On the first Sunday in Lent the lectionary takes us to the wilderness temptation of Christ. As Jesus prayed and fasted forty days in preparation to launch his ministry—a ministry that would announce and enact the arrival of the kingdom of God— he was beset with three satanic temptations. The first two temptations involved misuse of miraculous powers. But it was the final temptation that was the most insidious of all: the temptation to receive political dominion over the kingdoms of the world in exchange for bowing down to the devil. The third temptation deserves special attention, not only because it was the most sinister, but because it is the temptation that has beguiled and beleaguered the church for seventeen centuries.
Lent 2023: The Third Temptation
February 26, 2023 • Brian Zahnd
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Lent 2023
Palm Sunday: Dominus Flevit (The Lord Wept)
April 2, 2023 • Brian Zahnd
Everything about Jesus’ Triumphal Entry is the opposite of Pilate’s military parade. Pilate rides a warhorse while Jesus rides a donkey—a donkey’s colt. Pilate’s soldiers are armed with swords; Jesus’ disciples are armed with palm branches. Jesus' scepter is a reed, his crown is made of thorns, his acclaim is a cruel insult. And on Coronation Day his throne will be the cross itself. This is how the KoG comes, and it comes no other way. But does Jerusalem understand this? Do we understand this?
Lent 2023: The Coming One
March 26, 2023 • Jacob Taylor
The story of Lazarus gives a picture of the great hope of salvation - that humanity would be set free from the dominion of Sin and Death. Will we join Martha in confessing, "Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world" and "through believing.. have life in his name?"