Immediately after feeding a multitude with five loaves and two fish, Jesus makes the disciples get into a boat. “Make” is almost too gentle a word. The Greek verb suggests that Jesus compelled them, constrained them, practically forced them into the boat. This is not a pleasant invitation to take an evening cruise. Jesus puts […]

My preaching professor in seminary told my class that when we prepare to preach, we should look for the Good News in the passage we are preaching from. Well, some weeks are easier than others.  When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, “He has gone out […]