Scarsellino (1550-1620) "Driving the Merchants from the Temple" The four Gospels tell of Jesus Christ clearing out moneychangers from the temple in Jerusalem. The Synoptic Gospels1 set the temple cleansing after the triumphal entry into Jerusalem at the end of His public ministry (Matt. 21:1-27; Mk. 11:1-11, 15-19; Lk. 19:28-48). However, the Gospel of John … Continue reading Just How Many Times Did Jesus Cleanse the Temple?
Did Jesus Teach Us to Hate Kin and Self?
Jesus Christ said, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple” (Lk. 14:26).1 At first this saying is perplexing. How could Jesus tell us to hate? Does not this contradict everything … Continue reading Did Jesus Teach Us to Hate Kin and Self?
Traveling Through the Valley of the Shadow of Death
I was once driving on the 405-freeway heading through Westminster, California, cruising with the flow of traffic, when I noticed in the rearview mirror a car moving at highspeed and weaving through the lanes. Suddenly, another car makes an unexpected lane change and the speeder swerves to avoid the collision, but loses control and spins … Continue reading Traveling Through the Valley of the Shadow of Death
Why Pilate Pardoned Barabbas but Condemned Jesus?
Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea, sanctioned the execution of Jesus Christ. At the same time, the governor set free a seditious murderer named Barabbas. Why did Pilate allow the crucifixion of an innocent man and the acquittal of the guilty man? Why was Barabbas let go? The Jewish Sanhedrin condemned Jesus for blasphemy … Continue reading Why Pilate Pardoned Barabbas but Condemned Jesus?
What If We Expected God to Show Up and He Did?
If anyone has ever expected God to show up, well God has done just that. All our expectations about God are fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ. Recently I got into a discussion about N.T. Wright. A friend pointed me to a Trevin Wax review of Wright’s Simply Good News. Our discussion was really … Continue reading What If We Expected God to Show Up and He Did?