Red Letter Episodes

Take the hardest, smartest, most devout Jewish theologian who has taken it upon himself to end the Christian movement before it even starts, and confront him with the Lord, and things change in an instant. Saul has some things going for him if only we could get him on our team! He’s passionate, persistent, smart and convincing. There’s just one thing getting in the way. He hates you with every fiber of his being. And that’s the guy chosen by the lord to bring Christianity to the Gentiles. Notes ...

You might have thought we were done with the red-letters! Au contraire! The disciples of Jesus have witnessed Jesus’ ascension. They’ve gone back to Jerusalem as instructed. There, they are filled with the Holy Spirit - the Pentecost. That happens in Acts Chapter 2 and from there the Christians are now actively spreading the word of Jesus. Peter’s first sermon is delivered in this same chapter. The charge forward is simple: Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter a...

Jesus doesn't hop on a plane, he leaves in style! This is the first scene in Acts. The disciples are still stuck on "when you coming back to take out the Romans? Instead, He hands them an incredible amount of work to accomplish and plans to send a helper. Notes for Hey Gotta Run Episode Link:

The Bible doesn't say much about the bema seat, but when we think of Christ's judgment, it often provokes negative thoughts. But every Christian will read John Chapter 21 and come away seeing Jesus' compassion and Peter's restoration. Let that image sink in. Look, you're a sinner. We all are. Picture the bema seat as Jesus meeting You on the shore as you walk through your past and finally drop everything that is keeping you in chains. Notes for The Second Fire Episode Link: https://www.rabbithol...

We come to the end of John's gospel and find one of the most intimate moments in all of the Gospels. We see Peter at his most vulnerable and Jesus at his most compassionate. Notes for Peters Restoration Episode Link: https://www.rabbitholesandmeditations.com/peters-restoration/

Now that we have walked through most of the Red Letters in the gospels, we can go back to some of the highlights. The Bible never ceases to amaze me with its depths and revelations. This is why you can read the Bible for your entire life and always find new nuggets hidden in plain sight. Today, we lean on Sam Shamoun to help us with the passage about the woman who was caught in adultery. She was brought before Jesus to trap him. A quick note about Sam Shamoun: What sets him apart is his remarkab...

With yesterday being Tax Day in the US we thought it would be appropriate to dig deeper into the tax trap presented to Jesus. I just did my taxes yesterday. I always wait because I always owe money. After putting in a solid 10 hours just trying to complete the forms and forage through my financial maze, it got me to thinking about how much money really does rule our lives! Often the first thing that comes to mind when you're do your taxes is "I earned this, why isn't it mine?" Then you think abo...

As we were studying the burial of Jesus, this surfaced. We decided to do an entire podcast on it because it was such a cool revelation. Jesus has his footprints all over the Old Testament. But until you connect with it, sometimes, you just kind of read right over it. If you're like me, you read the information about the construction of the Mercy Seat in Exodus with maybe some mild interest. God instructs its construction with such incredible detail. You know it's significant, but in context, you...

One might be inclined to indict Judas for his premeditated betrayal. I think we come at Judas and pre-judge. But I've often considered the idea that Judas's intentions might have been good. I think this because I can't see how a person can walk with Jesus for that long and not think otherwise. Whatever Judas is doing, in his own head, he thinks he's doing the right thing... until he realizes he was wrong. In any case, we can't separate the betrayal of Judas from the denial of Peter and say that ...

After Mark's stark, abrupt end, we turn to the remaining Gospels and harmonize the events that filled out the rest of Sunday. Notes for He's Not Here Episode Link: https://www.rabbitholesandmeditations.com/hes-not-here/

We were having some fun in our Bible study today, getting AI to break free of its stodgy, formal character. Honestly, it wasn't working. So, we had to write a script for this reading and get 11Labs to read it back. It's not great, but not bad for the little bit of time we spent with it. For those of you who want to take this personally, don't. The message is still there. God gave us a sense of humor for a reason. For those who want to point at the AI as "bad". I'm right there with you! It is! Fo...

We are on the other side of the crucifixion. Easter has passed, and on our Red-Letter journey, we come up to what I can only describe as jarring! When you have invested as much time as we have and focused on the harmony of all four gospels, there is something in Mark's last chapter that I've simply highlighted and marked as OPTIONAL. Let's explain. We have added Mike Winger's research and transcript to this Podcast. Mike has done an in-depth study of Mark 16. We summarize his video transcript in...

