In fulfillment of the prophecy spoken by Zechariah (9:9), Jesus rides into Jerusalem on the colt of a donkey on Palm Sunday. Jubilant crowds wave palm branches and throw down their cloaks before him, shouting, “Hosanna!” Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash Last Sunday’s sermon at my local church highlighted the mixed nature of the crowd that day. No doubt, many of the people Jesus has taught and healed are present, gratefully singing his praises. But so are jealous religious leaders, grinding their teeth and seeking an opportunity to get rid of Continue Reading
The Resurrected Jesus Revealed Himself to Women First—and That’s Good News for Everyone (Let Me Tell You How my Jesus Treats Women – Part 2)
Jesus was no ordinary rabbi. While other religious leaders avoided women in public, especially those considered unclean, sinful, or non-Jewish, Jesus had no problem talking to women. He healed women, affirmed women, and even taught women. Photo by Bruno van der Kraan on Unsplash Mary, the Disciple at Jesus’ Feet (Luke 10) When Jesus’ hospitable friend Martha gets overwhelmed with kitchen duties and complains that her sister Mary should be helping her serve him, Jesus responds with a compassionate course correction, “Mary has chosen the better part. Continue Reading
Let Me Tell You How My Jesus Treats Women – Part 1
In Jesus’ time, women were considered the legal property of their fathers or husbands. They lacked education and typically couldn’t read. They lacked legal rights and were not considered valid witnesses in a court of law. On top of all this, women were held in suspicion by religious men fussing and preening over their own personal moral reputations It was not a great time to be a woman—but Jesus changed everything. He consistently broke social barriers for women, restored their God-given human dignity, and radically included them in his kingdom. A Brave, Desperate, Faith-filled Continue Reading
How to Bring the Kingdom of God to Earth
Lately, I’ve been reading and watching the renowned theologian N.T. Wright as much as my brain will let me without exploding. I’m pondering the implications of what Jesus meant when he told us to pray, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Some would have us believe God’s kingdom comes when Christians gain positions of political power, take over cultural spheres of influence, Christianize entire nations, and rule society for Jesus. But consider what Jesus says in John 18:36, “My kingdom is not of this world,” Jesus said. “If my kingdom were of this Continue Reading