Initiating the Exodus (Luke 9:51-62)

In Luke 9:51-62, Jesus resolutely sets out for Jerusalem, knowing His mission involves suffering and sacrifice. On the way, a Samaritan village rejects Him, but He rebukes His disciples for wanting to call down judgment on them. As they continue, different people express a desire to follow Jesus, but He warns them that following Him demands radical commitment. He tells one that the Son of Man has no place to rest, indicating the hardship of discipleship. To others, He stresses that nothing, not even family obligations or looking back at past life, should take precedence over following Him.

This passage teaches that Christ’s exodus is laser focus on the heavenly Jerusalem.  The values and priorities of this age all submit to the the goal of the heavenly Vision of Peace (Jerusalem).

The Eagle Has Turned (Hosea 8:1-14)

The Lord protected his people as an eagle hovering over its young. The Lord saw to it that he continued to protect his people so that they survived their wilderness time. The Lord is the great protecting Eagle. However, the Lord now uses the nations to come against Israel. They are the eagle poised to attack God's people. We might think that God has given up his purpose for his people. However, Hosea gives a subtle reminder that the Lord will use Egypt again to reshape and mould his people.

Herod the Horrible (Matthew 2:13-22)

Herod, the king of the jews, is someone who should see that Christ’s entrance into history validates the jewish kingship.    However, Herod does not react in joy, but he acts in a horrific way to the news of Christ.  Herod demonstrates the horror of human depravity. How can the Lord triumph over this tyrannical man?  Is this man able to usurp the Lord’s power? 

Sojourning Under the Sun: Sabbath Stall (2) (Numbers 20)

What is so rebellious about Moses striking the rock two times?  We might think that this is a question that is out of line, but Moses is commanded to strike the rock in Exodus 17.  Why is it okay for him to strike the rock in Exodus 17, but not okay for him to strike the rock in Numbers 20?  What does Moses do that is so bad?  Is God just a moody being who judges people in a very vindictive and unpredictable way?  What did God intend the people to see through Moses?

Sojourning Under the Sun: Sabbath Celebration (Exodus 15:1-18)

Exodus 15 gives us a picture of a Sabbath celebration.  Moses and the Israelites join together in praising God for the manifestation of His redemption.    We can understand Israel joining together in this victory chorus because this is the conclusion of their 400 some years of enslavement and suffering.   What does this celebration say about the Lord and his provision?  What is the ultimate hope that we see by God delivering His people?  How is this hope very relevant for us today?

Sojourning Under the Sun: Sabbath Instigation (2) (Exodus 12:33-13:16)

The ridiculous claim that the Lord made was that Israel was going to plunder the Egyptians.  This sounds ridiculous because how can a people who are in slavery, have been in slavery for centuries, and are still very much in slavery when the Lord finds them going to triumph over their slave masters?  Our understanding is rather simple: if a people have been enslaved for centuries then it is very likely they will remain in slavery.  However, the Lord promised that the Lord would deliver his people with a mighty hand.  Is the Lord really able to do such a thing?  What does this deliverance-exodus teach us about God’s redemption?

Sojourning Under the Sun: Sabbath Instigation (Exodus 12)

There is little doubt that Pharaoh claiming not to know the Lord is basically Pharaoh saying that the Lord of Israel is no match for him.  The reality is that the Egyptians have held the Israelites for 400 some years and their God has not acted on their behalf so what can their God really do?  Pharaoh heard the Lord’s warning through Moses, and should know that God means business.  So, how much business does the Lord really mean?  Is the Lord really ready to deliver his people from the Egyptian bondage?  What can such a message declare about the Lord’s Sabbath rest?

Sojourning Under the Sun: Sabbath Setting (Exodus 3)

The Lord has promised that His people will dwell in the land of Canaan.  There have been a few problems along the way.  First, the couple that God called to build His Sabbath people were a barren couple.  How is the Lord going to continue the biological seed of the woman?  Second, Jacob fleeing to Laban and leaving the land.  How can a divided family unite to bring in the promised heir?  Third, the immorality and the strife in Jacob’s family.  Now, fourth, we arrive at the problem of God’s people being enslaved in Egypt.  Can the Lord deliver His people from such an empire?

The Problem of Hard Heartedness (Mark 6:45-56)

We are probably tempted to have our favorite villains in the Gospel stories.  We have the Pharisees and the Scribes who conspired to send Christ to the cross.  We have Judas who betrayed Christ and should have known better.  We have Pilate who compromised justice to save himself from having a potentially huge political mess.  However, we do not think about our issues and the gospel?  What about the disciples and their struggle?