Yesterday was Easter. After the excitement of seeing the risen Jesus, I can imagine at least Thomas asking: "Lord, what happened down there? Inquiring minds want to know!" We often jump past the three days. Today, we want to take a second and see if we can piece together what actually happened to Jesus during those three days. Notes for Something Happened on the Way to Heaven Episode Link: https://www.rabbitholesandmeditations.com/something-happened-on-the-way-to-heaven/

Our report is back. The dust had settled somewhat in Jerusalem. The Passover week has ended, and today is a new day. Just when you think the movie has ended, a new scene fades in, and the ending changes completely. On 31 AD, (following John's timeline), Friday was a high day (a high Sabbath). Thursday was the crucifixion. Don't buy the "Good Friday" hype. That becomes a tradition much later. Crucifixion was on Thursday, NOT FRIDAY. Friday is a tradition, but when you do the math, you can't get t...

Our fictitious reporter has no back-room access. He is reporting from the streets. The Headlines could say so many things, but for someone simply watching from the crowd, he can only report the one thing that resonates across the landscape: "Jesus Crucified". We imagined how the crowd, many of whom on Sunday ushered their Messiah into Jerusalem, riding in on a donkey, peacefully, humbly, are now shouting, "Crucify Him!" Previous Podcasts covering this event will give you the theological and insi...

We continue to follow our fictitious if not anachronistic reporting of the events as they are playing out during Passover, AD 31. Imagine a news paper special report has been distributed all throughout Jerusalem. This boots-on-the-ground report covers the events following the dinner meeting with Jesus and his apostles the night before and what transpired during the night. Podcasts and Insider Commentaries supporting today's reports. Banter Before Supper https://www.rabbitholesandmeditations.com/...

We continue to follow our fictitious Jerusalem Chronicle News reporter. It's Wednesday, Nisan 13, AD 31. Jesus has left the religious elite seething, plotting, and utterly embarrassed the day before. He and His disciples distance themselves from the temple courts. While they are preparing for a passover meal together, the religious elite are preparing for something entirely different. Supporting Podcast Episodes for Wednesday events. Something happened on the way to supper https://www.rabbithole...

We follow our fictitious reporter as he continues to chronicle the events of Tuesday of this week of Passover. So, if you think things were supposed to quiet down after Monday, think again. Jesus and His disciples come back into Jerusalem on Tuesday morning. It it's any indication, the Fig Tree that Jesus cursed the day before has withered and is dead - in less than a day! And that is just a precursor to what will unravel on the temple courts on Tuesday. Previous Podcasts Covering Events of Toda...

We continue to follow our fictitious reporter from the Jerusalem Chronicle to get a boots-on-the-ground view of what happened on Monday (today) of Passion Week. Previous Podcasts covering this day include: The County Fair on the Temple Court https://www.rabbitholesandmeditations.com/the-county-fair-on-the-temple-court/ The Curse of the Fig Tree https://www.rabbitholesandmeditations.com/the-curse-of-the-fig-tree/ Monday's Jerusalem Chronicle Report by our trusty (but fictitious) reporter Episode ...

As our Red-Letter journey closes in on the Crucifixion, we decided to pull back. Every day this week, we are acting as a News Reporter traveling with Jesus and the disciples. The notes are written like a News Story from the Jerusalem Chronicle. The News Story is provided in the notes. Related Podcasts. Accusing Mary https://www.rabbitholesandmeditations.com/accusing-mary/ Palms and Psalms https://www.rabbitholesandmeditations.com/palms-and-psalms/ The Passover Lamb Laments https://www.rabbithole...

This was a tough podcast to study for. The journey to Calvary is depicted in all four gospels, and each provides detail that paints a grueling picture of suffering. What you immediately notice about Jesus is not the agony of his suffering but his outreach and concern for the men doing this - and for His Mother. There is mockery from everywhere, even from the criminals beside him. When you bear the weight of this scene and see what Jesus is doing for all of those lining the path to see Him crucif...

As I was reading the account of Pilate's interaction with Jesus, it dawned on me how familiar it was. We often read the account in isolation, and I decided to dig deeper and consider its implications across the span of history. We've said it time and again through our podcasts. God is orchestrating this. Essay - The Evil That Men Do Episode Link: https://www.rabbitholesandmeditations.com/e/the-evil-that-men-do/

Pilate knows the truth of Jesus' innocence. He has stated it three times. Yet when he issues the verdict, it is for the crucifixion of Jesus. The irony is staggering. The very word "verdict" means "to speak the truth". I'm not exactly sure how to describe Pilate. He's often depicted as ruthless. He feels more like a puppet. He's that person always concerned about what others think. In this case, he must satisfy Caesar. He must satisfy the Jewish elite. His wife is whispering in his ear things co...

What is truth? Those three worlds have consumed me for years. Isn't that the endeavor of every philosophical pursuit? And yet, we read those three words uttered by Pilate to Jesus, and simply move on. Not so fast. Pilate had the luxury of standing before the only person, the only human that ever existed, who could have possibly answered that question. But Pilate himself had already dismissed the answer. We ask our audience - have you? Notes (and Essay) to What is Truth by Greg Newell Episode Lin...