IF YOU OBEY | Isaiah 49:14-51:3 with Aaron Eime and John Arnold by Christ Church JerusalemBy Christ Church Jerusalem

"The Church on Earth," otherwise known as "The Church Militant," is the historic idea of God's own people, spiritually prepared and armed, who will resist and eventually overcome evil. We find early instructions for Israel to live this reality in Moses' parting speech in Deuteronomy 4. Ephesians sees righteous living as a manifestation of these sam…

Not to be confused with the biblical book, this haftarah pairs with the parasha of Torah known as Shoftim//Judges. This haftarah of consolation is a window into the world of those who receive hope when they need it most.By Christ Church Jerusalem

TRIBES AND MARCHES | Jeremiah 2:4-28; 3:4 with John Arnold by Christ Church JerusalemBy Christ Church Jerusalem

Belief, in modern minds, can be relegated to the realm of simple thought. But when Jesus commands belief, He means obedience–a kind of holistic behavior that reveals underlying belief. So when self-professed "believers" in Jesus pick and choose when to obey Him, they stir up in themselves the beginnings of eventual treachery. Even Judas' infamous b…

Christians believe that the Kingdom of God–which the prophets envision and proclaim in their own writings–is both already here and also not-yet here among us. We feel this tension in Isaiah's comfort over Jerusalem and discuss the tension we feel in our own hearts between the Already and the Not-Yet.…

Is it comforting to consider the vast differences between our fallen nature and God's perfection? Sometimes it can be, other times, it isn't. This week, we look at the blessed role of comfort in the lives of those who would willingly see their imperfections against the light of God's perfect love.By Christ Church Jerusalem

What do we do when even the most heartfelt repentance won't spare us the natural consequences of our sin? Is it possible to truly repent while also preoccupied with avoiding punishment? This week, we look at Isaiah's condemnation of Israel and Judah amidst the seemingly unstoppable punishment coming from the nations of Assyria and Babylon.…

Greek has two common words for “life.” Day-to-day, living organisms all exhibit “bios” (where we get the words “biology” and “biography”). But humans especially were made to experience something more fulfilling–a rich and unending kind of life that Jesus calls “Zoē” (later adapted as a common girl’s name). The “life” that Jesus offers us is the lat…

The speech of Jesus in John 6 contains many shocking statements, including the perplexing promise and warning: "No one can come to me unless the Father first draws him" (6:44).No one likes to be told they can’t, and yet that’s Jesus’ response to the grumbling crowd. However as we move past what appears at first to be insulting we find in his words …

Our gospel portion this week shares just a snippet of a conversation–one that will infamously end with many of Jesus' disciples abandoning him in the Galilee. What led to this eventual split was not a simple misunderstanding of his words, or fears over cannibalism, but an intentional rejection of the concept that Jesus Himself could be better than …

Contrary to God’s will the people of Israel clamored for a king. They were desperate for security, especially from the Philistines, but were forewarned by Samuel the prophet that the burden of kingship would be crushing. Even David, the most ideal of rulers ended up abusing his power as seen in rape and murder (Bathsheba/Uriah). And when Jesus feed…

Instead of connecting thematically to the Parashah this week, our Haftarah begins the first of 3 weeks of "Affliction," commemorating the period of fasting between 17 Tammuz and 9 of Av in the Hebrew calendar. Marked as the saddest part of the Jewish year, we commiserate with the "weeping prophet," Jeremiah.…

BALAK | Micah 5:6-6:8 with John Arnold by Christ Church JerusalemBy Christ Church Jerusalem

THE RITUAL LAW | Judges 11:1-33 with Krystal White by Christ Church JerusalemBy Christ Church Jerusalem

In one of the Old Testaments most famous stories of rebellion and destruction, we investigate the particular sin of Korah and see how the prophet Samuel (himself a descendent of Korah) would have seen his own history intertwined with his ancestor's sin.By Christ Church Jerusalem

"Is there a God in Heaven?" Many of us are quick to answer, "Yes!" and wait expectantly to see our God face to face when we join Him there. But another question presses our day-to-day faith: "Is there a God on Earth?" This second question forces us to remember that we cannot (re)create God in our own image. Clearly, His sovereignty defies our expec…

Spying and lying may seem counterintuitive for the people of God, but the story of Rahab requires a context more complicated than some modern paradigms of morality. There is a righteousness to her behavior, and this week we discuss what that is.By Christ Church Jerusalem

