Dear Partner in Preaching, Here’s my brief take this vignette from Luke’s larger narrative about the resurrection appearances of Jesus: if you don’t have serious doubts about the Easter story, you’re not paying attention. Seriously. I mean, just read the story. Actually, all of the stories. For while the four gospels have many interesting variations in their account of Jesus’ resurrection, they are absolutely consistent on one thing: no one believes the good news of Jesus’ resurrection when they first hear it. No one. And that includes Jesus’ own disciples, the ones who were closest to him and spent the most time with him. In...
John 19:39-40
posted by DJL
Nicodemus, who had at first come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds. They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, according to the burial custom of the Jews. We haven’t seen Nicodemus for quite...
John 19:38
posted by DJL
After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission; so he came and removed his body. Joseph of Arimathea is described in each of the four...
Faith, Science, and the Wonder of the Universe
posted by DJL
I have next to nothing to say about the four-minute video clip below…except that IT IS SO COOL! Really. It comes from Oprah Winfrey’s SuperSoul Sunday program and, whatever you may think of Oprah’s theology or spirituality or whatever, you’ve got to admit she’s got style. 🙂 And resources. And so it’s a wonderfully made short film that raises questions about the relationship between faith and science. And here I’ll be frank: I’ve never quite understood those who see these two in stark opposition. And that includes combatants on both sides. Science is nothing to be afraid of, and faith is not...
John 18:24-27
posted by DJL
Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They asked him, “You are not also one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had...