'Joy: To the World!' Part Three of Four

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Four Gospels — So Who Got The Story Straight?

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The Gospels according to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John in the Bible are biographical narratives about the life of Jesus - so why are they different? Does that mean the eyewitnesses are contradicting each other? ...Ever been in a car accident? There are always differing accounts - and not necessarily because people are lying. The insurance claim may report that a pedestrian saw something from a perspective that differs from a passenger in one of the cars involved, or yet again from another driver coming the other direction. That makes sense - the eyewitnesses each have their own vantage points.  In the same way, the authors of the gospels also have their unique perspectives. They should sound authentically different. In addition, the Gospels were originally composed with various audiences in mind, which makes a world of difference in tailoring the narrative message.  Watch this short clip of how a forensic detective thinks about all of this: As you (hopefull...
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Easter Reflections 

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One of the inescapable things that haunts me at Easter is the question: If I were part of Jesus’ inner circle, could I have been Judas?  ...At Easter I have loved re-reading the book by author and playwright, Dorothy Sayers, ‘The Man Born To Be King’. (This is the perfect script for a movie!) One of the things she does is cast Judas as intelligent, the brightest in the group. Jesus did choose him as one of the 12, so there is good in him. He’s in charge of the finances. He’s calculating, a step ahead. This makes his betrayal even more of a heightened contrast.  If I was in the place of Judas, would I have so misunderstood what Jesus meant with his talk of the Kingdom that I’d betray him and turn over an innocent man -- perhaps to get the revolt against Roman oppression going?  How close am I really to Jesus? Do I try to force his hand? Do I assume too much? What will my true legacy be?  In the end, it turns out ALL of Jesus’ disciples scattered and fled. We all need ...
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‘He Is Risen!’ — Easter Art

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Recently I’ve been enjoying a free channel on TV: Makeful has 4-hour competitions to find the Landscape & Portrait Artist Of The Year - I’m slowly learning what the panel of judges are looking for - they might say this is a painting about nothing! Where’s the subject?? (That’s the point!!) Framing the scene: cold, damp stone = Death Subject: empty space = Resurrection  Focal points: (near) burial cloth,  (receding) cross... the horror, grief and darkness fades away with the dawn of Sunday:  “O death where is your sting?” — see 1 Corinthians 15 Carving these words into the wood also etched them on my heart in a profound way this Easter: LOVE TOOK MY PLACE  Joy created a diorama of Easter story — the cross and the stone sealing the tomb:
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