“I tell you that something greater than the temple is here.” -Matthew 12: 6 “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple?” -1 Corinthians 3: 16 In the Epilogue (“A Staggering Idea”) of Who is This Man?, John Ortberg states that in the Middle Ages maps were “attempts to reflect on the meaning of […]
“But we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us . . . ” -Romans 5: 3-5 As John Ortberg concludes Chapter 15 of Who is This Man?, he observes that the Greek invention of tragedy was an enormous moral […]
“So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus was with them. ‘Greetings,’ he said.” -Matthew 28: 8-9 As John Ortberg begins Chapter 15 (“Sunday”) of Who is This Man?, he wryly observes that Jesus’s greeting to Mary Magdalene and the other Mary […]
“A wise man’s heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote instruction.” -Proverbs 16: 23 Two years ago I purchased a Cattleya (pronounced kat-lee-uh or kat-lay-uh) at an orchid show presented at the Mitchell Park Domes in Milwaukee. A Cattleya, unlike the typical orchids found in grocery story plant departments, consists of pseudobulbs with green, […]
In the concluding portion of Chapter 14 of Who is This Man? John Ortberg states that it’s not quite true that nothing happened on Saturday after Jesus’ death. Silence happened- the pain of silence and the seeming absence of God. C. S. Lewis noted in A Grief Observed that when we are happy, we have […]
As John Ortberg begins Chapter 14 (“Saturday”) of Who is This Man?, he theorizes that there has been only one day in the last 2000+ years when no one believed Jesus was alive- the Saturday following Good Friday. The author poignantly describes that day: “This is Saturday. The day after this but the day before […]
John Ortberg begins Chapter 13 (“Friday”) of Who is This Man? by noting that Jesus’ death is central to His story in an unusual way. The story of Jesus’ death takes up about one-third of each Gospel, in comparison to biographies of famous people like Abraham Lincoln or Martin Luther King, Jr., where their assassinations […]
“My times are in your hands.” -Psalm 31: 15 As John Ortberg continues in Chapter 10 of Who is This Man?, he reiterates that for a long time suffering was the church’s biggest problem. By the end of the fourth century, however, Christianity was the law of the land in Rome. Christianity’s phenomenal growth ironically […]
“I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief.” -Mark 9: 24 In Chapter 10 of Who is This Man?, author John Ortberg states that Rome- and the ancient world in general- could not make sense of or categorize Christianity. By Roman definition, religions were associated with cities and regions, so Christianity was not recognized as a […]
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” -Matthew 5: 8 John Ortberg begins Chapter 9 (The Good Life vs. The Good Person”) of Who is This Man? by stating that two questions usually are posed about worthwhile living: (1) “Who has the good life?” and (2) “Who is a good person?” He […]
As John Ortberg concludes Chapter 8 of Who is This Man?, he asserts that as Christians we need to remember that the first thing that “belongs to God” is the obligation to love. The early Christian church flourished despite the intense persecution of the Roman emperor, Nero. Paul told the church in Rome to pray […]
In Chapter 8 (“There Are Things That Are Not Caesar’s”) of Who is This Man?, John Ortberg states that due to Roman occupation and oppression, the longing of the Jewish people in Jesus’ day was for the kingdom of God to be brought to earth. The question was “How” this would happen. Pastor Ortberg lists […]