November 20, 2021
If the ministry of the new covenant mediates the glory of God in the face of Jesus the Messiah, why is Paul’s ministry so filled with suffering? The gospel, epitomized in the death and resurrection of Jesus, calls its ministers—all believers—to give themselves for the sake of others. When we follow Jesus into his ministry, […]
No Comments » | Biblical Texts | Tagged: 2 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians 4:7-15, Death, Glory, Gospel, Hope, Jesus, Ministry, Resurrection, Suffering | Permalink
Posted by John Mark Hicks
March 27, 2016
On Resurrection Day, almost two thousand years ago, two disciples were transformed by their experience of the risen Messiah at a table in Emmaus. While walking to Emmaus, they heard the story of a Messiah who must first suffer and then enter glory. The stranger who walked with them expounded Scripture, and their hearts burned […]
3 Comments | Biblical Texts, Theology | Tagged: 1 Corinthians 10:16, Easter, Eschatology, Eucharist, Lord's Supper, Luke 24:35, Resurrection, Table | Permalink
Posted by John Mark Hicks
March 26, 2016
Good Friday, and then Easter. But a day is missing in that story. To move from Friday to Sunday we must walk through Saturday. Saturday, however, is a lonely day. Death has won. Hope is lost. Jesus of Nazareth lies in a tomb. His disciples are afraid, hiding, and deeply depressed. Everything in which they […]
3 Comments | Spirituality, Theology | Tagged: Death, Easter, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Resurrection | Permalink
Posted by John Mark Hicks
February 8, 2016
[Hear this sermon at here.] When Jesus saw Mary wailing in grief and saw the others with her—both men and women—visibly sobbing, a deep anger welled up within his spirit, and he roused himself and asked them, “Where have you laid him?” They responded, “Come and see.” Then Jesus burst into tears. As a result, […]
2 Comments | Biblical Texts, Pastoral Care | Tagged: Christology, Death, Eschatology, Grief, John 11:35, Pastoral Care, Resurrection, Suffering | Permalink
Posted by John Mark Hicks
August 10, 2015
Because Christ also suffered… If one suffers for “doing good” as an expression of the will of God, Peter writes, it better to suffer for that than suffering for doing evil (1 Peter 2:17). Why is that? Because Christ also suffered… The Christ Narrative—the story of God in which Christ suffers for sins—is the reason […]
1 Comment | Biblical Texts, Theology | Tagged: 1 Peter 3:18-22, Ascension, Atonement, Baptism, Christology, Death of Jesus, Enthronement, Noah, Resurrection | Permalink
Posted by John Mark Hicks
July 1, 2015
Though the present text is not original to the Gospel of Mark, it is ancient and became part of Mark’s Gospel at an early point. In fact, Mark 16:9-20 appears to be a composite of stories from the other gospels (appearance to Mary, two disciples traveling, appearance to the Eleven, the ascension of Jesus) and […]
No Comments » | Biblical Texts | Tagged: Ascension, Baptism, Enthronement, Great Commission, Mark 16:9-20, Resurrection | Permalink
Posted by John Mark Hicks