In this session, Jesus addresses the subject of forgiving sin and retaining sin. Within the believing community there is a high regard to forgive others. However, we often find ourselves surrounded by un-forgiveness. Today we explore this question by asking ourselves to examine, “What pre-qualifications do I tend to place within the picture before I […]
In John 20:21-23 Jesus interacts with his terrified disciples. Their world had been turned upside down. Jesus greets them with “Peace, be with you.” In our second look at this section Jesus says, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” The Moot Men examine His meaning.
Jesus enters the locked room where fear dominates. His first words are, “Peace be with you.” What follows is a three part “what next”. Today the Moot Men examine the first.
Mary has reported to the disciples about her encounter with the resurrected Christ. It is night. The doors are shut. Fear dominates the room. Jesus enters. Speaks peace, then shows the frightened disciples the scars. What was true at that time is true today in multiply ways and circumstances. Jesus continues to enter locked rooms. […]
In session 275 Mary moves from clinging to telling. Her self-created narrative which held her in suspension has now been changed into movement, hope and witness. This one verse carries much for the modern reader to think about. Thanks for joining us.
Before we move from John 20:17, The Moot Men take a look at an analogy designed to help us understand this transitional section within John’s Gospel account. What do we do with Mary’s clinging? And what do we do with Jesus’s response? We hope this analogy helps.
In session 273 The Moot Men take a second look at John 20:17, the exchange itself, Mary’s action, Jesus’s response and Mary’s commission. Through understanding this interaction as a transition in relationship and as a glimpse into the ascension itself, we can gain appreciation into what it means to be a follower of Jesus today. […]
In session 272 The Moot Men arrive at a puzzling encounter accompanied with an important transition. It’s puzzling because the way Jesus respond to Mary is in a way we would not expect. But seated within this short exchange is transition in relationship which is calling us to pay attention. Because as we listen in […]
In session 271, Mary at the tomb suffering loss, her explanation firmly fixed, continues to stay engaged within this moment. And this is what captures us. Instead of shutting down she remains open. And this is where grace enters.
In session 270 the camera swings back to Mary at the tomb for the second time on that Sunday morning. She is in grief and confused. She is interacting with two unknown beings. She is so close to what is true but at this juncture unable to see. Mary’s story is our story.
When the subject was christian discipleship many of us were taught that Facts lead to Faith and Faith is followed by Feelings. This was a tidy way to look at it, it worked until it didn’t. Within Session 269 the Moot Men examine our well intended seekers. And what we discover is something quite different. […]
In Session 268 the Moot Men continue their look at resurrection morning. Last time we looked at Mary arriving first at the empty tomb. After a short exchange with Mary, Peter and John rush to the tomb. And this is where we pick up our story.
In Session 267 the Moot Men arrive at resurrection morning. We left chapter 19 in darkness and we begin chapter 20 in darkness. This, at first, stops us in our tracks. Why is this occasion not flooded with light? We have arrived at the moment but it is not quite as we expect. This is […]
In Session 266 the Moot Men arrive at the end of chapter 19 of John’s Gospel account. We have before us, a sealed tomb on one hand and a busy preparation to enter sacred space on the other. Viewing what has occurred through the lens of revelation brings us to an appropriate place to pause […]
For decades, in mid March, the Moot Men have paused to hear an annual reading of St. Patrick’s Breastplate. We keep coming back because something in that ancient expression resonates deep within all of us. This morning in session 265 we examine this prayer.
Session 264 moves towards two individuals responding to what has occurred. As we engage we see the uncertainty, the risk, the cost, all demonstrated through their act. This is a slow-mo moment we want to pay attention to.
Session 263 brings us to a familiar phrase seen throughout the new testament, “so the scriptures might be fulfilled.” Like all sessions our attempt is to understand this phrase in reference to what John is communicating through his gospel account.
In session 262 the Moot Men examine what John is calling his audience to examine. The reason for his call is so that his audience may believe. And according to John, belief can occur as his audience ponders what John has placed right here in front of them.
In session 261 the Moot Men enter a new space in John’s account. We can call it “the other side of death.” From here we examine this space from the perspective of our own experience and from what the New Testament writers collective refer to as union with Christ.
In session 260B the Moot Men take a second look at “It is finished.” In our last session we examined this phrase through the lens of John’s intent expressed throughout his gospel account. In this session we see how this phrase is best understood in relation to the New Testament’s stated outcome for humanity. To […]