The New Testament in 90 Days

In these Chapters you may begin to feel a foreboding.  Jesus is getting nearer the cross.  He has "turned his face to Jerusalem."  Still, as he goes along the way there are parables and there are miracles. Chapter 16 has two parables with some disconnected warnings between them (it seems to me, anyway).  The parable of the dishonest manager has made commentators scratch their hands and do theological contortions for about 2,000 years.  The idea is that the manager is dishonest, but clever.  Jesus seems to think that disciples need to be creative and clever and this is a part of faithfulness (and stewardship of the resources that God has given us).  But, it makes us scratch our heads.  (And, I'm open to more suggestions on this parable.) The next parable is famous to some -- the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, the poor man, and how Lazarus goes to heaven (the bosom of Abraham), but the rich man -- doesn't.  If you're Lazarus -- this i...

There are more parables and miracles now, though still some of each.  The parable of the workers in the vineyard is, depending on your point of view, either troubling or comforting.  Do you imagine yourself as one who has been working all day?  Or are you one of the last hired?  Is Jesus unfair or is he merciful?  I have heard both capitalists and socialists use this parable to their own ends.  (The landowners is a capitalist because he is free to hire whoever he wants and pay whatever he wants; he's a socialist because he is concerned not that anyone get rich, but that everyone gets enough.)  But I think this parable challenges all of our views of economics.  What do you think? Just now I am thinking about Matthew's use of the term, "the kingdom of heaven."  Matthew uses the word "heaven" not because he is primarily concerned with the hereafter, but because, as a good Jewish man, he doesn't want to over-use the name of God.  So the ki...

Today's reading begins with the murder of John the Baptist.  It is a grisly story, in many ways, and when Jesus hears about it, he retreats to a lonely place.  But he can't really get away, can he?   That's one thing I notice when I read these three chapters.  Jesus tries to get away but the crowds follow him.  He feeds 5,000 (with the help of the disciples), and later he feeds 4,000, and his disciples, who see both miracles, don't really understand what they mean (hint:  it's not just about the bread and fish.)   I also notice that Peter is beginning to emerge as one of the "main disciples".  He gets two important scenes -- in chapter 14, when the disciples are stuck in a boat during at storm, Peter steps out on the water to go to Jesus, even in the middle of the storm.  Now, to be honest, he is not entirely successful in his attempt to walk on water, but at least he tries.   i will confess to you that this is one of the Bibl...