Three quick points, based upon John 1-2 (and especially the Wedding at Cana) on the New Genesis which Jesus brings into the world: I. Jesus Brings About a New Genesis The wedding at Cana from John 2:1-12 is Jesus’ first miracle. The account is pretty famous: On the third day there was a wedding in… Continue reading Jesus and the New Genesis
Tag: Bible
Zechariah, Gabriel, and Mary
I want to compare two different passages from Luke 1. The first is the announcement of the birth of John the Baptist by the angel Gabriel. This is Luke 1:5-22, In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth… Continue reading Zechariah, Gabriel, and Mary
An Awesome Resource for Understanding Scripture
Do you find yourself struggling with specific passages of the Gospels, and wondering how to understand them? Perhaps you wonder how Matthew 24 should be understood, for example. One of the most surefire ways of getting the interpretation right is to look at how centuries of early Christians understood the passage. But poring through hundreds… Continue reading An Awesome Resource for Understanding Scripture
Why Didn’t Jesus Heal More People During His Ministry?
Today’s Gospel is interesting. It’s Luke 5:12-16, and there’s a fascinating contrast: It happened that there was a man full of leprosy in one of the towns where Jesus was; and when he saw Jesus, he fell prostrate, pleaded with him, and said, “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.” Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him,… Continue reading Why Didn’t Jesus Heal More People During His Ministry?
The Glory of the Lord, and the Strange Gifts of the Magi
It’s two days after Latin-Rite Catholics celebrated Epiphany Sunday, and two days before Eastern-Rite Catholics celebrate Epiphany (they celebrate it on the Twelfth Day of Christmas, while we move the feast to Sunday), so it seems fitting to have a post celebrating it right here in the middle. The Epiphany celebrates the Magi’s arrival, coming… Continue reading The Glory of the Lord, and the Strange Gifts of the Magi
Pope Benedict on the “Dark” Passages of the Bible
How should Christians understand the so-called “dark” passages of the Bible? Even the Old Testament protagonists have some pretty shady and even disgusting doings. To take one obvious example, there’s Lot drunkenly impregnating his own daughters in Gen. 19:30-36, after earlier offering them to the would-be rapists of Sodom, as an attempt to distract them… Continue reading Pope Benedict on the “Dark” Passages of the Bible
Emmanuel, God With Us
In honor of Christmas, I wanted to share something I read recently that I’ve been really enriched by. It relates to a comment Bill asked the other day, This week we hear in the readings the old testament prophesy about the one to come being called Emmanuel. Then we hear the angel tell Joseph to name… Continue reading Emmanuel, God With Us
Leprosy and Legalism: Luke 17
Paul’s radical Gospel, that justification is through faith, and is not limited to the Jews alone, isn’t Paul’s. It’s Christ’s. And while I generally think of the Gospel of John as focusing more on the idea of justification than the Synoptics, one of my favorite passages on the issue is from Luke. Namely, Luke 17:11-19: Now… Continue reading Leprosy and Legalism: Luke 17
Are Catholics “Born Again”?
Long before Evangelicals were calling themselves “Born Again Christians” in the twentieth century, Catholics were referring to themselves that way. For example, the Latin name “Renatus” (the root of names like Renée) means “Born Again” – that is, the notion of being born again was significant enough that parents wanted to name their kids after it. Interestingly,… Continue reading Are Catholics “Born Again”?
Protestant Radio Station: Judgment Day is May 21st, 2011
I wouldn’t believe this if I hadn’t heard it, but out here in D.C., there’s a fringe Protestant radio station that combines some pretty standard programming (worship music, people talking about the Bible, etc.) with repeated claims that the world ends next year. The station, Family Radio, has this greeting visitors to their webpage: Just… Continue reading Protestant Radio Station: Judgment Day is May 21st, 2011