The second Temple in Jerusalem had only recently been completed by Herod the Great. It was an impressive building complex as well as the centre of Israel’s religious life. Yet, like the prophets of old, Jesus foretells the Temple’s destruction as an initial, impending form of divine judgement and the
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Jesus and his disciples have arrived in Jerusalem. Religious authorities have taken notice and attempt to trick Jesus into saying something controversial (and hopefully blasphemous) so they can have him detained and silenced. Jesus answers yet another potentially entrapping question in such a succinct way that his opponents dare not
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Best Picture Nominated Movie: Oppenheimer Resuming a Robertson-Wesley tradition, on Sunday, February 4, the sermon will look at the scripture reading of the day with an Oscar-nominated movie in mind. Both sources deal with powerful forces and how they are dealt with by key, historic individuals—Jesus and J. Robert Oppenheimer.
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The Gospel of Mark moves at a breakneck pace because of the urgency of what Jesus has to accomplish. A storm on the Sea of Galilee has deposited Jesus and his disciples in Gentile territory, a place faithful Jews like them would not have voluntarily ventured at that time. Not
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Jesus has just begun his public ministry and from the start it moves at a frenetic pace, reflecting the urgency of his message of God’s new world being at hand. Even as the words of his first Sabbath synagogue teaching are reverberating, it becomes apparent that a major need of
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Elizabeth and Zechariah prepare to receive one of the most precious gifts, the gift of a child. Zechariah was visited by an angel and he was terrified, but the angel tells him to not be afraid, for his prayers have been heard. Zechariah names the child John, and suddenly he
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Unexpectedly, miraculously, Persian King Darius takes pity on the Israelites who are captive in Babylon, a newly acquired part of his empire. Central to his setting them free is his direction, God’s direction, that they return to Jerusalem to resume worship in the Temple. Within the year, the Israelites are
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The Hebrew Bible affirms Josiah as one of very few good kings of ancient Israel. Alongside his desire to have a strong relationship with God which includes restoring the Temple to the worship of the God of Israel. Beyond this, Josiah is humble and actively concerned about the welfare of
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We often associate prophets with people who are enraged and who call out the people on what they are doing wrong. In the passage from the prophet Hosea we do not hear anger. Instead we hear compassion and the unending love of God. In this passage God is portrayed as
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