The sermon on the mount—Matthew tells us that Jesus spoke to the people on a mount, a big, high hill. Maybe that would remind Jewish listeners of Moses on the…
Through Paul’s letters, we learn that Luke was a companion and co-laborer with Paul, who calls Luke, “the beloved physician” (Col 4:14). Unlike every other writer in the Bible, Luke…
Mark presents what’s happening over these Sundays as a consecutive series of encounters, sharp arguments and stunning responses, all in the Temple, in the course of a single day, just…
Bethany is even closer to Jerusalem than Jericho, about two miles: a good walk. Each step brought Jesus closer to Jerusalem and all that would happen there, happen to him,…
There’s just enough distance between Jesus and his followers as they walk along that, though their words aren’t distinct to him, Jesus can tell they’re arguing. The church continues to…
General, later President Eisenhower and, a few years after, General Douglas MacArthur were both honored by ticker-tape parades. And no wonder—both had been at the strategic epicenter of bringing terrible,…
“Of what terrible things is the human heart the source! From self flow impurity, dishonesty, wickedness, knavery, deceit, lust, haughtiness, blasphemy, senselessness, and everything that is evil. These things are…
While my residence for many years was elsewhere, my hometown was Portland, Oregon. Should I say my hometown is Portland? I prefer was. The novelist wrote you can’t go home…
For the past two Sundays, our hearts have been turned—gloriously, graciously turned—to the observance and celebration of the biggest week of our church year. Back on March 17th, the last…
“On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked him, ‘Where do you want us to go and…