Episodes
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Growing up has never been easy. Every culture develops its own forms of ritual and celebration to test and form the character of its young people making the transition to adulthood. In Jesus’ day, the Bar Mitzvah (lit. Son of the Law) marked the Jewish boy’s transition to full participation in the life of the synagogue. This was not so much an arrival point as it was a launching pad. It was permission to enter the wrestling over the meaning of the scriptures call to the people. How do you view your own progress in ‘growing up’? -
Sacrifice can cut in more than one direction. It can mean the taking of another’s life that serves as an offering designed to preserve one’s own life. Alternatively, it can mean the willing giving of one’s own life in order to bring life to others. Jesus, by his life, death and resurrection, renders the first way exposed for what it is. The arbitrary murder of an innocent in the vain attempt to outsource blame. Jesus also reveals the second way - the life-giving way - as the way of eternal life. -
Missing episodes?
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Malachi prophesied at a time when things were tough in Israel and the people expressed a longing for God to arrive in the form of his anointed one. Malachi assures the people that God would be coming and soon. In fact, Malachi is at pains to tell the people they are not really ready for God’s arrival. They like the idea, but the reality would be different from what they were hoping. Rather than it being a walk in the garden, God’s arrival would be more like a refiners fire! The people would undergo a process in which they would be purified and made fit-for-purpose.How does Jesus fulfil this word?! -
There are many prophecies in the scriptures. There is quite a range of styles from a bit vague all the way through to quit specific - and everything in between. Prophetic language can come across as somewhat poetic. It seems to leave open a scope of possible meanings to the interpreter.Perhaps we do not listen carefully enough? Perhaps we come to these words with predefined limitations regarding what we will allow them to mean?As we listen afresh to this brief section of Jeremiah (33:14-16), let’s lean in and consider what (in all eternity) Jeremiah might have had in his heart... and what it might mean for us today. -
When the writer to the Hebrews uses terms like ‘Holy Place’ and ’sprinkled’, he is drawing on the rich tradition of the temple priesthood as it functioned in Israel for many generations. The tradition is being drawn on, but also modified. Formerly, there was a physical location known as the Holy Place. Now, the writer means something akin, yet different. The people were formerly literally sprinkled with the blood of the sacrifice. Now, the writer is referring to a similar cleansing dynamic, yet it is not an identical experience.Jesus’ way builds on what was patterned for, and familiar to, the Jews. But Jesus’ way is a new and living way! -
The writer to the Hebrews wants to make clear that the way Jesus has engaged the sacrificial system, the system that had always managed the community’s sin, was such that he changed things forever. Rather than offering the blood of an animal, Jesus allows himself to become the blood sacrifice of the people.But this materially challenges the whole system. Jesus’ blamelessness was such, that there was no justifiable reason that could be upheld for his lynching. The fact that he was killed served to show up the motives of those who perpetrated this cruel and violent crime.Yet in doing so, Jesus also offers an entirely alternate way of dealing with sin. Rather than blaming (and killing) others, take responsibility and repent. Rather than obey the instinct for self-interest… follow the one who gives himself. -
Many people have heard of the ‘Golden Rule’. The idea that we should do unto others as we would have them do unto us. Ideas like this are found in a number of different religious traditions expressed in slightly different ways.In Mark’s account, Jesus prefaces his version of the Golden Rule with the greatest of all commandments - to love God with everything you’ve got!It is no mistake that these two ideas are conjoined in this way by Jesus. Neither is it an accident that love for God precedes love for one’s neighbours. In Luke’s account, this interaction is followed by Jesus telling the story of the Good Samaritan... which tells us something of how challenging this business of love really is. -
Anyone who lives beyond their adolescence becomes increasingly aware of the reality that life’s circumstances can be fickle. One minute all can be well. The next, the bottom can be falling out!The story of Job recounts such a scenario. It includes a series of conversations between Job and his ‘friends’ - who seek to console Job by trying to persuade him to take personal responsibility for the calamity that has befallen him (some friends right?!). Job, for his part, exhibits remarkable resistance to his friends’ persuasion. Even as the friends claim to speak for God, Job cries out to God to vindicate him.What are we to make of this tussle that is more familiar than we might first realise. -
After Peter’s bold declaration in Mark 8, Jesus begins to drill down into the pivotal nature of his teaching and his life. As we progress through Mark 9, Jesus takes advantage of some uninterrupted time to attempt to clarify for his disciples just what his Messiahship is really all about.But his disciples still don’t get it! Jesus is too far outside their expectations. Instead, the disciples get busy jostling for positions of power in Jesus’ new administration.You can almost hear the exasperation from Jesus as he directs his disciples’ attention to a child and indicates care for the little ones is where it is at!We have the benefit of knowing where this story goes. The confusion of the disciples points to just how radically ‘other’ is the nature of what passes for virtue in Jesus’ way of life. -
When James (in his letter) addresses the human tendency toward favouritism, he is acknowledging that we almost cannot help but notice some people more than others. It is interesting to consider what it is that draws us to the particular people we tend to notice.James wants to say it is not our place to make judgements regarding the worthiness of this person or that person for special attention. To do so, is to put ourselves in the seat of the judge… and that is NOT our seat!We are to be people of lived mercy. As those who have received mercy, we are also to offer it to others. Not simply in empty words. But in active and practical care for one another. -
