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The plot to arrest Jesus has been imminent for some time. Now it reaches its climax. The account falls into two parts: first the machinations of Caiaphas and the chief priests, and then the complicity of Judas. Caiaphas and Judas: what a combination! The high priest and the... Read More →

So now, seated like a rabbi to teach, Jesus gathers his disciples around him privately and speaks to them about the future. In the middle distance is the judgment at the fall of Jerusalem. In the far distance is the judgment at the end of the world. They are connected. The one... Read More →

In this story we have a generous king who gave a marriage feast for his Son. The meaning of this parable is clear. God has provided the feast of the kingdom. It is the wedding feast for his Son. The invitation goes out far and wide. If you reject it, you miss the party. If you... Read More →

What is Easter? And why do Christians place such a high importance on this holiday? Easter commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the tomb, occurring three days after His crucifixion. It fulfills the prophecy of the Messiah’s persecution, death for our sins, and... Read More →

The suffering Son of Man, who comes to Jerusalem to give his life as a ransom for many, enters the capital not as a messianic figure on a warhorse but, as Zechariah had anticipated in his prophecy centuries before, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. Read More →

Jesus now leaves Galilee for the last time, and the Pharisees come to test him on a hot contemporary issue, divorce. They were out to trap Jesus in front of the large crowds that followed him.  Jesus refused to be drawn. Instead of talking primarily about divorce, he goes behind... Read More →

If we were to stop and think what was most important in church relationships, I do not think many Christians would come up with this quality: humility. ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom?’ ask the disciples. Christians are often preoccupied with that question. And, in sharp... Read More →

For a final time during Saul’s lifetime the narrator shows the high qualities of David and the deficiencies of Saul. Instead of fighting against his own people, as Achish’s invitation almost forced him to do, David became involved in a more appropriate battle against Israel’s... Read More →

The text starting from 1 Samuel 27 is called the “Accession Narrative” because it shows the downfall of Saul but the accession of David to the throne. Strange things go on in this narrative. David moves down with the Philistines and lives with them. He becomes a servant of the... Read More →

During their tense encounter in the cave, David and Saul showed themselves to be polar opposites: Saul was concerned with his reputation, his name, and his kingdom, while David was able to rest in the sovereignty and steadfast love of his God. David stands as a model for all of... Read More →