“Jared was 162 years old when he fathered Enoch” (Gen. 5:18). Jared means “descend, go or come down.” Scripture says, “Enoch walked with God; then he was not because God took him” (Gen. 5:24). It is traditionally understood that Enoch was taken up to heavenly realms. Jared and Enoch picture Christ. Jared shows Christ who…
Category: The cross
Love not Law
“Christ has liberated us to be free. Stand firm then and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery” (Gal. 5:1) Most Christians know that Christ has freed them somehow. What does freedom in Christ mean? In one sense, freedom is defined by what we are freed from. Galatians 5 helps us see the borders of…
Despising the Lamb
Painting by Johnny Mays The following is excerpted from my booklet, “Despising the Lamb: Contempt for Christ in First Samuel“ Hophni and Phineas: Priests of Pleasure When Hannah gave her only son to the Lord, Hophni and Phineas were priests (1 Sam. 1:3). Scripture says Hophni and Phineas were wicked men (1 Sam. 2:12). They…
The Divine Plethora
Painting by Van Gough Jesus died and rose again. The entire Christian faith is comprehended in those few words. Easy to say but to know, to bow the soul without reserve before Reality…that is another matter. The Holy Spirit is gradually bringing our experience in line with Reality Himself. Scripture describes this as renewing the…
The Manger and the Cross
“It was not so much that His birth cast a shadow on His life, and thus led to His death; it was rather that the Cross was there from the beginning, and it cast its shadow backward to His birth.” —Fulton Sheen, Life of Christ
Laying Down and Taking Up
Sketch by Patrick Murphy This is why the Father loves Me, because I am laying down My life so I may take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down on My own. I have the right to lay it down, and I have the right to take it…
Resurrection Wounds
Recently, I mentioned I’m a fan of the Lord of the Rings books and movies. In the first book/movie, Frodo comes into possession of a magic ring. This ring is so powerful it controls all other magic rings in middle-earth. The ring’s original owner, Sauron, learns Frodo has the ring and sends a group of…
Death!
Image from Lord of the Rings: Return of the King I love the book and movie series, Lord of the Rings. LOTR’s author, JRR Tolkien, was Catholic. The world of LOTR is deeply imbued with Christian realities. One of my favorite moments occurs in the third installment, Return of the King. A hoarde of orcs and other…
This Cross
This cross, this cross I know so well, each wood-grain scar, each bloody dell; each splinter broken from this tree, which once in him, is now in me; each splinter growing like a knife that plunges deep with worship’s life; a sacrifice my life to be, for Him, for Him who died for me.
Rest in Peace
In a previous post, I mentioned the Lord has me in a season of rest. Besides limiting my pursuit of hobbies, the Lord has limited my pursuit of Him. Intense study and prayer are off the table; I too easily turn these points of divine relationship into tasks to be achieved. This season has been…
The Voice of One 