life of Christ
Fullness of life: Hebrews 4:12-16; Mark 10:17-31
People who are satisfied and content do not seek Jesus—only those who know there is something missing from their lives.
Jesus groans: Mark 7:24-37
Jesus does not serve the vague “God of everybody.” He serves the scandalously particular God of Israel.
Prophets at home: Mark 6:1-13
The villagers of Nazareth knew Jesus, and they thought him to be nothing special.
Dangerous crossings: Mark 4:35-41
"And they took him with them in the boat." Why is Jesus suddenly in the passive role?
Something about Jesus: Jesus is terrible at meeting people's expectations
Most Christians are stubbornly fixed on being like Jesus. He is the gold standard for what it means to be fully human, in full union with the Divine. They tell me what it costs to love unconditionally, to forgive 70-times-seven, to show compassion for the poor—all essential hallmarks of Jesus’ ministry. What I hear less about is what it costs to oppose the traditions of the elders, to upset pious expectations of what a child of God should say or do, to subvert religious certainty, and to make people responsible for their own lives. Yet all of these are present in his example too.
Unlikely messenger: John 4:5-42
This is not a metaphorical desert. Left alone here at high noon, Jesus could die without water.