Like clouds and waves at sea, doubts often leave us disoriented, unsure of where to go or whether we even began going the right way. Rather than avoid them with shame, we can embrace them as defining moments: opportunities to rid ourselves of false assurances and better engage reality as it is. As Christians, we can always look to the living exampl…

The rejection of Jesus at Nazareth is not inherently a Jewish rejection of the Messiah's teachings–his followers would go on to other Jewish towns that received that same message. The call of discipleship is holistic and thus it demands a humble approach to the one in whose pattern a disciple would be molded. Where that humility (otherwise seen in …

The Menorah is the most ancient and unique symbol of the Jewish people, and it is central to Zechariah's (puzzling) vision detailed in chapters 2–4. This week, we look at the symbolism and significance of the Menorah in early Israelite worship to see Zechariah's own messianic hope on full display.By Christ Church Jerusalem

In Mark 5, we are faced with two accounts of healing: that of a woman with an emission of blood, and the raising of a young girl from the dead. Both are examples of life-restoration. The latter story is more obvious, but the former story also deals directly with death (as "the life is in the blood," Leviticus 17:11). Jesus, then, is God-at-war with…

When thinking and speaking about the Kingdom of Heaven, we often imagine it as unimaginable–totally alien to this broken world. But Jesus' many parables help us to consider it in familiar terms. And something about it–a Kingdom we have yet to experience in its fullness–begins to feel like home.Readings: Ezekiel 31:1–14; Psalm 92; 2 Corinthians 5:1–…

The story of Jesus silencing the storm not only tells us something essential about Jesus but also about his disciples - both ancient and modern. Like the disciples in the boat, our faith can be overcome by fear and can fail us during times of upheaval and uncertainty. At such times we can become offended by what we consider to be God’s lack of conc…

The Nazirite vow is a bewildering tradition in Torah, seemingly appropriated by the era of the Judges in many odd ways. The foretold birth of Samson in Judges 13:2-25 gives us some clues as to how traditions had changed in the era without a prophet or king to guide Israelites in Torah-living.By Christ Church Jerusalem

The world is filled with terrors—disease, disasters, violence, and death, reminiscent of the trials faced since Adam and Eve. Psalm 116 acknowledges these fears but expresses unwavering trust in God’s deliverance. Paul, in II Corinthians 4:12-5:1, echoes this faith amidst persecution, driven by his belief in the resurrection of Jesus.Both the Psalm…

As the evangelical world rediscovers the Jewishness of Jesus, we enrich our understanding of His full human identity. But it can be difficult to understand his "Jewishness" in contrast to his contemporaries, most notably among the Pharisees. When we find him accused of breaking Torah (Mark 2), and when he criticizes Pharisaical practices in turn, w…

IN THE WILDERNESS | Hosea 2:1-22 with John Arnold by Christ Church JerusalemBy Christ Church Jerusalem

MY LAWS | Jeremiah 16:19-17:14 with John Arnold by Christ Church JerusalemBy Christ Church Jerusalem

The celebration of Trinity Sunday gives us the opportunity to deepen our understanding of God and His saving work. It is so much more than the forgiveness of sin and justification. It also means healing and transformation, enabling us to put away our harmful individualism and self-interest and become the children of God, living with one another in …

Amidst some of the highest praise and evident joy in all of his writings, Paul in Romans chapter 8 guides us through Gospel resources in the face of suffering. He posits that our suffering is felt alongside Creation, and that the Holy Spirit Himself knows this suffering well and communicates it on our behalf to the Father.Readings: John 16:4-15; Ro…

The Year of Jubilee is like a great reset for the children of Israel. Every 50 years, at the culmination of 7 cycles of the "Shabbat year," all land reverts back to its earliest family ownership. Debts are cleared, indentured servants are freed, and countless families' connection to their land is reestablished.Jeremiah relied on this teaching in To…

The Levites are a unique group within the children of Israel. They are a 13th tribe not allotted any territory and yet chosen to render eternal priestly service on behalf of their brethren. Ezekiel, Isaiah, and other prophets all envision the Levites persisting even into the New Creation and maintaining their unique identity in it. Who are they to …

Holiness is not built by good behaviors, but itself characterizes those who obey God's commands. Holiness, then, is not bought with righteous behavior; but without righteous behavior, there is no evidence of holiness, even where there should be. This is what Ezekiel sees and condemns.By Christ Church Jerusalem

The Ascension of our Lord is not an act of abandonment, but of commission. In John's Gospel, we are told that only after Christ's Ascension can we receive His promised Holy Spirit, Who empowers us to live out the calling he gave us. "Just as the Father sent me," Jesus says, "so I am sending you." May we ever seek to find Him present among us in Spi…

