From Hanukkah to Holy Week
Stephen Venable
Hanukkah is another name for the Feast of Dedication (John 10:22) which celebrated the liberation and cleansing of the temple during the Maccabean Revolt. The vast temple complex that would later be built under Herod formed a large part of the eastern wall of the city in the time of Jesus. Imagine being stationed at […]
Booths, Dedication, and Beyond
Stephen Venable
The extended account of the events surrounding Jesus’ attendance at the Feast of Tabernacles and the Feast of Dedication stand at center of the fourth gospel. Although chronologically they are far beyond the midpoint of the story of Jesus’ ministry, they form the hinge of John’s narrative. Roughly two years are covered in the first […]
Between the Two Feasts
Stephen Venable
Though He tarried, Jesus did eventually leave the home of Martha to go forth into the city teeming with people all asking the same question: “where is He?” (Jn. 7:10-11) John describes Jesus’ visit to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles and the Feast of Dedication almost as though it was one continuous story. The […]
Journey to the Feast
Stephen Venable
The account of the first journey to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles spans from Luke 9:51 to Luke 10:42. It is impossible to even briefly address all that is recorded, yet there are several things particularly noteworthy to the larger story. Pronunciation of Judgment Upon Galilee – After being vehemently rejected twice at the […]
The Starting Point
Stephen Venable
“When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.” (Luke 9:51, ESV) The starting point for meditating on the crucifixion of Jesus in the narrow sense would be when He arrives in Bethany six days before the Passover (John 12:1). In the broad sense, however, […]
Beholding the Lamb
Stephen Venable
Easter is now less than two weeks away. Like Advent, I like to use these times of the year as opportunities to give my attention to the life of Jesus in a heightened way. In the days leading up to the specific remembrance of His death and resurrection, I will be writing a series of […]
Happy Ducks and Bored People
Stephen Venable
“The reason that ducks and donkeys are never bored is that they are immersed in particularities. They lack the dynamic thrust of spirit into the limitless. Particular experiences satisfy ducks…They lack an orientation to the beyond and so do not need anything beyond here and now. A man may assume that prayer is meaningless because […]
The Future and the Present-Part 2
Stephen Venable
“Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:13, NASB95) Twelve years have passed since this verse first began to disrupt my life. Through all the changing seasons of circumstances, ministry, and […]
Power in Numbers
Stephen Venable
Having a gathering of thousands of young adults in one place doesn’t necessarily mean much in the eyes of God. If 25,000 bodies do somehow make their way to Bartle Hall this year, that will only equal just under 2% of the population of the Kansas City Metro area on any given day. While the […]
On the Second Day of Christmas
Stephen Venable
“When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the […]
True Shepherds
Stephen Venable
“Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you on knowledge and understanding.” (Jeremiah 3:15, NASB95) The mark of a shepherd that cares for the flock according to God’s heart is feeding His people with knowledge and understanding. Apart from the testimony of Scripture, we might be inclined to […]
Why Make the Trip to Bethlehem?
Stephen Venable
The ultimate goal of our devotion to the life of Jesus during Advent and at all times is to see clearly enough to evoke the response of love and worship that He is worthy of. We will be touched, encouraged, and transformed as we look upon Him, but we turn our eyes toward the accounts […]
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