December 19, 2022
December 25 | Discovery
How can the Magi be examples to you for how to radically pursue Jesus?
Articles for tag: King Of The Jews
April 11, 2022
April 17 | Application
If you survey a crowd about their favorite flowers, crocuses probably won’t make the list. They aren’t tall like sunflowers, elegant like orchids, or fragrant like hyacinths and lilacs. . . .
February 14, 2022
A President’s Faith
Jesus fought for our freedom, as president Calvin Coolidge described, “not with the sword, but with the cross.”
April 1, 2021
Pilate’s Guide on How to Miss the Truth
Most of us think we are unbiased in our quest for truth. We like to think of ourselves as impartial evaluators of data who seek to arrive at the best decision. But the truth is, most of the time, we desire a specific conclusion, and we search the data in such a way that helps us end up there. We overlook red flags and yellow lights. We come up with excuses and unreasonable explanations. And we usually don’t even realize we are doing it. We think we are looking for the best answer, when in reality we are looking for
March 22, 2021
Watched, Scoffed, and Mocked
Luke mentioned three groups of skeptical witnesses to Jesus execution. None in those three groups of people understood that Jesus chose to die willingly. Nor did they imagine they could be freed from their lethal bondage because of his sacrifice.
September 21, 2020
Save Us!
By Stuart Powell Each of the Gospels rushes through Jesus’ earthly ministry until they come to the cross. Then they slow down the narrative, bringing us the full impact of Jesus’ passion. Luke shared the details of a conversation Jesus had with the two criminals as they hung on their crosses on Good Friday. One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting
June 14, 2020
Did Jesus Engage in Political Debate?
By Mark E. Moore Did Jesus engage in political debate? Well, that depends on your definition of political. I’m not trying to be clever or coy, just clear (an attribute desperately lacking in modern political debate). The word political comes from the Greek word politeuomai which means “to live as a citizen” (Acts 23:1; Philippians 1:27). It had to do with social engagement in the public sphere. According to this technical definition, to be political, Jesus would have to meet these four criteria: (a) Be a public figure—his ideas or vision would need to be declared publicly rather than merely
March 15, 2016
Missing God
By Mark A. Taylor Being a soldier can be boring. Especially when you”re far from home, in a dry, dirty, dusty place. When the assignment is to keep order among a stubborn people who resent you and all you stand for, the duty is all the more distasteful. And so, when a strange peasant called a king is assigned to your watch, who could blame you for having a little fun? Nothing about him looks like royalty, that”s for sure. So you find some thorns and make him a crown. Your buddy has a robe he took from some unlucky
September 24, 2014
Living with the Tension
By Jim Tune Jesus Christ turned conventional views of power upside down. Jesus was remarkably indifferent to those who held political power. He had no desire to replace Caesar with his apostles. He gave civil authority its due, rebuking both the zealots and Peter for using the sword. This seems to have infuriated the religious right of his day. In an effort to discredit Jesus, the Herodians tried trapping him over the issue of allegiance to political authority. I am mystified by the Evangelical obsession with power and influence. A made-in-America Jesus seems more concerned with nationalism, patriotism, and power
December 11, 2005
A Junky Christmas
“Treasures or trinkets—it’s all in the eyes of the beholders.” This Christmas reflection looks at the Magi’s gifts and reminds us that trinkets become treasure as symbols of adoration, gratitude, and love.
