Census, Cradles, and the Cross

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of...

What the Resurrection Demonstrates

For Christians the resurrection is of supreme significance, but can we articulate why? I’m not so sure. Our first instinct may be to say that Jesus’ resurrection proves his divinity, but I think it in fact proves God’s divinity, which is rather redundant. If you think about it, a god being raised from the...

What’s So Good about Good Friday?

One semester in graduate school I taught Beginning Hebrew to master’s level students at seminary. On this same morning, Good Friday, I woke up in a cloudy mood, and I didn’t know why. At first I dismissed it as the last day of a long week, having to get up early enough to shower, put on a coat and tie, get...

Is Anybody Listening?

In the weeks leading up to Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem, there is a change in his demeanor.  There’s more sadness, he’s perhaps more confrontational yet less optimistic that people are going to get it.  The crowds dwindle, his disciples argue more, and the religious authorities seem to be painting a big...

The Cross as the Response to Evil

“They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” “Learn war.”  That’s an interesting phrase.  Seems we have, all of us. When I was little I just assumed that we would always be at war. ...

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