I.As we begin our reflections on this week’s focus passage, let’s start with “… a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision something external and physical.” Literally that is not true. What does the above … Continue reading
VII.Let’s read again this week’s Scripture focus. As you read it, what do you notice about those who seem eager to stone another, and what do you notice about Jesus? VIII.John 8:1-11, 56-59 (NRSVue) … Jesus went to the Mount … Continue reading
IV.In the first post we considered the situation of the woman accused of adultery and brought to Jesus by the scribes and Pharisees. Today let’s consider the second paragraph in this week’s reading and what brings some of the crowd … Continue reading
I.This week we focus our attention on two incidents recorded in John 8. The link between the two is the possibility of stoning someone. In each account notice who is speaking to Jesus, who might be stoned, why they might … Continue reading
VII.Let’s take the last phrase in our reading for this week and spend time taking notice of any words or actions that help us to … “… judge with right Judgment.” VIII.John 7:14-24 (NRSVue) About the middle of the festival … Continue reading
IV.What do you see as the overarching theme of this passage of Scripture? Is this about teaching, healing, healing on the Sabbath, Mosaic law (circumcision), ritual observation (habit), the Temple, Jerusalem/The Holy City or right judging/perception/understanding? Is it about all … Continue reading
I.If you read the first 13 verses of John 7, you see that Jesus has gone to the festival in Jerusalem “in secret” after his brothers (who were not his disciples) had encouraged him to go to the festival to … Continue reading
VII.Let’s take some time to notice the silences in this week’s reading VIII.Luke 14:1-6 (NRSVue) On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the Sabbath, they were … Continue reading
IV.Today let’s pay attention to Jesus. Not just to his words, but what he sees, how he reacts to others, and what he does. V.Luke 14:1-6 (NRSVue) On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader … Continue reading
I.Think about the description of the Pharisees, “… they were watching him closely…. they were silent…. they could not reply to this.” And this is in the context of Jesus “going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees … Continue reading