Denying the Crucifixion

17 04 2012

by Andrew Stephens-Rennie

We hate them.

You know, those people who deny the resurrection. Those people who see the story of Jesus’ rising as mere metaphor, who refuse to accept that Jesus, that word made flesh, that god-man, could rise from the dead if he wanted to.

If God is God, we say, then you’d be crazy not to have faith in God’s power to raise the dead.

But let’s step back. Not too far, just a couple of days. Let’s step back to that Horrid Good Friday – you know, the one we gloss over because we think we know the end to the story. We know how it all turns out, so we don’t need to really think about how awful that day, those intervening days were. We don’t have to think about them, because we’ve read the final chapter, and we’ve got a good sense of the epilogue.

I hate it.

Read the rest of this entry »





Why Did Jesus Die?

6 04 2012

by Sylvia Keesmaat

Originally published in The Banner – the official magazine of the Christian Reformed Church

Was it because of the chief priests and the officers of the temple police and the elders? They were the ones who came out with swords into the dark of the garden. They were the ones who provided the thirty pieces of silver, who plotted day by day as Jesus spoke in the temple. They were full of fear: fear of a revolt by the people, fear of losing their own privileged positions in the Jerusalem hierarchy, fear of God’s kingdom of righteousness and justice and peace breaking in. Did Jesus die because of their fear and jealousy and ambition?

Why did Jesus die?

Was it because of Judas, the keeper of the money, who had followed Jesus almost from the beginning? Judas had heard him teach, seen him bring healing and hope, and watched forgiveness flow from his fingertips. Judas had been full of hopes for Jesus, keyed up on the walk to Jerusalem, waiting for the revolution to come. Was he disappointed that Jesus did not start gathering an army? Was he disappointed that this great leader was ignoring the only sure path to power? Is that why he slipped away in the night to whisper Jesus’ whereabouts to the officers of the temple for 30 pieces of silver? Is that why he betrayed his master with a kiss? Did Jesus die because of Judas’s disappointed hopes?

Why did Jesus die? Read the rest of this entry »





Blow the Trumpet! Advent and Jubilee

21 12 2011

by Jake Aikenhead

The Sabbatical Year and the Year of Jubilee are impressive institutions in the socio-economic life of Israel, but they aren’t regular topics of conversation during Advent. And this is, ostensibly, with good reason. It would seem that even the most creative theologians might be hard pressed to establish a connection between Israel’s socio-economic life and our expectant awaiting of the birth of Jesus.

But a faithful reading of the Gospel of Luke – the gospel we turn to for an in depth account of our Saviour’s unorthodox birth – suggests otherwise. In fact, in the Gospel of Luke we find that there is a very precise connection between the laws of Sabbath and jubilee and the child for whom there was no room at the inn. Luke tells us that Jesus is the agent of a new kind of jubilee.

For us to see this connection properly, however, we’ll need to look briefly at the Sabbatical Year and the Year of Jubilee. Read the rest of this entry »





Jesus & The Riot Squad

9 08 2011

by Andrew Stephens-Rennie

Jesus was and is present on the riotous streets of London, of that I’m firmly convinced.

But whose side is he on?

Read any of the news coming out of the UK, out of her churches, and you’d believe that Jesus was on the side of the state, of law & order. And perhaps he is. It’s widely known that Jesus wouldn’t dare to turn the tables on those in power, or call the established order into question.

He wouldn’t, would he?

By the sounds of a prayer circulating throughout the Church of England, you’d think that Jesus and the state were in cahoots: Read the rest of this entry »





The Morning After

3 05 2011

by Andrew Stephens-Rennie

It’s the morning after. Some of us are ecstatic. Others less so. It’s the morning after the election, so now what? Light a cigarette?

It kinda reminds me of something. Of Easter. You know that whole thing about Jesus dying and rising again? Yeah, so that happened. Now what?

No matter what party you voted for, what happens now? Turn over the keys to whoever’s in power, and put it on auto-pilot for the next 4 years?

No matter how many services you showed up to during Holy Week, what happens now? Go on auto-pilot and let whatever happens happen? God’s got it covered, right? No need for anything more until next year. Read the rest of this entry »





A King Rides to His Coronation

20 04 2011

by Sylvia Keesmaat

All the evidence suggests that he knew what was coming. As their steps took them closer and closer to Jerusalem he began to speak of it more and more urgently: he was going to Jerusalem to face torture and death. He was going to lose his life. He was going to walk the path of suffering.

All the evidence suggests that the disciples didn’t understand what on earth he was talking about. Right up until the last moment they were asking him if they could share in his rule, share in his glory and power. Right up until the last moment they thought that he would be the one to deal with the problem of the Romans, he would be the one to do battle with their hated oppressors, he would be the one to rid the land of the gentiles who where oppressing and killing the people. Read the rest of this entry »





Authenticity

18 04 2011

by Andrew Stephens-Rennie

I know it’s probably too much to ask for, but could we get a little authenticity?

Is there anything authentic to be found beneath the layers of posturing and photo-ops and plastered smiles and targeted events?

Maybe that’s what troubles me so much at election time. It’s not politics in the sense of “peace, order and good government” (whatever that looks like).

What troubles me the most is the work of the machine behind Candidate X or Party Y who have carefully orchestrated the events that will help said Candidate or Party to appear to enjoy activity A, B, or C, or to have a deep connection with target community 1, 2, or 3. Read the rest of this entry »





Jesus on the Campaign Trail

5 04 2011

by Brian Walsh

When Jesus was on the campaign trail he made his platform clear from the outset.

Under his administration the poor would be blessed because the whole thing was about them in the first place.

Those who mourned under the oppressive conditions of the day would be comforted.

The meek, those without power, without privilege, without capital and without land, would end up getting the whole earth.

If you were hungry for justice, if you were thirsty for a world in which things are set right, then you will be filled when Jesus takes charge in his kingdom.

And it won’t be the war-mongers, the arms dealers or those who drape themselves in the flag of violent nationalism who will be called children of God. No, that will be reserved for the peacemakers. Read the rest of this entry »





Jesus for Prime Minister

27 03 2011

by Andrew Stephens-Rennie

It’s campaign time here in Canada. Yesterday, on a frigid Saturday morning our Prime Minister got up in front of Rideau Hall to announce that we’re going to the polls on May 2nd. Within seconds, each of Canada’s major political parties took the gloves off and began 36 days of posturing, vying for the hearts and minds of the 40-some-odd-percent of Canadians who’ll make it to the polls.

How might we, as Christians, respond? Read the rest of this entry »





Remixing the Empire

21 03 2008

by Brian Walsh

A reflection on John 18:28-19:30
Wine Before Breakfast
Originally Delivered March 18, 2008

Prophet, Priest … and now King. Our Lenten journey at Wine Before Breakfast stayed in one place and at one time this year. We spent our Lent meditating on John 13 to 17, the “Upper Room” discourse on Thursday night of Holy Week.

And in the upper room with the disciples we have met Jesus the priestly prophet who demonstrates what kind of a community his disciples are called to be through the washing of their feet.

We have then sat at the feet of the one who teaches us not to fear because he knows where this story is going; who gives a new commandment that fulfills all the commandments; who retells Israel’s story of wine and vines so that it applies to the community he leaves behind. And then we listened in as Jesus exercised his priestly ministry in a prayer, a high priestly prayer, for his disciples … for us. Read the rest of this entry »








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