Appearances

I AM who I AM

Mar 10 2017

I AM who I AM

(audio sermon)

Moses anticipated that the Israelites would ask him a trick question about their God: ‘What is his name?’ At this point they had no name. A name was considered limiting. But God gave Moses an unlimiting name. Israel knew their God by that name from then on.

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The Transfiguration – The Way Up is Down

Oct 17 2014

The Transfiguration – The Way Up is Down

Mark 8:27-9:13

The Transfiguration settled in the minds of Peter, James and John that Jesus was the Messiah. On a mountain top Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus as their clothes shone with heavenly glory. The three disciples saw it all. Moses appeared representing the Law God had given him. Elijah appeared representing the Prophets. The Law and the Prophets testified to the coming Messiah. And as if this were not enough, a cloud enveloped them and a voice said to the disciples “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”
There was a need for the testimony of Moses and Elijah. More

John’s Nativity – The Word became Flesh

Dec 19 2013

John’s Nativity – The Word became Flesh

John 1:1-18

No baby, no manger, no shepherds, no wise men, no guiding star, not even a virgin! This is John’s nativity – he omits them all. For John Christmas is simply: the Word became flesh. Not as cute as the baby, not the stuff that inspires awesome snow scenes, but it has the same conclusion: Jesus is Emmanuel – God with us. Or put John’s way – the Word become flesh.
John doesn’t tell us why he omits the manger and the virgin birth, but we can make some calculated guesses. Perhaps, unlike Matthew and Luke, he felt he should only testify to what he saw. Or perhaps he was trying to respond to specific questions people had at the time of writing; like how can Jesus be both God and man? Or how can God have a Son? Whatever his motives were we are grateful for the rich insights that accompany his explanation of the origins of Christ. More

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