Christ Church Jerusalem

Contrary to God’s will the people of Israel clamored for a king. They were desperate for security, especially from the Philistines, but were forewarned by Samuel the prophet that the burden of kingship would be crushing. Even David, the most ideal of rulers ended up abusing his power as seen in rape and murder (Bathsheba/Uriah). And when Jesus feeds the 5.000 the people want to seize him and make...

Instead of connecting thematically to the Parashah this week, our Haftarah begins the first of 3 weeks of "Affliction," commemorating the period of fasting between 17 Tammuz and 9 of Av in the Hebrew calendar. Marked as the saddest part of the Jewish year, we commiserate with the "weeping prophet," Jeremiah.

BALAK | Micah 5:6-6:8 with John Arnold by Christ Church Jerusalem

THE RITUAL LAW | Judges 11:1-33 with Krystal White by Christ Church Jerusalem

In one of the Old Testaments most famous stories of rebellion and destruction, we investigate the particular sin of Korah and see how the prophet Samuel (himself a descendent of Korah) would have seen his own history intertwined with his ancestor's sin.

"Is there a God in Heaven?" Many of us are quick to answer, "Yes!" and wait expectantly to see our God face to face when we join Him there. But another question presses our day-to-day faith: "Is there a God on Earth?" This second question forces us to remember that we cannot (re)create God in our own image. Clearly, His sovereignty defies our expectations and demands that we earnestly look for His...

Spying and lying may seem counterintuitive for the people of God, but the story of Rahab requires a context more complicated than some modern paradigms of morality. There is a righteousness to her behavior, and this week we discuss what that is.

Like clouds and waves at sea, doubts often leave us disoriented, unsure of where to go or whether we even began going the right way. Rather than avoid them with shame, we can embrace them as defining moments: opportunities to rid ourselves of false assurances and better engage reality as it is. As Christians, we can always look to the living example of Jesus in those moments, and entrust our futur...

The rejection of Jesus at Nazareth is not inherently a Jewish rejection of the Messiah's teachings–his followers would go on to other Jewish towns that received that same message. The call of discipleship is holistic and thus it demands a humble approach to the one in whose pattern a disciple would be molded. Where that humility (otherwise seen in action as faith) was absent in Nazareth, it abound...

The Menorah is the most ancient and unique symbol of the Jewish people, and it is central to Zechariah's (puzzling) vision detailed in chapters 2–4. This week, we look at the symbolism and significance of the Menorah in early Israelite worship to see Zechariah's own messianic hope on full display.

In Mark 5, we are faced with two accounts of healing: that of a woman with an emission of blood, and the raising of a young girl from the dead. Both are examples of life-restoration. The latter story is more obvious, but the former story also deals directly with death (as "the life is in the blood," Leviticus 17:11). Jesus, then, is God-at-war with death–rescuing us from the inevitable consequence...

When thinking and speaking about the Kingdom of Heaven, we often imagine it as unimaginable–totally alien to this broken world. But Jesus' many parables help us to consider it in familiar terms. And something about it–a Kingdom we have yet to experience in its fullness–begins to feel like home. Readings: Ezekiel 31:1–14; Psalm 92; 2 Corinthians 5:1–10; Mark 4:26–34

The story of Jesus silencing the storm not only tells us something essential about Jesus but also about his disciples - both ancient and modern. Like the disciples in the boat, our faith can be overcome by fear and can fail us during times of upheaval and uncertainty. At such times we can become offended by what we consider to be God’s lack of concern for us, just like those disciples being swampe...

The Nazirite vow is a bewildering tradition in Torah, seemingly appropriated by the era of the Judges in many odd ways. The foretold birth of Samson in Judges 13:2-25 gives us some clues as to how traditions had changed in the era without a prophet or king to guide Israelites in Torah-living.

The world is filled with terrors—disease, disasters, violence, and death, reminiscent of the trials faced since Adam and Eve. Psalm 116 acknowledges these fears but expresses unwavering trust in God’s deliverance. Paul, in II Corinthians 4:12-5:1, echoes this faith amidst persecution, driven by his belief in the resurrection of Jesus. Both the Psalmist and Paul remind us that our earthly struggles...

As the evangelical world rediscovers the Jewishness of Jesus, we enrich our understanding of His full human identity. But it can be difficult to understand his "Jewishness" in contrast to his contemporaries, most notably among the Pharisees. When we find him accused of breaking Torah (Mark 2), and when he criticizes Pharisaical practices in turn, we are thrown into the same confusing debate alongs...

IN THE WILDERNESS | Hosea 2:1-22 with John Arnold by Christ Church Jerusalem

MY LAWS | Jeremiah 16:19-17:14 with John Arnold by Christ Church Jerusalem

The celebration of Trinity Sunday gives us the opportunity to deepen our understanding of God and His saving work. It is so much more than the forgiveness of sin and justification. It also means healing and transformation, enabling us to put away our harmful individualism and self-interest and become the children of God, living with one another in a way that displays that holy life our Father shar...

Amidst some of the highest praise and evident joy in all of his writings, Paul in Romans chapter 8 guides us through Gospel resources in the face of suffering. He posits that our suffering is felt alongside Creation, and that the Holy Spirit Himself knows this suffering well and communicates it on our behalf to the Father. Readings: John 16:4-15; Romans 8:18-27

The Year of Jubilee is like a great reset for the children of Israel. Every 50 years, at the culmination of 7 cycles of the "Shabbat year," all land reverts back to its earliest family ownership. Debts are cleared, indentured servants are freed, and countless families' connection to their land is reestablished. Jeremiah relied on this teaching in Torah when he chose to purchase land from his cousi...

The Levites are a unique group within the children of Israel. They are a 13th tribe not allotted any territory and yet chosen to render eternal priestly service on behalf of their brethren. Ezekiel, Isaiah, and other prophets all envision the Levites persisting even into the New Creation and maintaining their unique identity in it. Who are they to us today?

Holiness is not built by good behaviors, but itself characterizes those who obey God's commands. Holiness, then, is not bought with righteous behavior; but without righteous behavior, there is no evidence of holiness, even where there should be. This is what Ezekiel sees and condemns.

The Ascension of our Lord is not an act of abandonment, but of commission. In John's Gospel, we are told that only after Christ's Ascension can we receive His promised Holy Spirit, Who empowers us to live out the calling he gave us. "Just as the Father sent me," Jesus says, "so I am sending you." May we ever seek to find Him present among us in Spirit, until the day we will see Him face to face. R...

Many people, even some Christians, think that the Old Testament is only about Law and the New Testament is Love. But the ancient revelation was not changed by Jesus or Paul, although our ignorance of the Hebrew Bible, and perhaps even some anti-Semitism prevents us from seeing the connection. God’s election of the people of Israel was an unmerited act of grace and love, and only then is Israel com...