It is the Jewish Feast of Weeks (also known as Pentecost), a festival celebrating the harvest's firstfruits and also the giving of the Law. Some 120 of Jesus' disciples are together, expectantly waiting the coming of God's Spirit as Jesus had recently promised before he ascended to heaven. Suddenly supernatural manifestations fill the room -- a sound like a mighty wind, fire-like phenomena that separate and spread upon them all. Jesus' followers begin to speak in languages they have never learned, reciting the mighty deeds of God. Word spreads and a huge crowd quickly gathers. Some say these … [Read more...]
‘THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST’
Although I cry easily, I wanted to view Mel Gibson's movie The Passion dispassionately. So I braced myself, purposed not to look at my wife beside me and watched without moving a muscle from the opening scene until the end. Despite the English subtitles (all the narrative is in Aramaic and Latin), this is surely the most powerful film ever produced -- both emotionally and spiritually -- portraying the suffering and death of our Savior. Almost everyone in our theater audience sat in silence through the final credits then rose and left with scarcely a sound to be heard. Critics have said much … [Read more...]
LOOKING AT JESUS
The Epistle to the Hebrews is one of the most gospel-packed yet least-studied books of the New Testament. It focuses squarely on Jesus Christ as our high priest and personal representative before the Father. Jesus is indeed "Our Man In Heaven." Our greatest need is to keep our eyes fixed firmly on Jesus. Three times the author of Hebrews urges us to do just that. * * * SEE JESUS. The unknown author of Hebrews first gathers a bouquet of Scriptures from throughout the Old Testament that contrast the exalted position of angels with the far greater position of Jesus the Son of God (ch. 1). Yet … [Read more...]
THE PROPHET OF THE MAGI
It's a veritable United Nations, the "228 Park & Ride," where thousands of Houston westsiders catch daily buses. A place also where scores of solo drivers like myself occasionally or regularly pick up some trusting stranger so we can zoom down the barricaded high-speed lane into the city rather than poke along in stop-and-go traffic on the freeway. Over the years I have chauffeured passengers from Africa and Asia, Barbados and Bolivia, Singapore and Scandinavia, Russia and Rwanda, China and Croatia. This particular day my passenger comes from Greece. His name is Farook, he tells me, … [Read more...]
PENTECOST THOUGHTS
Today, May 31, 2009 is Pentecost Sunday, a day remembered by Christians because of the events recorded in Acts 2. Also called the Feast of Weeks, the feast fell 50 days ("Pentecost" is Greek for "50th") after the dedication of the first barley sheaf to God (Lev. 23:16-17). The Jews also observed Pentecost in commemoration of the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai. On this Pentecost 2009, the following reflections come to mind. In keeping with its agricultural origins, the Pentecost of Acts 2 marked the "first fruits" of the gospel harvest, in the conversion of thousands of people from nations … [Read more...]
