Study

Reading Time: 4 minutes

This lesson text is highly metaphoric. The main metaphor concerns a master and servant. But under that big-picture metaphor are at least eight others that make this text quite visual . . .

Reading Time: 4 minutes

This is one of the few parables where Jesus inserts “God” into a secular story. God called the man a fool (not an atheist but someone who has no moral compass). Death is a great wake-up call. . . .

Reading Time: 4 minutes

This parable began in reality, for there really was a road that went from Jerusalem to Jericho referred to as “The Bloody Way.” But for a Samaritan to help a Jew on that road? That was the point at which the true-to-life parable veered into fictional analogy. . . .

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Many of the religious leaders of Jesus’ day failed to rejoice when the hurting were helped. The religion police were more interested in procedures than people.

Reading Time: 4 minutes

“Holy Week,” as it is called, is a demonstration of perfect love. Even while enduring the cross, sustaining the solemnity of the tomb and experiencing the victory of the resurrection, Jesus continued to love and serve others.

Reading Time: 4 minutes

The woman poured out her repentance in several ways—weeping (in contrition) over Jesus’ feet, letting her hair down so she could use her “glory” as a towel, kissing his feet, and pouring expensive perfume on them.

Reading Time: 4 minutes

He “touched the bier” (somewhat like a casket). This made Jesus unclean. but he immediately destroyed the evidence of uncleanness by raising the young man from the dead. People must have been shocked. . . .