Dr. John Neufeld for a journey through Matthew 19-20, where Jesus makes His final trip to Jerusalem. The crowds are growing, expecting triumph and glory. But what Jesus teaches is startling: humility over greatness, sacrifice over power. This Messiah will not rule from a throne—He will reign from a cross. Discover what it means to follow a suffering King.

The parable of the workers in the vineyard seems deeply unfair—why should those who worked one hour receive the same pay as those who labored all day in the scorching heat? Dr. John begins a two-part exploration of this confusing parable from Matthew 20:1-16, addressing a crucial question: Is it wrong to be motivated by rewards? Examining Jesus' own teachings, Dr. John reveals that God designed us to pursue reward—and that following Jesus is the shrewdest investment we could ever make.
The Ministry of Our Lord: Join Dr. John Neufeld for a journey through Matthew 19-20, where Jesus makes His final trip to Jerusalem. The crowds are growing, expecting triumph and glory. But what Jesus teaches is startling: humility over greatness, sacrifice over power. This Messiah will not rule from a throne—He will reign from a cross. Discover what it means to follow a suffering King.