In the Bible, Dr. Luke records the scene: Jesus is eating his final meal with his followers. He is sharing some parting words when he makes a perplexing remark about buying swords. His disciples matter-of-factly reply that they have two swords.
Did you catch that? Jesus’ disciples carry swords.
I don’t know about you, but I’ve never envisioned Jesus’ band of followers as wielding weapons.
Although I’ve seen many paintings of them, along with many more movies, never once did I notice a disciple with a saber strapped at his waist.
The whole idea seems a bit shocking, yet at a time when Jesus tells them to get a sword, they already have two swords.
If I were picking people to start a spiritual movement with, I’d certainly eliminate anyone brandishing a blade.
Yet, Jesus’ criteria is different. He accepts his followers as they are—with issues, baggage, problem—and with two swords.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
The Bible contains four separate accounts of the life of Jesus. They are biographies of Jesus, which we call Gospels. The question is often asked, “Which one should I read first?”
That is a hard to answer, as each one has its own strengths.
Matthew
The Gospel written by Matthew does much to connect Jewish history and understanding to the life of Jesus.
It is great as a bridge from the old to new testaments of the Bible and for those interested in better seeing the connections between Judaism and Christianity (and the connection is strong and significant).
Mark
The Gospel written by Mark is the shortest and most concise. It is a great source to quickly gain an essential understanding of who Jesus is and what he did.
Luke
The Gospel written by Dr Luke contains details and information not included by Matthew and Mark, serving to nicely round out and fill in our understanding of Jesus.
The second chapter of Luke contains the familiar Christmas story of Jesus’ birth.
Even if you’ve never read Luke, you have likely heard the Christmas story, as recited by Linus in the popular animated TV special, “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”
John
Last, but not least, is the Gospel written by John. It contains more unique content than the other three accounts. John was a disciple of Jesus and part of the inner circle, so he was an eyewitness to what he recorded.
His writing is poetic in nature and is great for those who want to mull over and contemplate what he says (and conversely frustrating for readers in a hurry).
Each account has its particular purpose and strength. Pick the one that seems best for you to read first—then read the other three!
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
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In this Christmas season our thoughts turn more intentionally and more frequently to Jesus, the reason for this annual celebration.
In consideration of the first Christmas, my thoughts are warm and cozy, happy and joyous, and idyllic and serene, with angels singing, kings bearing gifts, and happily contented shepherds shepherding.
This is all true, but one reality is often overlooked.
Jesus was homeless.
Jesus was born in someone else’s barn, amid unsanitary conditions and with the stench of animal feces permeating the air. It seems unholy and unworthy, but that’s how it was.
Not only was Jesus born homeless, his early childhood was homeless as well, living an intenerate life as his parents fled to Egypt to save him from a premature execution.
Even when it was safe to return, they did not go to their hometown, but instead settled in Nazareth.
His ministry has also marked by homelessness, traveling from place to place with no home or a “place to lay his head.” So it was when he was arrested, tried, and executed: homeless.
With this in mind, wouldn’t Christmas be a great time to do something in memory of him for the homeless?
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
Get the Bible Reading Tip Sheet: “10 Tips to Turn Bible Reading from Drudgery to Delight.” Enter your info and receive the free Bible Reading Tip Sheet and be added to Peter’s email list.
Why I am a missional, evangelical, post/protestant, liberal/conservative, mystical/poetic, biblical, charismatic/contemplative, fundamentalist/Calvinist, Anabaptist/Anglican, Methodist, catholic, green, incarnational, depressed- yet hopeful, emergent, unfinished Christian.
By Brian McLaren (reviewed by Peter DeHaan)
In A Generous Orthodoxy, author Brian McLaren seeks to move the modern world’s theological dialog beyond the paralyzing impasse of liberal versus conservative, into a “post-liberal” and “post-conservative” inclusivity.
This, however, does not mean attempting to merely merge the two, but rather moving beyond them, linking orthodoxy with practice (that is binding spiritual theory to loving action) from a biblical perspective.
Towards this end, he shares the various ways in which different manifestations of Christianity (think of denominations) have shaped and influenced his appreciation for and understand of Jesus.
This evokes a realization that God is an “unified, eternal, mysterious, relational community/family/society/entity of saving love.”
Often using hyperbole to provoke critical thinking among his readers, McLaren then asks the confrontational question, “Would Jesus be a Christian?”
This sets the framework for the rest of the book, with each of the ensuing 16 chapters addressing one item in the book’s cumbersomely long subtitle:
Why I am a missional, evangelical, post/protestant, liberal/conservative, mystical/poetic, biblical, charismatic/contemplative, fundamentalist/Calvinist, Anabaptist/Anglican, Methodist, catholic, green, Incarnational, depressed-yet-hopeful, emergent, unfinished Christian.
In doing this, McLaren does not promote an all-encompassing and inclusive orthodoxy—one to conclusively end all orthodoxies—but rather shares his thoughts on what it might include so that productive dialogue can be advanced in constructing an orthodoxy that is generous, as well as accepting, inclusive, and loving.
