The revchristruelsen’s Podcast

This is a revisitation of a podcast from June 30, 2023.  

Text for discussion: Luke 1

The Son of God most High's birth happened in the fullness of time.  God's salvation plan for humanity would be fulfilled in Jesus Christ.  John the Baptist would roll out the royal carpet for the King of Kings, Jesus, clothing himself in human flesh.  This is the story of John's birth, and the conception of Jesus, Son of God . . . . 

#226 The Benedictus, "Song of Zechariah.", (LSB, CPH).  

 

Many have built their lives, staked their lives on the ideas of Darwin, but how many know that he was once concerned that he may have "devoted his life to a fantasy" [his own words]!? In contrast the Apostle Peter said that the disciples did not follow "cleverly devised myths" and they were well familiar with cleverly devised myths in the ancient world-and there are many and constant cleverly devised myths we see and experience today.  Yet, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and He is RISEN! 

The hymn: Amazing Grace (public domain).

Painting: the Holy Women at the Tomb (by William Adolphe Bouguereau, 1890) Public domain.  

 

Today's message is entitled "Two Trees" based on the Genesis 3 and the Passion Account.  

 

The hymn: Jerusalem, My Happy Home.  Public domain.  

The painting:  Ecce Homo (Behold, the Man) by Antonio Ciseri.  Public domain.  

 

The New Tree of Life and the Great Feast: Moses and the Elders ate and drank and beheld God in a feast; in the Last Supper, God ate in the domain of the Apostles.  The tree of life passed away from history, but God gives a new tree of life and fruits thereof.  

 

The hymn: Lord of Glory, You Hast Bought Us (public domain).  

The painting: The Last Supper by Carl Bloch, 1800s (public domain).  

I encourage you to observe one of your congregation's Good Friday services, but I invite you to share in this one, especially, if you are not able to make it to a service on Good Friday.

Recorded in 2021, here we observe Good Friday with the Stations of the Cross Service . . . .   May this service be a blessing to you as you remember how our Lord died upon the cross to atone for our sins.  Our Lord Jesus Christ is now risen . . . .  Let us hear God's word together and recall how Jesus, the lamb of God, takes away the sin of the world . . . . 

The painting: Behold the Man by Antonio Ciseri, 1871.

Text for discussion: Deuteronomy 22. 

Seeing the Bible through the modern lens is a dangerous proposition that can lead us to look at the Scriptures in a skewed way.  It matters what lens we bring to the table when we read Scripture.  What do we make of the ancient laws in Scripture even as we live in very different ways in the modern world?  As much as things change, things remain the same!  

The hymn: Be Still My Soul (public domain) 

The engraving (by Dore) a depiction of Moses and the Ten Commandments.  (public domain).

 

Text for discussion: Deuteronomy 21.

 

We live in a Fallen world, and sometimes tragedy strikes.  How will people find closure?  How will justice be served?  Man cannot see what happened, but God know all and sees all.  It is His Son who will judge the living and the dead, but in this world we seek to limit the beast mentality and seek a higher way in the God who has created us.  

The hymn: Savior When in Dust to Thee (public domain). 

The engraving (by Dore) a depiction of Moses and the Ten Commandments.  (public domain).

 

Text for discussion: Deuteronomy 20. 

 

In the modern world, there are certain segments of society that seem to think that war is always evil, however, there are some enemies, whether one likes it or not, that prove to be an existential threat.  In such a circumstance war would be justified, but some might always be in denial about that consideration.  

War in a Fallen world is sometimes necessary.  With God's people in Deuteronomy 20, it was about defeating not only existential threats, but spiritual enemies too.  

The hymn: Not All the Blood of Beasts (public domain).

The engraving (by Dore) a depiction of Moses and the Ten Commandments.  (public domain).

Text for discussion: Deuteronomy 19.  

In today's world people might try to justify bad laws or policies with biblical justifications, but historical and cultural context always matter!  There were cities to which a person that had committed a serious error-but not a crime could flee for safety and refuge from a family member who might seek vengeance.  This is part of our topic for today . . . . 

The hymn: Glory Be to Jesus (public domain) 

The engraving (by Dore) a depiction of Moses and the Ten Commandments.  (public domain).

 

Text for discussion: Deuteronomy 18.  

The word "incarnation" describes what Jesus did.  The God of Heaven and Earth lowered himself to take on human flesh.  Moses says that this would happen long before it came to pass.  In Scripture, we see the grand sweep of God's plan of salvation for humanity.  

The hymn:  All Depends on Our Possessing (public domain)

The engraving (by Dore) a depiction of Moses and the Ten Commandments.  (public domain).