Posts by Josh Moody

Isaiah 54-55, Proverbs 28:15-28, Luke 24:1-12, Hebrews 11:32-40 Luke 24:1-12: The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is the capstone and cornerstone of the Christian faith, and the very central point of the salvation history of the world. Luke tells this story, though, not with breathless poetry, but with a key, medical doctor, eye for detail and facts.…

Isaiah 51-53, Proverbs 28:1-14, Luke 23:50-56, Hebrews 11:17-31   Luke 23:50-56: Joseph of Arimathea, many fables have been told about him, but here is the truth. He was a member of the council that had condemned Jesus, but he himself had not consented to the condemnation. He was a “good and righteous man,” and he was “looking for…

Isaiah 49-50, Proverbs 27:15-27, Luke 23:44-49, Hebrews 11:1-16 Luke 23:44-49: It is as if the whole universe, all of creation, all of reality in existence, is in mourning—for it is. There is darkness, perhaps an eclipse, over the whole land for three hours. This somber portent of the event taking place is recorded for us to give a…

Isaiah 46-48, Proverbs 27:1-14, Luke 23:38-43, Hebrews 10:19-39 Luke 23:38-43:  The picture of Jesus hanging between two thieves is so shocking that on occasion we miss the meaning. Here is represented two possible responses to Jesus. The one thief mocks Jesus. “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” This thief lacks faith, and can only sneer—if…

Isaiah 44-45, Proverbs 26:17-28, Luke 23:32-37, Hebrews 10:1-18   Luke 23:32-37: The two other criminals who were crucified with him will play a famed role of significance in this drama, as we will find out tomorrow from verse 38 and onwards. This section, verses 32-37, is particularly filled with deliberate irony. But first, there are the most astonishing…

Isaiah 42-43, Proverbs 26:1-16, Luke 23:26-31, Hebrews 9:11-28    Luke 23:26-31: As we approach the crucifixion itself, we come across two sets of characters that interact with Jesus as he goes to The Skull (23:33). The first is Simon of Cyrene. Unwittingly, he is employed as a cross bearer for Jesus, to carry the cross behind Jesus. He…

Isaiah 40-41, Proverbs 25:15-28, Luke 23:13-25, Hebrews 9:1-10 Luke 23:13-25: (23:13-16) Pilate is now insistent that because he, and also Herod, have found there to be no guilt in Jesus, that he should be set free. Not, however, before he is punished (23:16), presumably as a sop to the accusers of Jesus, intending to mollify them with at…

Isaiah 37-39, Proverbs 25:1-14, Luke 23:1-12, Hebrews 8:7-13  Luke 23:1-12: (23:1-5). Now begins the more formal Roman legal process. The Jewish leaders are seeking the death penalty, so they bring him before the Roman authorities and accuse him of matters that amount to treason (23:2). He is, they say, enacting a political movement that is putting himself as…