Archive for September 2023

Isaiah 14-16, Proverbs 12:1-16, Luke 22:1-13, Hebrews 4:1-11 Hebrews 4:1-11: When we think of rest, we tend to think of a nice relaxed Sunday afternoon lying on the couch taking things easy. Perhaps there is a game on the television, Sunday lunch has been eaten, and mercifully – for once that week – there is not much to…

Isaiah 11-13, Proverbs 20:16-30, Luke 21:29-38, Hebrews 3 Hebrews 3: The Book of Hebrews is making the argument to Hebrew Christians facing persecution for following Christ that to go back to Judaism was unacceptable. Why? Because Christ is better than the great Old Testament heroes, even greater than angels. Going back to Judaism was not a safe option,…

Isaiah 9-10, Proverbs 20:1-15, Luke 21:20-28, Hebrews 2:10-18 Hebrews 2:10-18: There is indubitably no greater trial for most mortals than the trial of suffering. By its very nature, suffering not only causes us physical (or mental or emotional) pain, but it also seems to raise profound philosophical and theological questions at the same time. Why am I suffering…

Isaiah 6-8, Proverbs 19:15-29, Luke 21:1-19, Hebrews 2:1-9 Hebrews 2:1-9: It is easy sometimes – given our exposure to “Christianese” and kitsch Christian giveaways, or what I even once heard someone in the gift trade call “Jesus junk” – to think of Jesus in less highly exalted terms than we should. Because we are exposed from an early age,…

Isaiah 3-5, Proverbs 19:1-14, Luke 20:41-47, Hebrews 1:10-14 Hebrews 1:10-14: Christ’s superiority is further described here as the author of Hebrews begins to lay out his case that Jesus is better than anything and anyone else. He first describes Christ’s superiority to creation in his role in creation, ruling and bringing to an end all of creation. He…

Isaiah 1-2, Proverbs 18, Luke 20:27-40, Hebrews 1:1-9   Hebrews 1:1-9 The Book of Hebrews, anonymous in its manuscripts, comes to us as a great word that exalts Jesus above all other heavenly and earthly powers, and also calls us to stick with Jesus because he is therefore better than anything and anyone else. It is written…