In recent weeks, I’ve been engaging with Josh Butler’s book “Beautiful Union” which seems to try and set out a kind of theology of sex. I’ve argued that whilst Butler’s aims might be lofty and whilst some of the criticism of him may be unfair, that he ends up falling seriously short and in a… Continue reading The New Testament on Sex, marriage and intimacy
Tag: Jesus and the Gospels
How consistent are modern views of a spiritual resurrection of Jesus with the evidence of the gospels?
One of the major fault lines within Christian Theology in recent times has been over the statement “I believe in the resurrection.” What does it mean to claim this?[1] Many Christians would insist that this means that Jesus rose physically from the dead. However, a number of theologians have argued that this is not necessary. … Continue reading How consistent are modern views of a spiritual resurrection of Jesus with the evidence of the gospels?
The right ending of Mark?
When you get to Mark 16:8, you see a couple of little notes which indicate that most of the earliest manuscripts we have of the Gospel finish about here, however, some, including those that were relied upon for much of the time when the Bible was first being translated into English offer either a shorter… Continue reading The right ending of Mark?
He is going ahead of you
When the women are looking for Jesus at the empty tomb, the angels reassure them that Jesus is not in the tomb, not because the body has been stolen but because Christ is risen and he has gone ahead of them. In that immediate context, it meant that Jesus had gone ahead back to Galilee… Continue reading He is going ahead of you
He is not here
It’s funny isn’t it, the things we say when someone dies. We say that our loved one “didn’t make it.” But friends, they did make it, they got to exactly the place where they were meant to be and the place we are hoping to reach one day. We talk about “losing a loved one.”… Continue reading He is not here
Risen (Mark 16:1-8)
Mark gives the briefest of details as we come to the empty tomb. All of the other Gospel writers provide more detail which fleshes out our understanding of Resurrection Sunday. The crucial facts are given though. It’s the women who are first to the tomb. They find it empty and are greeted by a man… Continue reading Risen (Mark 16:1-8)
Preparation
Joseph of Arimathea requests the body of Jesus and arranges to have it buried. Read Mark 15:40-47 Jesus’ execution has happened on a Friday, the day before Sabbath. Properly speaking, the sabbath would commence from the evening of that day. It was not considered good for the bodies to be left hanging or the execution… Continue reading Preparation
Forsaken
Jesus’ crucifixion will have lasted several hours and we know from the other Gospels that he has a number of significant things to say. Read Mark 15:33-39 Mark focuses in on one specifically, the cry “My God, my God why have you forsaken me.” This is a quote from the start of Psalm 22. … Continue reading Forsaken
A helpless saviour?
Jesus is crucified outside of the city. This means that he is forced to carry his own Cross. When Jesus said that we must take up our own crosses on a daily basis, he wasn’t saying that we must simply put up with difficult days. He was calling upon us to die to self. Weakened… Continue reading A helpless saviour?
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice
Stuart Townend’s hymn “How deep the Father’s Love for us” says: Behold the man upon a crossMy sin upon His shouldersAshamed, I hear my mocking voiceCall out among the scoffersIt was my sin that held Him thereUntil it was accomplishedHis dying breath has brought me lifeI know that it is finished The aim of Pilate’s… Continue reading Ashamed I hear my mocking voice
Faithroots 