My wife and I moved from Texas to Washington in March of 2000. Just before moving, we went to our Wednesday night prayer meeting. Someone was sharing about how Mary Magdalene saw the risen Christ and was sent to tell the disciples about the One she had seen (John 20:17, 18). As I listened, the…
Category: the resurrection
Triptych: A Tree in Three Seasons
Photo by Carrie McKamey I. Atop a hill there is a weathered oak whose listless limbs spread so wide it seems to hang by them and not to stand. It’s bark is scarred by whips of wind, by scratching beasts, by birds that pierce its trunk with beaks. When fall arrives, a crimson stain spreads…
Petrified
“The person who lacks these things is blind and shortsighted and has forgotten the cleansing from his past sins” (2 Peter 1:9). We have been cleansed from our sins by the cross and resurrection of Christ. Our cleansing is twofold: 1) we are forgiven, absolved of any fault, relieved of any guilt; 2) sin ceases…
The Camp of Co-heirs (Tabernacles Part 2)
After leaving Egypt, God commanded that Israel’s tabernacles be arranged in a particular way (Num. 2). The Lord’s Tabernacle was in the center of the camp. Three tribes of Israel camped to the east of the Tent of Meeting (the most populous); three to the west (the least populous); three to the north and south…
Camp of the True Vine (Tabernacles Part 1)
From the 15th through the 22nd of the seventh month, the Israelites were to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles or Booths (Lev. 23:34). Throughout this feast, the Israelites were to live in tent-like structures called tabernacles or booths. This served as a reminder that the Lord had His people dwell in booths after He brought…
Beyond Eden (The Day of Atonement Part 3)
After the fall, man was sent out of Eden, away from God’s presence. God posted cherubim and a flaming sword to guard the way to the tree of life (Gen. 3:23). Cherubim were also embroidered into the veil barring the way to the Most Holy Place in the tent of meeting (Ex. 26:31). Christ (as…
Two Goats (The Day of Atonement Part 2)
Of the offerings made on the Day of Atonement, the most significant was the sin offering. Leviticus 16:5 says the high priest was “to take from the Israelite community two male goats for a sin offering….” Note that both goats constituted a single sin offering. Lots were cast for the goats: “one lot for the…
The Day of Atonement (part 1)
The Day of Atonement occurred on the tenth day of the seventh month. On this day, the Israelites were to practice “self-denial” (usually understood to mean fasting) while various sacrifices were made (Lev. 23:27). Through these offerings, the Lord promised, “Atonement will be made for you on this day to cleanse you, and you will…
Weeks/Pentecost (part 2)
Painting by Patrick Murphy http://www.inspiredsketch.blogspot.com In the last post, we looked at the fulfillment of Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2. Jesus was anointed with the fullness of God’s Spirit, and His anointing flowed down to the church. Sharing in Christ’s anointing means many things. First Corinthians 2:12 says, “We have not received the spirit…
Weeks/Pentecost (part 1)
Painting from http://theschoolofthetransferofenergy.com/tag/moses-and-aaron/ In the third month, the Israelites observed the Feast of Weeks, presumably named because it was held seven weeks and one day after Firstfruits. This span of time equals 50 days, so the feast also came to be known as Pentecost (=“fiftieth”) (Lev. 23:15, 16; Acts 2:1). During this 50 days, more of…
The Voice of One 