Part 19 of series: What Was the Message of Jesus? In my last post, I wrapped up an extended answer to the question: How is the kingdom of God coming? I showed that Jesus, contrary to the expectations of his disciples and, indeed, all other first-century Jews, believed that the kingdom of God would come as the Messiah drank the cup of God’s wrath, offering himself as a ransom for many (Mark 10:35-45). Jesus envisioned his role as Messiah –... Read more
Part 18 of series: What Was the Message of Jesus? In my last post, I discussed Jesus’ rather elliptical response to James and John when they ask to sit alongside him in his glory. “You do not know what you are asking,” he says. “Are you able to drink the cup that I drink?” (Mark 10:38). The cup, following Old Testament usage, stands for God’s wrathful judgment upon sin. Jesus will drink the cup, bearing this judgment by suffering and... Read more
The Divine Complaint Department Psalm 64:1-10 O God, listen to my complaint. Protect my life from my enemies’ threats. Psalm 64:1 Perhaps one of my least favorite parts of being a pastor is hearing people’s complaints. During my sixteen-year tenure as Senior Pastor of Irvine Presbyterian Church, I was blessed with a congregation that had a praise-to-complaint ratio of something like fifty-to-one. For the most part, church members went out of their way to express their appreciation for the church... Read more
Today is Pentecost Sunday, a day of celebration for Christians around the world. In the last three days I have been blogging on the meaning and spiritual significance of Pentecost. I have gathered these three posts into a series which I have called: What is Pentecost? Why Does It Matter? In this series I discuss the historical origins of Pentecost and how this Christian holiday can make a difference in your relationship with God. Image: Pentecost by Jean Restout II,... Read more
Part 3 of series: What is Pentecost? Why Does It Matter? My last post in this series began to answer the question: So, then, what difference does it make for us today that the first Christians were filled with the Holy Spirit almost two millennia ago on the Jewish festival of Pentecost? I suggested two ways that Pentecost makes a difference today: 1. Pentecost underscores the presence and power of the Spirit, thus inviting us to be open to the... Read more
Part 2 of series: What is Pentecost? Why Does It Matter? In yesterday’s post I gave a brief overview of some basic facts about Pentecost: What is Pentecost? What does the word “Pentecost” mean? What actually happened on the day of Pentecost? Should we believe that all of this actually happened? How is Pentecost related to Pentecostal Christians? How do Christians celebrate Pentecost? Today I’ll reflect on the spiritual significance of Pentecost. I will be writing as a Christian, and... Read more
As more and more national leaders from both political parties are calling for the resignation of Congressman Anthony Weiner because he sent lewd, unwanted messages to women over the Internet and then lied about it repeatedly in public, the executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington is confused. According to ABC News: “This is a massive overreaction and I don’t understand it,” said Melanie Sloan, executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. . .... Read more
Part 1 of series: What is Pentecost? Why Does It Matter? This coming Sunday, Christians across the world will celebrate Pentecost. In fact, not all Christians recognize this holiday (holy day). But it is generally honored in liturgical churches (Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, Eastern Orthodox, etc.), in Pentecostal and Charismatic churches, and in many other Protestant churches as well. Pentecost is not as well-known or as popular as the Christmas and Easter, though it commemorates a watershed event in Christian... Read more
I’ve spent a fair amount of my life reading. Along the way, I’ve been exposed to a wide array of words. Yet, there are plenty of words I have never read before or, at least, never paid really noticed. I love coming upon new words, making sense of them and perhaps even integrating them into my active vocabulary. In a recent op-ed column in the New York Times, David Brooks used a word I don’t remember hearing or reading before.... Read more
Part 17 of series: What Was the Message of Jesus? In my last post I began to comment on the passage in Mark 10 where James and John ask Jesus: “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory” (10:37). Of course the fact that Jesus has just spoken for the second time about his imminent death doesn’t seem to have made much of an impression of these two disciples. Jesus responds... Read more
Mark D. Roberts
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