Towards that end, each chapter concludes with a list of discussion questions to start the conversation.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
Get the Bible Reading Tip Sheet: “10 Tips to Turn Bible Reading from Drudgery to Delight.” Enter your info and receive the free Bible Reading Tip Sheet and be added to Peter’s email list.
John (referred to as John the Baptizer) was Jesus’ cousin and a couple of months older. John preceded Jesus in ministry, pointing people to Jesus.
John did his work admirably and without fault, albeit amidst criticism. He was eventually imprisoned because of what he said.
With all the amazing things Jesus did and the miracles he performed, you’d think that he would have freed John from jail. He could have, yet he didn’t.
At least he could have visited his cousin, yet that doesn’t appear to have happened either.
So, John is sitting in jail, pondering his fate (he would soon be executed); his faith in Jesus begins to waiver.
We know this because in what is likely the darkest days of his life, he sends his followers to Jesus, asking if Jesus is the “one” or if they should be expecting someone else.
John seemingly wants validation for his work and confirmation that his life of service to Jesus was not in vain.
Jesus replies, providing John with the assurance that he sought.
Sometimes God acts strangely, not giving us what we want or expect, but he does give us what we need—just like he did for John.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
Get the Bible Reading Tip Sheet: “10 Tips to Turn Bible Reading from Drudgery to Delight.” Enter your info and receive the free Bible Reading Tip Sheet and be added to Peter’s email list.
Jesus came to heal and to save; that was his mission and his purpose.
At that time, the people largely accepted Jesus’ healing ministry, but not so much his saving ministry.
Today, it is the opposite, with his followers accepting his saving ministry, but not so much his healing ministry.
There is a wonderful story that covers both of his ministries in one account:
A paralyzed man is carried to Jesus. His need seems self-evident—to walk. Yet, Jesus’ first response is to forgive the man of his sins. (Forgiving his sins, made him right with God, thereby saving him.)
The religious elite are aghast at Jesus’ audacity.
Then to prove his authority to forgive sins, Jesus also heals the man—who then gets up and walks home.
Yes, Jesus came to heal and to save. He did it then; he does it today.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
Get the Bible Reading Tip Sheet: “10 Tips to Turn Bible Reading from Drudgery to Delight.” Enter your info and receive the free Bible Reading Tip Sheet and be added to Peter’s email list.
Moses gave a curious command: “Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.”
This seems to be an excessive response when one is wronged, but given the culture of that day, it was actually a move towards moderation.
For example, when Jacob’s daughter Dinah was raped, her brothers avenged her violation by killing the perpetrator and all the men in his village and then sacking the city.
That is excessive—and what God, through Moses, wanted to rein in with his “eye of eye, tooth for tooth” imperative.
Jesus, however, took this one step further when he told us to love our enemies and pray for them. That’s how we should act today—lovingly, not vengeful.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
Get the Bible Reading Tip Sheet: “10 Tips to Turn Bible Reading from Drudgery to Delight.” Enter your info and receive the free Bible Reading Tip Sheet and be added to Peter’s email list.
Historically, a “sin eater” is one who ritualistically takes upon himself the sins of a dead person in order to provide absolution.
The movie The Last Sin Eater considers this custom in Appalachia circa 1850 amongst a backdrop of superstition and secrets.
Although slow starting, those who don’t give up on the film will be rewarded with an intriguing plot line and mystery that goes deeper than the soon evident connection of a human sin eater to the ultimate sin eater, Jesus.
As the movie progresses, a secret past is unveiled piece by piece until a completed puzzle satisfactorily emerges.
The Last Sin Eater is based on the book of the same name, written by Francine Rivers; the movie was produced by Michael Landon Jr.
[Read more reviews by Peter DeHaan of other faith-friendly videos and movies.]
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
Get the Bible Reading Tip Sheet: “10 Tips to Turn Bible Reading from Drudgery to Delight.” Enter your info and receive the free Bible Reading Tip Sheet and be added to Peter’s email list.
The final word picture to help us better understand God, is perhaps the most startling and difficult to comprehend, even shocking.
In this word picture, we consider him as the groom (the Bible often uses the word “bridegroom”) and us as his bride. As followers of Jesus, that is, the Christ, we are even called “the bride of Christ.”
With us betrothed to him, we see a relationship filled with spiritual intimacy and ecstasy. In short, we are lovers.
This may be a difficult image to comprehend or even consider, but it is the desire and longing of God to be in a close, personal relationship with us.
Read more in Peter’s devotional Bible study, A New Heaven and a New Earth: 40 Practical Insights from John’s Book of Revelation.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
A third word picture for God is found in a not too well know verse, where Jesus says that he wants to collect his people and protect them as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings.
With God (specifically Jesus) as a mother hen, we are treated to a glimpse of the feminine side of God, as being safe, warm, protecting, and comforting.
We, as baby chicks, are vulnerable, possibly scared, and in need of what the “hen” provides. Yet if we don’t come to the hen (God), we miss out on what she (Jesus) has to offer.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
Get the Bible Reading Tip Sheet: “10 Tips to Turn Bible Reading from Drudgery to Delight.” Enter your info and receive the free Bible Reading Tip Sheet and be added to Peter’s email list.
