The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. — Matthew 1:1 It’s not by accident that Matthew’s Gospel is the first of four in the New Testament. This is by design. The book of Matthew—as the first book of the New Testament—is intended Read more…
Jesus went through hell for you to be free. Accept the gift this lenten season. During the season of lent we reflect on the suffering of Christ that led to his death, burial, and ultimately his resurrection and ascension. Christians traditionally deprive themselves through fasting during this season so as Read more…
One of the most mind-blowing, inexplicable aspects of the Christmas-commemorating incarnation of God in Jesus is that the mysteriously terrifying yet fascinating holiness of God is wrapped up in innocent, gentle, weak human flesh. The terrifying holiness of God has been translated into a baby in a manger. The Old Read more…
At Christmas time we celebrate that God became incarnate in Jesus Christ and walked amongst us. This is an amazing, world-altering idea. God in flesh. For years before Jesus, if you wanted to be in God’s presence you would have to go to the temple. The temple was the normative Read more…
God is more interested in your holiness than your happiness. This goes against the grain of common culture. Common culture tells us to pursue happiness. Pursue your dreams. Aim high. Shoot for the stars. Do what makes you happy. Only pursue a career that will leave you fulfilled. “Do what Read more…
Not long ago I visited the State Tretyakov art Gallery in Moscow. On display were hundreds of works of art ranging from Ivan Aivazovsky’s (1817–1900) masterful seascapes, to Orest Kipreksy’s (1782–1836) famous portrait of Alexander Pushkin, Alexander Gerasimov’s (1881–1963) depictions of soviet realism, and Vassily Maximov’s (1844–1911), paintings of late Read more…
We cannot accept the Gift of Christmas without first humbling ourselves. It’s hard keeping the balance between the technicalities and complexities of theology with the reality that the mysteries of God are comprehensible even to a child. I believe the resolve to this tension is the reality that the Holy Read more…
Serious Christians take the Bible seriously. Taking the Bible seriously is a dangerous thing. It’s dangerous because there are things in the Bible that are hard to understand. There are also commands to Christians in the Bible that are hard to carry-out (see Matt. 5:44 and 5:48 just as two examples). Read more…
Things were a political mess when Jesus was born. The Romans, who controlled Palestine at the time of Jesus birth, were constantly pushing back against the subtle current of Jewish subversion and insubordination to Roman rule. There was nothing that Rome could do about the fact that the Jews were Read more…
Part of Christ’s priestly role is to tend the lampstands. The OT priest would trim the lamps, remove the wick and old oil, refill the lamps with fresh oil, and relight those that had gone out. Likewise, Christ tends the ecclesial lampstands by commending, correcting, exhorting, and warning (see chs. Read more…