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If this whole argument, from start to finish, has not made my point abundantly clear, let me attempt to summarize. Based on the social context of the day, crucified leaders were failed leaders. Rome killed people for political agitation or … Continue reading
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The Roman empire killed Jesus on a cross. We must assume he was killed as a political agitator since that is why people were crucified in 1st century Palestine. The idea of resurrection derived, in the Jewish context, when foreign … Continue reading
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The Maccabean resistance movement resulted in a very short period of Jewish independence from the Seleucid empire. More importantly, it culminated in the establishment of the Hasmonean dynasty. That is, Judas Maccabeus’ brother Simon established a monarchical throne over Judea. … Continue reading
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With the historical context of the crucifixion fresh in our minds, we turn to the context surrounding resurrection. Hope for resurrection always occurred in the face of imperial dominance. The Hebrew Bible contains many figurative uses of people being raised … Continue reading
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For those of you who cannot make it to my upcoming sermons, I will be posting my written notes in short sections as I write the sermons. Here is part 1 about how and why Jesus died. The cross was … Continue reading
The model for Lent comes out of the stories in the Synoptic Gospels about Jesus spending 40 days in the wilderness being tempted (Matt. 4.1-11; Mark 1.12-13; Luke 4.1-13). During those 40 days, Satan tempts Jesus. In Matthew’s and Luke’s … Continue reading
Lent began yesterday. I attended my first ever Ash Wednesday service with a real church! I read some “confessions” and had an ashen cross painted on my head. It was very nice. Some twenty people, or maybe less, were there. … Continue reading
messes of ben 