Six days before his last supper with his disciples Jesus visited Bethany, a small town just outside of Jerusalem (John 12:1). While he was there his friends Lazarus, Mary, and Martha "made him a supper" (12:2), and hosted it at the house of Simon the Leper (Matthew 26:6ff). Lazarus' family had been close friends of the…
New Year’s Musings—Passover
A new year has come; and it is common for us to look forward into the new year with expectancy. Many of us see the new year as a time to make a fresh start of things, to better ourselves, and to get rid of bad habits that we may have in our life. This…
The Coniah Problem
After David became king of Israel, the Lord made a very special promise to him: "And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for…
The Nail of Jael
The history contained in the book of Judges was one of great turmoil for the nation of Israel. During this time many foreign invading countries came to fight against Israel, and Canaan was no exception to this. In response to this invasion God raised up the prophetess Deborah and the military leader Barak to fight…
The King’s Crossing
David was without doubt one of the greatest kings of Israel. During his reign the kingdoms of Israel and Judah were reunited into one realm (2 Samuel 5:1-5); and his forty years as king marked a sort of Golden Age for the nation that only grew and came into its fullness under his son Solomon.…
I Am Barabbas
When we look at the crucifixion of Jesus, and the trial that led up to it, we see that Pilate did not really want to condemn Jesus. When the mob brought the Jesus to the govenor, Pilate questioned Jesus. "And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,…
Her Husband
In my opinion, one of the most beautiful verses in the entire Bible is Hosea 2:16 And it shall be at that day, saith the LORD, that thou shalt call me Ishi; and thou shalt call me no more Baali. This verse is amazing. But before we can understand it in all of its depth…
The Altar
When the children of Israel had just come out of Egypt God commanded Moses to build a tabernacle. This tent was supposed to be a place where God's presence could come and live among his people. God told Moses, "let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them" (Exodus 25:8). This tabernacle…
Better Blood
After Adam and Eve fell into sin, they were driven out of the garden. "And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived" (Genesis 4:1), and gave birth to two sons: Cain and Abel. "And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground" (4:2). In the process of time…
Lectionary 