If 2020 has taught us one thing, it has been the meaning of “safety” and “being saved.” So often when I write or talk about Jesus as saviour, I have to explain what the word means because I am speaking to people who already live fairly safe and secure lives At this stage I’d normally… Continue reading Jesus, Saviour
Tag: Luke
Mary did you know?
I love the lyrics to the carol “Mary did you know?” I particularly love this version by Pentatonix. The Carol sets up an imaginary conversation with Mary asking her questions in order to highlight the contrast between the seemingly ordinariness of a little, fully human baby and the wonder of his divinity and his role… Continue reading Mary did you know?
Born to be king
The thing about the Christmas story is that because a lot of the detail lends colour to the narrative, it is in fact matter of fact and to some extent incidental. We have focused so much over the years on mangers, inns and stables that they have become central. Yet the one crucial detail in… Continue reading Born to be king
Nobody puts the baby in a corner
Luke 2:1-7 tells us of the events surrounding Jesus’ birth. We meet up with Joseph and Mary again following her visit to see Elizabeth and the focus in chapter 1 turning to the birth of John. Now they must go to Bethlehem and register for tax purposes. Whilst there, Mary gives birth, the baby is… Continue reading Nobody puts the baby in a corner
Responding in faith
Luke 1 sets two angelical visions against each other. In the first vision, Gabriel appears to an old priest named Zechariah to tell him that he is going to have a son. Six months later, the same angel appears to a young girl called Mary who is betrothed to be married.[1] She too will have… Continue reading Responding in faith
A promise has been kept
The response of God’s people to deliverance is praise. After the Israelites crossed the Red Sea, Miriam led the people in dance and song, at the heart of Scripture are the Psalms – a whole book of songs, some lamenting, some interceding but many telling the story of God’s saving acts. So it should be… Continue reading A promise has been kept
Rumours, fear and scepticism
Imagine living in Judea or Galilee around about 4BC. The gossip trail will have been working overtime, rumours of angels showing up and appearing with words from God after 400 years, reports of an elderly priest struck dumb in the temple, claims about an elderly woman giving birth having been infertile all her life and… Continue reading Rumours, fear and scepticism
Unbelief and silence
Here’s another little perspective on the account of Zechariah and the angel. Sometimes we see the key people in the Gospels in effect acting out or recapitulating Israel’s history. So, here we have the story of a man who serves God in the Temple, who is a representative of the people and a spokesman for… Continue reading Unbelief and silence
God’s happy people living under his rule
We are going to link up with the Bearwood Chapel Sunday teaching over the next couple of weeks and go into some more detail looking at the Sermon on the Mount together. Some people will tell you that they are not much into religion and don’t care for worshipping Jesus as God but they do… Continue reading God’s happy people living under his rule
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