-
Attention
Ancient Israel is a small nation but demands great attention due to its War Lords writing of their supremacy over others as God’s “Chosen People.” They are “majestic, descendants of a “royal line.” Conversely, Jesus draws great attention due to gathering a growing people’s movement, The Community of God. He describes it in humble…
-
Curing Stupid
Jesus is judged by rulers as being a demon, “By the prince of demons he drives out demons.” Jesus offers a reply, “‘How can Satan drive out Satan?’” “If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.” “No one can enter a strong man’s house to plunder his…
-
The Religion of Militarism’s Human Sacrifice System
“While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, “This is my blood.” Jesus’ final meal, celebrated…
-
Creeds: The Trinity
“Jesus approached the disciples and said to them,” “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” Today’s Feast of the Trinity is not well proven from the Gospel. Today’s Gospel contributes to a lack of proof, as…
-
Spirit Filled ‘Yes’
“When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on…
-
Adulting
“Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.” In my name you “will drive out demons,… speak new languages,… lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.’ So then Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven.” “They went forth and…
-
Showing Partiality
After Jesus is murdered by rulers of the Roman Empire, his disciples do their best to “love one another.” Disciples start expanding Jesus’ Community of God to diverse members and to expanding their love to those diverse members. Peter is struggling though. He is initially inclined to be loving and show partiality to those…
-
Warrior Victims
The political rulers and their soldiers persecuted disciples after Jesus’ death. For example, Stephen’s persecutors “threw him out of the city, and began to stone him. They laid down their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul,” a soldier persecutor. Saul had a conversion and was renamed Paul. Paul set a…
-
Good Persons and Good Deeds
Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said: “Leaders of the people and elders: If we are being examined today about a good deed done to a cripple, namely, by what means he was healed, then all of you… should know that it was in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean whom you crucified,…
-
Making Peace Known
Jesus’ “two disciples recounted what had taken place on the way to Emmaus, and how Jesus was made known to them in the breaking of bread. While they were still speaking about this, Jesus stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” People who know Jesus know he spends his…