A sermon from Canvas: 05 January 2014 The story of the magi is foundational to Matthew’s Gospel both historically and symbolically. Historically it places Jesus’s early life in the larger context of the reign of Herod the Great, and sets the stage for a confrontation between three kingdoms: Rome, Jerusalem, and the “kingdom of God”...
Tag: Christian life
Understanding the Bible 15: Jesus’s Story Begins
In our modern translations of the Bible, all one has to do to move from the Hebrew scriptures to the story of Jesus is turn a page – a action so simple it suggests the connection between the two “testaments” is obvious. Of course the story of Jesus is connected to the story of Abraham,...
Understanding the Bible 14: Messianic Expectations Begin
The period after the return from exile was one of deep confusion for Israel. For while she had indeed been set free from captivity, the deliverance was partial at best. The Persians remained the sovereign political and military power in the region (later replaced by a series of empires beginning with Alexander the Great and...