Contrary to the passive, unobtrusive figure we tend to learn about in Sunday School, Jesus was often just the opposite. More accurately, this man was fearless. Consider the following quote: "Jesus never backed away from a conflict. He took on hecklers and scoffers of every stripe. Once, he stood down a mob intent on stoning … Continue reading Jesus Was Not “Meek and Mild.”
Philip Yancey
When We Look More Like Pharisees Than Jesus
A Brief Biblical Principle from our lesson on John 8:1-11: NOTE: I am well aware of the debate as to whether or not this particular passage was in the autographs/originals when written by the hand of John. I did cover this topic at length in class. I will address it in a blog later on. … Continue reading When We Look More Like Pharisees Than Jesus
The Prodigal Son: A Modern-Day Telling
The Return of the Prodigal Son; Rembrandt, 1669 My favorite chapter in all of scripture is Luke 15. In a trilogy of parables, Jesus concludes with the story of the lost sons. Philip Yancey, in his award-winning book, What's So Amazing About Grace, tells the story of the younger lost son in modern context. Yancey's … Continue reading The Prodigal Son: A Modern-Day Telling
The Alarming Level of Biblical Illiteracy: Who Jesus Was, and Was Not
I teach and speak on this topic often. Sure, non-believers don't know a lot about the Bible. But, truth be told, neither do the majority of believers. It's heart-breaking. While the cursory reader of scripture envisions Jesus merely as a meek guy with great hair tenderly holding a lamb and visiting with children, the gospels … Continue reading The Alarming Level of Biblical Illiteracy: Who Jesus Was, and Was Not
Bethlehem Happened for One Reason: Calvary
From Philip Yancey's award-winning book, "The Jesus I Never Knew": "When the Jesuit missionary Matteo Ricci went to China in the sixteenth century, he brought along samples of religious art to illustrate the Christian story for people who had never heard it. The Chinese readily adopted portraits of the Virgin Mary holding her child, but … Continue reading Bethlehem Happened for One Reason: Calvary