Henry Nouwen
Dave Teixeira introduced us to Henry Nouwen with these words: “Henry was a guy who taught at Harvard and Yale. He was this very renowned professor. This person who lived in high and elite places. But Read More
“A little frayed around the edges–aren’t we all.” (Image and quote via Green Kozi-Creative Commons)
The Disgusting Thing This Guy Did For His Daughter
I read about a guy today who gave up on love. In the third grade he decided “love was for girls,” which might be kind of funny except he continued his boycott of love all the way through high school. He even refused to Read More
Speaking of Jesus:
“He is not ‘the God formerly known as the Prince of Peace,’ He is the Prince of Peace… Forever.” –Matt Bowen Read More
(From the archives)
It’s Time to Die
In a previous post we saw how important it is not to die indiscriminately. It was a post for people who can’t say no, as you might gather from the title: How Not to Become a Christian Doormat.
This post is probably more important and for a greater number because this post is for all of us who Read More
“If a fellow isn’t thankful for what he’s got, he isn’t likely to be thankful for what he’s going to get.”
–Frank A. Clark
“Pride slays thanksgiving, but a humble mind is the soil out of which thanks naturally grow. A proud man is seldom a grateful man, for he never thinks he gets as much as he deserves.”
–Henry Ward Beecher
“Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare. They are consumed in twelve minutes. Half-times take twelve minutes. This is not coincidence.”
― Erma Bombeck
Read John 3:1-16 Nicodemus Visits Jesus
An Honest Seeker Comes To Jesus
There was this man who was a Pharisee named Nicodemus. He was a teacher of the Jewish scriptures, and also a member of the Sanhedrin, one of the 71 Jewish men who ruled over Israel. I’ve heard the Sanhedrin described as a combination of our Supreme Court and our Senate, so the guy was a big deal in the Israeli community.
He shows up to Read More
Read John 6:1-15, Jesus Feeds the 5,000
There’s Too Little, And It’s Too Late, But… Read More
“I’m not sure I like bathtime.” (by Tom Page, Creative Commons)
Read John 2:13-24, Jesus Cleanses the Temple
Sin Inside The Temple
So the people selling animals in the temple, and the people changing out currency were taking advantage of the situation. If you traveled to Jerusalem for Passover, and you showed up with a sacrificial animal, it had to be without blemish. The priests were the ones who decided if it was acceptable or not. Well guess what, it was usually found to be unacceptable. But, conveniently located right here in the temple we happen to be selling pre-approved animals for sacrifice–for an exorbitant price. And, you have to pay for the animal with the temple currency. We can exchange your cash for our currency, in fact we have money changers right here in the temple standing by, but, it will cost you.
Providing a means of exchanging currency and providing animals for the Passover sacrifice was a good thing, but overcharging wasn’t. It was a sin. It was a sin found right there inside God’s temple. And Jesus, out of love for his Father’s house, turned the tables on those taking advantage of the people. He took action.
The religious leadership of his day asked Jesus: What sign can you show us to demonstrate you have the authority to cleanse the temple like this?
Jesus said: Read More
How My Friend Nick Griffin Says, Merry Christmas