The Gospels contain a lot of stories about religious leaders trying to trap or test Jesus. Today’s Gospel contains one of the most famous of these, the question of which commandment on the Law of Moses is the most important. But after answering (in a way that is crucially important for us, but was boring … Continue reading Greater Than David? A Reflection on Matthew 22.34-46
One of the consistent themes that emerged this summer in our series on Romans was the continuity in the ancient world between the language of politics and the language of religion. Both were ultimately about power and allegiance, making it difficult to discern how much the New Testament was intentionally critiquing Imperial propaganda, and how … Continue reading Let the People Tremble: A Reflection on Psalm 99
There are few passages more relevant to Christian life than the so-called Hymn of Humility in Philippians 2. So imagine my surprise when I discovered this week that, while I have cited it no fewer than seventeen times in the almost nine years of this blog, I’ve never dedicated a post to the passage in … Continue reading The Joy of Humility: A Reflection on Philippians 2.1-13
The more I see so much of public-facing Christianity descend into madness, the more I’ve appreciated Martin Luther’s distinction between a theology of glory and the theology of the cross. The former is triumphant and triumphalist and sees God’s blessing revealed in power, success, and wealth. The latter understands that as Christians there can be … Continue reading Genuine Glory: A Reflection on Matthew 17.1-9
In the Western liturgical calendar, the Sunday after Epiphany commemorates the Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. It's an event that is treated as a defining moment for Jesus in the Gospels, but it isn't one that is easy for us to understand. Today, rather than writing a new post, … Continue reading Resources for the Baptism of our Lord
