#ordinary 14

Jesus observes that his critics have stated contradictory preferences that are mostly about style rather than substance. John’s ministry was too somber for them with all the self-denial of desert living. Jesus, on the other hand is going to too many parties. All of the aesthetic complaints miss the point. It’s actions that matter. Where John’s message of repentance called for fasting, Jesus good…

Jesus is sending his people out into the countryside and unlike last week where his instructions weren’t clear enough and the disciples almost burned down a village, this time he’s giving very specific instructions about what to do both in the case that the disciples are welcomed and in the case that they are not. The disciples are to take nothing with them, no gear, no money and additionally…

2 Kings 5:1-14Psalm 30Galatians 6:1-16Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 Lord’s Day 28 Previously: Power Messengers Carry each other’s burdens

This week we have Jesus sending out his disciples in pairs to do exactly the kinds of things that Jesus himself has been doing. Healing, preaching, the whole thing. He gives them some instructions when they go, one of which is “Just walk out.” If they won’t welcome you then leave. Like this poorly spelled meme: This is made easier by the other instruction: don’t take anything with you. No…

2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10Psalm 482 Corinthians 12:2-10Mark 6:1-13 Previously: What so you see?

This is a parable so I’m going to resist the impulse to analyze the sums involved, but we do need a little bit of context. The two servants in this week’s passage owe vastly different amounts. The footnotes in the NIV helpfully convert the currencies into time worked for a day labourer a talent is approximately a day labourer’s wage for twenty years and this first servant owes ten thousand of…