Many people, even some Christians, think that the Old Testament is only about Law and the New Testament is Love. But the ancient revelation was not changed by Jesus or Paul, although our ignorance of the Hebrew Bible, and perhaps even some anti-Semitism prevents us from seeing the connection. God’s election of the people of Israel was an unmerited …

Ezekiel is doubtless one of the harshest books of scripture, and this week's Haftara pairs with one of the harshest rituals in Torah: the double-sacrifice of a live goat and a scapegoat. This sacrifice on the Day of Atonement cleanses the people of both ritual and moral impurities. In it, we see the ancient connection between obedience and life; we…

From the Fifth Sunday of Easter, this sermon draws parallels between Deuteronomy 4:32-40, John 15:1-8, and 1 John 4:7-21, emphasizing the profound significance of history and love in the context of faith in action–or faithfulness. Through Moses's words, listeners are urged to reflect on the unparalleled actions of God throughout history, contrastin…

At the very heart of the gospel is the story of Passover: that final night in Egypt when God completed His judgments against the rebellious Pharaoh and called His own people out into freedom. We often think of Christ's death through the lens of atonement for sins, but its coinciding with Passover tells us something else about the gospel–namely, tha…

The image of shepherds and shepherding in the biblical text stands in sharp contrast to the romantic pictures of fat sheep on luxuriant, green hillsides that we see in popular Christian culture. The biblical image, best reflected in Psalm 23, is set in the dangerous Judean wilderness with wild animals, “the valley of the shadow of death”; sporadic …

Our current age, like all others that came before, is one full of trauma and death. And though both are such common realities, neither of them feel "normal" to us. They can render us illogical and reveal significant gaps in our faith. We see this well in the story of Thomas.The same Thomas who had claimed readiness to die with Jesus (John 11:16) wo…

Of the four Gospel accounts of Jesus' Resurrection, Mark's is the most shocking. His "shorter ending" (Mark 16:1-8) does not end in an appearance of the risen Jesus, but only a proclamation of His Resurrection to the faithful women who went to his tomb. Still, their initial act is to withhold this message out of fear and confusion. Throughout Mark'…

How do lepers relate to their former and future communities? Leviticus 14 makes ample provision for declaring a leper clean, giving them a way to rejoin the people. 2 Kings 7 shows us the remarkable role that 4 lepers of Samaria played in saving the city. In a moment of conviction and charity, they chose to share good news of the LORD's miraculous …

Purity in Leviticus finds its opposite most starkly in death itself, and leprosy is the disease most closely resembling death and decay. For this, stringent laws are given on how to handle leprosy, and to receive miraculous healing of it is exceptionally meaningful. This makes Naaman's healing in 2 Kings 5 all the more potent, as his turning from t…

Holiness, for all its many benefits and credits, can be deadly. The sons of Aaron, Abihu and Nadab, would learn this firsthand after offering strange fire to the LORD. So would King David, seeing Uzzah die for reaching out to steady the Ark of the Covenant. This week, we review the importance of holiness in both extreme and (seemingly) mundane exam…

What is the purpose of sacrifice in the Bible? Leviticus makes it clear that there are actually very many purposes behind sacrifice, and understanding them is equally as important as giving them.By Christ Church Jerusalem

Readers and hearers of Leviticus will often come away confused about purity. On its face, purity seems to be a prerequisite for communion with God, one that we accomplish on our part before attempting to worship Him. But chapter 8 tells us something counterintuitive: purity itself is also a gift of God, given to us in anticipation of our communion …

What do a colt and palm branches have to do with a King? The cries of Hosanna heard around the world today started, not on Palm Sunday, but long before–from Israel’s oppression in Egypt and on through the Psalms and Prophets. The colt of a donkey and palm branches tell the story of a ruler who is both righteous and victorious. The expectations of I…

Does God merely acknowledge holy spaces, or does He consecrate them Himself? Whether Sinai, Shiloh, Zion, or Moriah, holiness seems to be imprinted on these places based on God's dealings with His people at each of them. Between the end of Exodus's description of the Tabernacle and 1 Kings 7-8's description of the Temple we find a key similarity: G…

In Jeremiah 31, God promises to establish a covenant with the people of Israel AND Judah, reconciling them both to each other as much as to Himself. This promise would find itself fulfilled in the person of Yeshua, the Messiah of Israel and High Priest after the Order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 5). And not only would His saving work reconcile His fell…