The Pharisees have criticised Jesus’ disciples – and therefore by implication him – for failing to properly honour their traditions. Failure to honour those traditions, the rules and regulations of the elders or forefathers might be seen as breaking the fifth commandment -a failure to honour parents. And if they dishonoured their elders and fathers,… Continue reading Misplaced Honour (Mark 7:8-13)
Posts
When worship becomes farce (Mark 7:1-8)
Jesus receives a delegation from Jerusalem. It’s kind of like the rabbinic version of an OFSTED visit. The scribes and pharisees have come to see him, to check out what he is saying and doing, to test him and no doubt hoping to trap him. It looks like they are welcomed in and offered hospitality.… Continue reading When worship becomes farce (Mark 7:1-8)
Defiled (Mark 7)
Jesus is challenged about his disciples’ failure to observe the ritual/ceremonial laws of the Old Testament. Hand washing prior to meals was required not for hygiene reasons or to slow down a pandemic but to represent symbolically the need to be spiritually clean. Jesus’ response is that it isn’t the external things that matter. Their… Continue reading Defiled (Mark 7)
Something happens when people come into contact with Jesus (Mark 6:53-56)
When Jesus and his disciples cross Lake Galilee, they are greeted on the other shore by another crowd. People recognise him and word spreads. Everywhere he goes, he is met with people who plead with him for healing. They assume that even to just brush against his clothes will bring life and healing. This is… Continue reading Something happens when people come into contact with Jesus (Mark 6:53-56)
Home – inhabiting God’s Word
Here’s this week’s #FaithrootsPodcast
Should Christians disagree on social media?
Social media, whether it’s twitter or Facebook (I assume that TikTok and Instagram have the same challenges but I’m not trendy or young enough to know) isn’t always the easiest place to be. Friends fall out quickly, words are said, others are muted, unfriended and blocked. It can become toxic very quickly. Sadly, that seems… Continue reading Should Christians disagree on social media?
Time to sing?
One offshoot of the conversation about how long should a sermon be has been some conversation about how much time we should give to singing. In jest, intended as a bit of a light hearted poke at the way people were getting dogmatic about the 20 minute or the 40 minute sermon, I ran a… Continue reading Time to sing?
“He meant to pass by them” (Mark 6:45-51)
I just want to pick up two specific phrase in the account of Jesus walking on water. The disciples have set off back across the lake from the site of the miraculous feeding. Jesus stays behind to talk to his Father but he can see that they are struggling against the wind. He walks out… Continue reading “He meant to pass by them” (Mark 6:45-51)
What more do we need?
This is a bit of a follow up to my article regarding the abolition of slavery and “a better ethic than the Bible” earlier this week. A lot of the argument concerning the redemptive-movement-hermeneutic boils down to two questions which Michael Bird helpfully crystalised in a twitter discussion. Is it better for something to be… Continue reading What more do we need?
The Shepherd King who feeds his people
If Herod is the pretend king who throws a feast for himself where food is brought to him, food resulting from death, then Jesus is a different kind of king altogether. Jesus is the true king who calls a feast in order to feed his people with life giving bread. The Feeding of the Five… Continue reading The Shepherd King who feeds his people
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