Preachrblog

  Is there any greater parable of Jesus than that of the Prodigal Son?  The whole chapter of Luke 15 is a treasure.  In it Jesus tells several parables on this same theme – of that which is lost and later found – the Parable of the Lost Sheep, and the Parable of the Lost Coin.  Then we get to this one, also called the Parable of the Lost Son.  Some have therefore, tongue-in-cheek, called Luke 15 the “Lost Chapter of Luke.”  Jesus actually speaks this parable against the Pharisees, who were upset that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors.  That Jesus would receive such people and even go so far as to eat with them!  It was a shock to the Pharisees, who wouldn’t give such sinners the time of day, let alone sit down with them for a meal, share fellowship, and treat them as equals.  That might pollute their self-righteous sense of holiness.  It might give the wrong impression that they condoned sin and tax collecting.  And it m...

  So far our Midweek services have considered especially those individuals who were close to Jesus in the passion account.   First, Judas, who was close enough to dip bread in the same bowl as Jesus, one of the 12 and treasurer of the group, but also the betrayer.   Then there were Peter, James and John, the inner circle of the inner circle, with a front row seat to the Transfiguration, but also to Jesus’ intimate prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane.   Close to Jesus, about a stone’s throw away, but still overcome with sleep.   Jesus’ prayers and their slumber would be interrupted however when Judas came with the soldiers who arrested Jesus.   And quickly the disciples scattered, and Jesus was bound and taken to the palace of the High Priest to be put on trial.   Here our series picks up tonight, with the High Priest, and his “close questioning” of Jesus. To be sure, this wasn’t a fair trial.   It wasn’t even legal or legitimate, as the law sai...

Charles Dickens' famous novel “A Tale of Two Cities” begins with these words, of which you probably recognize the first part at least:   It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way.   Today, on this First Sunday in Lent, let us consider “A Tale of Two Adams” as we accompany Jesus into his wilderness temptation, and as we prepare ourse l ves for th is penitential season.   Of course we’ve all heard of the First Adam, he was the first man, after all.  He was created by God in his Father’s image.  Made from the dust of the ground and into his nostrils God breathed the very breath of life.  God...

It might strike you funny that we practice this very visible ceremony – the imposition of ashes – when we have the words of Jesus warning us, “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven” He goes on to unpack that general principle with further commentary on how we pray, how we fast, how we give. It’s not that praying, fasting, or giving are to be avoided.  In fact these are all pious practices that Jesus assumes the Christian will do.  These are all helpful Lenten disciplines, but the key is this:  do not do them “in order to be seen by other people”. Jesus is teaching us the danger of show-boating our faith.  Warning us against making a display of our righteousness.  And it’s a well-taken point. For everything we do, even as Christians, even the good and helpful and holy practices of the faith – can be a playground for the sinful nature to pervert an...

So far Epiphany has presented us with various pictures of Jesus as the True Bridegroom, the Holy One of God, the one who preaches with authority, casts out demons and heals the sick.  He’s the one who calls disciples to follow him and calls us to love even our enemies.  He’s the savior of the nations and the glory of Israel.  He’s the Redeemer of Jerusalem and the King of the Jews shown by a star and worshipped by sages.  He is, at his Baptism, declared to be God’s beloved Son, with whom the Father is well-pleased. Now we reach the pinnacle, the mountain top of the Epiphany season, and we see Jesus transfigured.  Changed.  His appearance all bright and shiny and glorious.  Moses and Elijah appear.  Even the voice of the Father thunders forth from heaven. I remember hearing this story as a child, and being captivated as I imagined it.  Who can blame poor Peter for not knowing what to say when confronted with it all – the glory, the great men o...