In John 20, right after his resurrection, Mary Magdalene is at the garden tomb, weeping. The past few days have been horrible, with Jesus’ arrest, beating, and crucifixion. Now his body is missing. As we learned in the previous post, Jesus is alive and meets Mary there in the garden, simply saying her name, “Mary.”Continue reading “How Jesus’ resurrection brings new life to female voices – John 20, Part 3”
Tag Archives: Gospel of John
The moment that changes everything – John 20, Part 2
Mary Magdalene has been having a difficult morning. What happens next is nothing short of world-changing. “Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at theContinue reading “The moment that changes everything – John 20, Part 2”
A confusing beginning to Jesus’ resurrection – John 20, Part 1
We make a big deal about Jesus’ resurrection on Easter. But I wonder how much you have thought about the resurrection since Easter? Do you think about the resurrection much? I suspect most of us, me included, think about it around Easter, and maybe every now and then when a song mentions it. But IContinue reading “A confusing beginning to Jesus’ resurrection – John 20, Part 1”
Why Paul was out of his mind – John 20, Preview
Imagine you are sitting in a church worship services, and the preacher is preaching. Suddenly someone stands up, interrupts the preacher, and says out loud, “You are out of your mind!” That would be dramatic, wouldn’t it? That’s never happened to me, but it did once to the Apostle Paul. Paul preached a lot. WeContinue reading “Why Paul was out of his mind – John 20, Preview”
Christianity is supposed to be cross-shaped – John 19, Part 5
The cross is the shape of Christianity. I’m not talking about a symbol that we wear on necklaces or tattoos. I’m about how the cross should shape our lives, our choices, our actions. Jesus calls his disciples to die to themselves, take up their cross and follow him. We follow him, we do what heContinue reading “Christianity is supposed to be cross-shaped – John 19, Part 5”
Penal Substitution is inadequate to understanding Jesus’ death – John 19, Part 4
Why did Jesus have to die? Isn’t this a strange way for God to save the world? Isn’t this a strange way for God to make a way to have relationship with us? Why did he do this? Why become one of us, live 33 years to show us abundant flourishing way of life, andContinue reading “Penal Substitution is inadequate to understanding Jesus’ death – John 19, Part 4”
“Born to die” is an inadequate way to describe Jesus – John 19, Part 3
For Jesus the end has come. His death is now minutes away. Is this what he was born to do? Look at the description of his final minutes in John 19, verses 28-30, “Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, ‘I am thirsty.’ A jarContinue reading ““Born to die” is an inadequate way to describe Jesus – John 19, Part 3″
How you can care for others when you are the one in pain – John 19, Part 2
This morning the news reported a story about two boys hugging each other as they looked around their homes destroyed by the fire in Hawaii. When we’re in pain, like the boys, it can be very difficult to think about anyone but ourselves and our pain. Jesus, like the boys, shows us that it isContinue reading “How you can care for others when you are the one in pain – John 19, Part 2”
What it looks like to focus on God in the middle of our pain – John 19, Part 1
A few years ago one of the pastors in my local ministerium of churches told us that he had been in the mall looking for a gift for his wife. He walked up to a jewelry counter at one of the department stores. As he was waiting in line, he couldn’t help but overhear aContinue reading “What it looks like to focus on God in the middle of our pain – John 19, Part 1”
What does a cross tattoo mean? – John 19, Preview
Imagine you get a new neighbor. You watch them unload their possessions from the moving truck into the home. Wanting to make a good first impression, you bring them a “Welcome to the Neighborhood” gift basket the next day. There on their front porch as you are chatting, you notice they have a cross tattooContinue reading “What does a cross tattoo mean? – John 19, Preview”
Engaging Scripture 