New Light on Jesus’ Last Week, Part I
As we read the story of Passion week, we often bump into scenes that don’t quite make sense. A few pieces of historical data can shed a lot of light on this story.
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New Light on Jesus’ Last Week, Part II
The people who called for Jesus’ crucifixion were not the same crowd as those who hailed him as Messiah. Those who taunted him were corrupt priests and Roman soldiers. Jesus was as popular with the masses at his death as he was at his triumphal entry.
New Light on Jesus’ Last Week, Part III
Part III: Prophecies Fulfilled [Start at Part I] During the week of the Passion God was fully in control, allowing evil men to put to death his righteous Son. Even the details that we may not have known are actually part of what was prophesied about the coming of the Messiah, and they show […]
Two Ways to Learn about Passover in March
If you live in Michigan, I’ll be speaking two times about Passover in the next few weeks, and both events are open to attend. See the church website links to register beforehand. If you’re not near enough to come, please enjoy a “A Taste of Passover,” a pdf chapter excerpt from Sitting at the Feet […]
Why Does Your Creed have Cows in It?
When I first read the Shema, the Jewish profession of faith, I assumed it was their Apostle’s Creed. I was shocked because I was looking for doctrines like the “communion of saints” and “forgiveness of sins,” not mundane realities like grass, fields and cows.
Dayenu Wisdom for Holy Week
If you’ve ever been part of a traditional Passover, you’ve sung a song called Dayenu (die-AY-nu). You may think of it as an upbeat children’s song, but its actually an ancient liturgy that brims over with profound wisdom. The earliest known copy dates from before 900 AD, and some scholars think it’s far older than […]
A Surprising Idea in Isaiah 53
As often as you’ve read the prophecy of Jesus’ suffering in Isaiah 53, you’ll be shocked at the implications of one widely overlooked line.
Get Ready for Passover by Making Some Mudbricks
Next week we’ll be beginning Lent, which looks forward to the Passover/Resurrection Day. Passover, of course, is the celebration of God’s redemption of Israel from slavery in Egypt. I think I’ve found the perfect activity for the season–making mudbricks like the ancient Israelites did in Egypt! Today Biblical Archaeology Review gave instructions on how to […]
A Modern Day Passover Sacrifice
We talk about Jesus as the true lamb of Passover, but moderners have a hard time imagining what that means. We have no mental imagery of what a Temple sacrifice ceremony was like. We know that the disciples joined crowds of other worshipers in the Temple to sacrifice a lamb, which they roasted and ate […]
Why Leave Out the Leavening?
Yesterday night, Jews around the world sat down to celebrate the Passover Seder meal. At the same time, they also began the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which lasts seven days. Still today Jewish people make a great effort to observe the commandment to remove all leaven from their homes and eat only unleavened food for […]
The Dust Bowl and the Plagues
Have you ever wondered what it was like during the plagues? It seems beyond imagining to endure multiple waves of destruction, as the Egyptians did. Hail wipes out your crops. Disease destroys all your cattle. And on and on, ten times. This came to mind several times as I watched a new PBS documentary by […]
The Night of Watching
The “Night of Watching” (Leil Shimurim – ley-EEL shi-mur-EEM) is the name of the night after the Passover feast, when God redeemed Israel by slaying the firstborn sons of Egypt (Exodus 12:42). In Jewish tradition, it is said that “just as God redeemed his people on this night, so he will one day redeem them […]