The words in James’ letter can come across as fairly harsh and directive in nature. The letter has been said to not display an over abundance of grace.The overall thrust of what James is saying wants to challenge the notion that we can believe in something without it having any tangible impact on the way we live our life. James want us to realise that faith has impact in the real world (not only in your heart and thoughts - but also in your decisions and actions).James reminds us that receiving God’s love is not simply about soaking up that love. It is also experience the more fully in practical sharing of that love. -
Jesus as the bread from heaven offers a different kind of nourishment to us. Jesus is not like the previous manna that came from heaven. That nourishment lasted only a day or so. Jesus’ nourishment is eternal.But how do we ingest this nourishment? (how does one consume a metaphor?!) In addition to the elements we use to celebrate Holy Communion, how do we eat Jesus’ flesh and drink his blood? What are the ways the Holy Spirit uses to transform us to be more like Christ?We live in a consumer culture. We are accustomed to purchasing and using things for our own ends. When we consume (and ingest) Christ, our ends are subverted… our hearts and desires are transformed. Our transformation to be more like Christ becomes the ends.Everything we consume changes us. Are you sure you want to be more like Christ? -
Few things in ancient Israel or current day Australia could evoke a similar level of repulsion as the thought of cannibalism. The practice is outlawed today in our culture, just as it was in ancient Israel.This begs the question, why would Jesus use an idea that seems so much like cannibalism to express something about his person… his identity?Jesus wanted to make it clear that he was not simply like every other preacher/teacher that has arisen in the history of Israel. He was not simply one of the prophets. There is something entirely unique about who he is and how we are to relate to him.The use of this idea means his audience (then and now) are not able to simply smile and nod and comment politely. Jesus requires a more definitive response. -
Every person has probably done something that, given the opportunity, they would do differently. But taking action, that lays the cost of the consequences on someone else, is the more disastrous when done by a person who carries considerable responsibility.The subsequent cover up can be more problematic than the original misdemeanour. The more a person does to cover their actions, the more committed they become to their deceit.The episode we are considering this morning is disturbing because it reports on one of Israel’s favourite sons. The account pulls no punches as it describes the tumbling series of wrongs deliberately (ultimately in a calculated way) committed by King David.Yet, David was said to be a man after God’s own heart (see 1 Kings 11:4)?! -
The notion of Jews and Gentiles standing together as one people might seem less of an impossible dream for us these days. In the time when Paul wrote his letter to the Ephesian church, the idea of Gentiles and Jews identifying as one with each other was pretty much unthinkable.Paul indicates it is not whether we happen to be one of these or one of those that is important anymore. The critical thing is that Christ came, lived, died and rose again. It is our belief in this central reality that forms the basis of any true desire to follow Christ.It is Christ who shows us the shape and nature of eternal life - He is the corner stone out from which everything else is built. We are the ones being built (together with others who follow Christ), into a new creation… a new way of being together that is not based on enmity, but is built on grace, love and forgiveness. -
Hope is an essential ingredient for a fulfilling life. Hope calls us on to better things in such a way as to enable us to be fully present in our current circumstances.Hope means there is always something more to look forward to. Hope subverts regret - in that it does not allow our past actions to have the final word. Hope is part of our lived expression of faith in a God who is good and who offers us a life that is good.Hope (along with faith and charity) is considered to be a heavenly grace. May we always be people of hope. -
Churches (and other groups) sometimes feel the need to speak about unity when they are facing the threat of factional elements. Yet true unity is not about the avoidance of factions. It is about the way we regard and prefer one another.Unity does not put a limit on diversity. It is a commitment to one another and to the common good that has space for each person to offer their unique contribution in the most helpful manner.Most of all, it is the lived commitment to follow Jesus, who never failed to act in love for others. -
Sometimes a thing that appears quite insignificant can give rise to history shaping consequences. If you do not know how to value the death and resurrection of Jesus, it might appear as a quizzical fascination of history. Something modern minds would readily dismiss as mythical nonsense, but for the fact that the modern mind has largely been shaped by that very story!It is difficult for us, who have lived only after the advent of Jesus the Nazarene, to fully appreciate how much the world we take for granted has been formed as a direct consequence of this quirky gospel folk tale. But if you could interview people who lived only before it, the difference would tell you everything.All parts of the known world find refuge in the branches of this kingdom transformation! -
The apostle Paul speaks of the law functioning like a tutor for the people, teaching people about the ways of God in preparation for the fulness of the revelation that was to come in Christ (Gal 3:24).When Jesus enters the narrative, he appears to play a tad ‘fast and loose’ with the law. His stated purpose is to fulfil the law. But this appears to mean something other than simply obeying the law.How are we to make sense of this? What is our relationship to the laws presented in scripture? Are we to simply obey or is there something more for us to do? -
Almost 2 months since the fateful morning Jesus was crucified, a small group of disciples is hiding. They are keeping out of sight of the authorities - who they felt sure would be after them - just as the authorities had crucified their leader.Nothing could have prepared them for what was to happen next. You can’t make this stuff up… it just doesn’t make enough sense. The sound of wind. Flames of fire. Strange languages. Of course those nearby assumed large amounts of alcohol must be involved.But what if it was something quite different… utterly different?! Something that was about to turn the whole world upside down?! - Show more