In this current age of technology and science, it is difficult for us to realize that one of the most important incidents reported in the Bible for understanding the Christian faith is about an evil spirit referred to as “Satan” or “the devil.”  The particular incident I am referring to is Jesus being tempted in the wilderness by Satan for forty days, related to us in Matthew 4:1-2, Mark 1:12-13, and Luke 4:1-2.  (FYI: “Satan” is the Hebrew proper name of the supreme leader of evil spirits opposed to God; “the devil” is the Greek rendition of the original Hebrew proper noun; both mean the same.) Read more…

For Western Christianity, February 18 was Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent.  For as long as I can remember, I have heard Roman Catholics and Protestants of many denominations talk about what they are giving up for Lent.  I was reared in a Congregational Church, known now as the United Church of Christ.  We knew what Lent was, and there was mention of Lent from the pulpit.  But, as I remember, there was no emphasis on giving up anything.  Certainly, my parents, who were very active in the Church, never talked about it with my brother and me.  As an ordained clergyman, I have pretty much adhered to my childhood rearing, and I never stressed the need for, or the importance of, giving up things during Lent. 

But this year I am changing that.  I know of something that we all can and should give up–Roman Catholics, Eastern Christians, and every Protestant regardless of his or her denomination.  But before I get to that, in order to have a better understanding of the Lenten season, let’s just review some basics. Read more…

Here we are at Easter weekend, celebrating the greatest miracle of all time: God’s raising Jesus from the dead.  This event led to the beginning of the Christian Church and the promise of everlasting life for those who unite in faith with Jesus.  But now, over 2,000 years later, people frequently ask: did the resurrection of Jesus really happen?  And what about all the other miracles attributed to Jesus during his ministry.  Did they actually take place?  Or were the miracle stories we find in the Gospels merely literary fiction—fictitious events inserted into the Gospels by their writers in order to promote their own religious faith?     

How do we know whether something really happened or is literary fiction?  Read more…

There had been all kinds of rumors about the man Jesus of Galilee.  He had left his home and spent most of his time with a band of twelve other men.  He appeared to have unusual powers.  Some claimed that he had healed their sick. Others said that he had cured their lame.  There were those who even claimed that he could cast out evil spirits.  

He was a man of considerable authority, yet he was very kind.  There were those who suggested he was the expected Messiah, the chosen of God, who would bring freedom and new life for the Jewish people.  But up until then, he had made absolutely no overture toward establishing a kingdom.  On the contrary, as pointed out last week, he had always dismissed large crowds.  But on the Sabbath of Palms, Read more…

Palm Sunday is only one week away.? Have you ever stopped to think about what Jesus did the week before the original Palm Sunday?? There were two ruling authorities in Palestine at that time: the political government that was definitely the ultimate authority, and the religious leaders, whose religious practices could be different from region to region.? Let?s take a detailed look at how things were in Palestine at that time and how Jesus responded to them the week prior to Palm Sunday.?

The Roman emperors had done a superb job of taking control of the more distant and border areas of the Empire, like Palestine, and of keeping peace in these more remote areas after taking them over?all without the use of force or weapons.? How did they do it? Read more…

The Parable of the Wedding Feast (Matthew 22:1-14) starts out by these intriguing words: ?The kingdom of heaven is like . . .?? In the Gospels there are several parables that start with these words.? Most people are interested in these parables regardless of what they think the hereafter holds in store for them personally.? Just think?learning what heaven is really like!? This parable does just that. Read more…