“The kingdom of heaven is like…” Again and again, Jesus begins with those words. The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed. The kingdom of heaven is like yeast hidden in flour. The kingdom of heaven is like treasure buried in a field. The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine […]
“Do not be afraid.” Jesus says it three times in this passage. And whenever Scripture repeats itself, we should probably pay attention. “Do not be afraid.” It sounds comforting. It belongs on a greeting card, perhaps, or embroidered on a pillow. But in this chapter of Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus is not speaking to people whose […]
On the evening of Easter Day, the disciples are not radiant. They are not brave. They are not in the streets proclaiming good news. They are behind locked doors. That is where John wants us to find them: shut in, afraid, uncertain. The resurrection has already happened. Mary Magdalene has already said, “I have seen […]
“For I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind. . . . The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, the lion shall eat straw like the ox. . .” This passage from Isaiah is one of my favorite passages in […]