Monday, July 20, 2020

Jesus and Nicodemus



How to understand the birth metaphor in John 3:1-11? 
What point does Nicodemus miss out on? 
What is Jesus's point?

Jesus in the Synoptic Gospels



There is one Jesus, but there are different portrayals of Jesuses in the different Gospels. This video deals with the synoptic Jesus who is also different in the synoptic Gospels.

Sunday, July 19, 2020

Why did Jesus come to the world? The historical Jesus and Four Gospels



A brief introduction to Jesus and the Four Gospels.
Why did he come to the world according to the Four Gospels? -According to Mark, Jesus came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). -According to Matthew, he came to fulfill the righteousness of God (Matt 5:17). -According to Luke, he came to seek out and save the lost (Luke 19:10). -According to John, he came to testify to the truth of God (John 18:37).

Thursday, July 9, 2020

Unjust Judge and Widow



What does Jesus try to address in the original parable? Why does Luke emphasize prayer? What kind of justice is discussed in this parable? This parable of Jesus is not about prayer but about justice.

Rich Man and Lazarus



Do we see in this parable the limitations of Lukan charity-based ethics? In fact, this parable does not ask the question of how the man became rich. The only thing expected from him is a bit of charity that may help the poor man. However, this parable challenges the view of maximalist freedom: “I can do whatever I want because all I have is mine.”

Unjust Steward



What is wrong with the manager? Did he lend the master’s money with unusually high-interest rate to his customers? If so, he was unjust. He harmed the master’s reputation and expropriated his customers. Why did the manager decide to cut back the amount of debt for the master’s customers? Because his master knew … so, he may lose his job. … so, to get his living among them … Why did his master commend the manager? (His reputation; his business). In the end, there are all winners: the master’s reputation is restored; he could get his business going as usual; the manager does not lose his job; the customers have a better rate.

Wednesday, July 8, 2020

Father and Two Sons (Luke 15)



"Father and Two Sons" in Luke 15 is one of the three ”lost” parables in Luke: the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. Is this an allegorical story or just a family story with two parts, the younger son and the older son? The main theme is the father’s compassion. We need to analyze characters: the father's behavior as not very adamant about his sons and his unconditional acceptance of his son; the older son/brother as a diligent son; a prosecutor-role; the younger one as immature and selfish; not truly repenting, but returning home to survive. Reconciliation will happen eventually? What are the conditions for it?

Rich Farmer (Rich Fool)



This parable is known as Rich Fool, found only in Luke. One’s riches are not made by oneself. One must thank God, the laborers, the community, the sun, and the wind. Rather than building more warehouses, one must share one’s abundance with the community. Storing only for oneself while others are starving is evil. Life is short.