Plot twists force us to rethink everything in light of what's been true from the beginning. This is what makes plot twists so interesting. In the prologue of John's Gospel, Jesus is the "Word" that changes everything. He is the new twist to the plot that redefines everything. »more
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Plot twists force us to rethink everything in light of what's been true from the beginning. This is what makes plot twists so interesting. In the prologue of John's Gospel, Jesus is the "Word" that changes everything. He is the new twist to the plot that redefines everything. »more
No matter how prepared we think we are, we are never quite prepared for the shock of resurrection. We must not domesticate the event. It is wild and untamed, unforeseen and unexpected. It casts its shadow (or better, light) on all that precedes it. Easter should always come as a surprise. Yet it is the only event that makes sense of all that Jesus taught. »more
"God created man in his own image. And man, being a gentleman, returned the favor." It is true that God has made us in the divine image. But returning the favor by making God in our own image is not an expression of gentlemanly manners. It is our shame, not our glory. We are made in God's image; God is not made in ours. »more
After the masses abandon Jesus because of his "hard" teaching, Jesus turns to his twelve disciples and offers one of the most touching, heartbreaking, and haunting questions of his life: "Do you also wish to go away?" What do you do when Jesus' teaching is hard to understand? Can you love the God you don't understand? »more
Though Mark's abrupt, awkward ending offers no closure and no happily-ever-afters, it still offers good news. Jesus is alive. All is forgiven. A new start is possible. Jesus goes before us. If we want to see him, we, like the disciples, must also renew our commitment to follow him. »more
Orthodoxy shows why what we believe cannot be explained but can only be prayed. Orthodoxy is worship. It is the best human expression of divine mysteries. It attempts to preserve the mystery while simultaneously refusing to explain it away. Thus, orthodox belief is not some sort of easy way out of intellectual hard work; heresy is more often the easier option. »more
Where is Jesus? The short answer: Heaven.
Unfortunately, our preconceptions of heaven get in the way of understanding what the early church meant in its confession of Jesus' ascension to heaven. Too often, we focus on the question: Where is heaven? A better question is: What is heaven? Jesus is not "somewhere in a galaxy, far, far away." »more
In the face of the depths of human depravity, Jesus prays, “Father, forgive them.” Why should God forgive? What is the reason Jesus offers? The reason he gives is that we need forgiveness because we are ignorant: “for they do not know what they are doing.” This is amazing grace, amazing love – radical forgiveness in the face of radical sin. »more
Authentic Christian spirituality is fully human, fully embodied. In our culture, human limitations are often perceived as obstacles to unhindered union with God. On the contrary, it is precisely in and through our humanity that we experience God. Christian spirituality is not an attempt to escape our humanity but to embrace God in and through it. »more
When we think of a "perfect" or "sinless" person, we usually think of someone who is “holier-than-thou” and snobbish. But in Jesus we discover that the only one who is truly “holier-than-thou” is wholly for us. His holiness is that of otherly love – love of another kind! His perfection does not make him less-than-human, but rather, truly human. »more
Mary is “an ordinary woman… with an extraordinary vocation (being mother to the Messiah) who learned to follow this Messiah Jesus through the ordinary struggles that humans face.” Scot McKnight argues that Protestants should not fear that focusing on Mary will lead to error, for “the real Mary always leads us to Jesus.” »more
Jesus was able to be compassionate precisely because he fully embraced and expressed joy, sorrow, anger, and fear. As one fully immersed in the human experience, Jesus was profoundly moved by the sufferings and troubles of others. His deep emotional experiences produced a tender heart of compassion. »more
We can imagine John rubbing his eyes in disbelief. His expectations have been completely overturned. He expected a fierce, conquering lion – he sees a bleeding lamb! It is the little lamb, Fluffy, who “has conquered” (Rev. 5:5). God’s conquering Messiah does not triumph through violence, bloodshed, or political or military force, but rather, through self-giving love. »more
Jesus is perceived by the religious authorities to be usurping God's role. Forgiveness is God's prerogative. What gives Jesus the right to forgive sins - especially when he oversteps God's law and rejects religious tradition. Who does he think he is? »more
Evangelicals have succeeded in doing the impossible: we have domesticated Jesus. We have sanitized him and made him "safe." We have reduced him to a mascot for mere social etiquette. We have removed his edges and have censored his life in such a way that we are left with a respectable, nice, delicate, agreeable, presentable Jesus. But if we are not following the Jesus of the Gospels, who then are we following? »more
Without the humanity of Jesus - not just during his earthly ministry, but now in his heavenly ministry - there is no Christian salvation. Through the incarnation, God unites humanity to deity. This union is not temporary. It is permanent! Through Jesus' present glorified humanity we share in the life and love - the divine dance - of the Triune God. »more
When all three aspects of atonement (Christus victor, vicarious sacrifice, and empowering exemplar) are integrated together, our deepest problems - oppression by evil powers, the guilt and stain of human sin, and the ignorance, despair, and meaningless that arise from human limitations - are fully and finally addressed. »more
It is through loss, failure, shame, and humiliation that Christ conquers. This is the devil's burden - no matter what he unleashes, God absorbs it and uses it for good. Not even the cross - the most inhuman and unloving torture invention ever devised - can thwart God's love and gracious purpose for us! »more
The gospel of Jesus Christ is "the greatest story ever told." If this is the case, why then does it begin in such a boring way? The first few paragraphs consist of a lengthy genealogy covering over 2000 years and 40 generations. Why? »more
God has said "yes" to humanity in the person of Christ. This is good news of great joy to all people! God has exalted humanity to the highest position through his union with humanity in Christ. »more
In spite of the wide diversity in early Christianity, the early
Christians were united in viewing Israel's story as having reached its climax
in Jesus. »more
Christ's work on the cross impacts the entire cosmos - not simply individuals! »more
Want to understand the Gospel according to Matthew better? Here is an overview of his story... »more
The Jesus of the Scriptures is anything but predictable! »more
