Red Letter Episodes

So, yesterday started like every other day. It was early, and I was deep into my studies. Digging into more, reaching out for more and engaged. Then, my phone beeped. I was interrupted by a fellow disciple who was having an issue with her email. (My work involves website development, hosting and email). I was annoyed that on a Sunday, in the middle of my quiet time, I had to drop what I was doing and help her resolve the issue. I didn't completely dismiss it, but I didn't give it my full attenti...

We don't remove our podcasts if we think we said something wrong. We want you, the listener to stay engaged in the process of learning. We don't profess to be all-knowing by any stretch. During our discussion about the raising of Lazarus, I think we overstated our position and interpretation of Daniel 9:27. We have had many discussions about this and are still trying to consider the best interpretation of the scripture. I'm not so sure ruffled feathers here are a bad thing. It means people are d...

Today we close the chapter on the resurrection of Lazarus. This chapter leaves no room for ambiguity with respect to who Jesus is. In all of scripture there is only one the commands death. We've seen resurrection elsewhere in the Bible, but never like this. We gained some deeper insight into the local politics beyond the Pharisees, and I think it's the time in our Red-Letter journey that we've encountered Caiaphas - the Jewish High Priest. Anyway, this is a rich chapter, and we walk through this...

The resurrection of Lazarus itself is almost anticlimactic in the scope of what's presented. So we slow down dramatically and focus here on the interaction of Jesus with Martha and Mary. Within this context we see one of the rawest expressions of emotion we see from Jesus anywhere in the Gospels (and also the shortest sentence in the Bible: Jesus wept.) By slowing down, we were able to determine not only the difference and character and response of Martha and Mary, and we took the time to unders...

During the Red-letter journey, we encountered the Thomas. It occurred to me that we didn't know much about Thomas except this one phrase that has lingered through history - "Doubting Thomas". When Jesus is ready to turn back toward Judea, in the face of imminent danger - Thomas stands up and basically says to the other disciples: If He's going to face death, we're all going with Him. It's worth taking a deeper look at Thomas and reframing his legacy. https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/j25gsatzrmdhd...

We've back on the Red Letter trail today. Jesus and his disciples are on the outskirts of Jerusalem, having just been pursued by a band of Jewish zealots wanting to stone Him. Jesus gets the word that Lazarus, his beloved friend is very sick. The resurrection of Lazarus is perhaps one of the most well known miracles in the Bible but today we stop short of that to focus on the events leading up to Jesus' return to Judea. Notes for The Death of Lazarus Episode Link: https://www.rabbitholesandmedit...

We're on the last leg of Jesus' journey to the cross. One shift that I'm noticing is a focus on logic and argument derived from Scripture. Earlier in Jesus ministry, it was more about actions. Lately, Jesus is showing a command of scripture and the Law that is irrefutable. If you want to go find these arguments, look no further than where the Jews pick up stones. When Jesus presents an argument to the Jews that they cannot respond to intellectually, they always resort to violence. Such is the ca...

As we continue along on our red-letter journey, we encounter Jews asking Jesus who will be saved. Will it be many or just a few? The beauty of following along chronologically is that we just heard Jesus discussing the narrow door over in John 10. There he was addressing the religious leaders. Well, that doesn't mean that their followers get off the hook and Jesus makes it abundantly clear. Some will suggest that this can be one of the scariest passages to hear Jesus utter. Luke 13:25-27. Once th...

We drop into a conversation between some Galileans and Jesus in Luke 13:1-9. This is a fascinating discussion that is enriched with some historical backdrop. This is the first time we have encountered Pilate in the Red-Letter journey. He's not a good guy! What unfolds are some very pointed questions that Jesus answers and the answers do not make the one who asked the question any more comfortable. In fact, it leaves them with a question (unasked) that Jesus answers with the Parable of the Fig Tr...

Did it ever occur to you to ask why Jesus arrived at this point in history? Why did Jesus show up when he did? What would have happened if he had waited. When we arrive on the scene in the New Testament, John the Baptist is already calling the Pharisees a brood of vipers. That particular term is used again by John and twice more by Jesus. Why the Jews first? I would argue that the entry of Jesus in the first century begins as a rescue mission. First to save the sheep that are not just lost but s...

In our last podcast, we hit an interesting passage: John 9.4. And we admittedly, took the most expedient root to the interpretation and we're not the only ones. It's a fairly common interpretation. Jesus is there with his disciples, and He says something very curious: He says: "As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work." I honestly didn't like our interpretation. I noted that we were seeing creation language all through Chapter 9, and I ...

John chapter 9 continues where 8 left off. An ordinary man would be long gone. Remember, they were resolved to stone Jesus at the end of John 8. Instead, Jesus reverts back to what He is sent to do. Even the water of Siloam stays in the picture. Jesus approaches a blind man and heals Him. We break down the entire chapter of John 9 and come away with some pretty cool answers to common questions about grace, obedience, suffering and most importantly who Jesus is. Also, be sure to check out the pod...

Imagine you have been watching the dialog in John 8 unfold in a courtroom. The Bible loves courtroom metaphors by the way. Jesus is defending himself. He is facing the jury, giving his closing testimony. God is in the Judges seat. Abraham is in the witness stand. And, oh yes, Satan is their in the courtroom too... he's at the prosecution desk, frantically taking notes. This podcast picks up at that seen so you don't have to imagine it. We've recreated what could basically be Jesus closing testim...

We spent some time in John 8 trying to understand the perspective of the Jews who were confronting Jesus. After much deliberation we arrived at a prison metaphor that helps explain it. I think it might be easier to imagine the image of prison than to describe it. "Prison" was comfortable for the Jews. They did not understand the difference between spiritual death and physical death. They did not think they were in prison. In their delusion, they were right where they needed to be. Notes to Priso...

There's an easter egg at the end... Just wanted to get that out early. We are still in John Chapter 8. I had intended to finish this and, well, I made it to verse 32. TWO VERSES out of the 29 we wanted to cover. Is it any wonder that we call our podcast Rabbit Holes and Meditations? I think it helps to explain how this content is generated. Today, I have two verses and 47 pages of typed, formatted, organized notes. It's basically how I journal through scripture. I read what I want to study, then...

As I continue to ponder John 8:21-30, my mind was connecting the meaning of all that we have discovered up to this point in our red-letter journey. Walking chronologically with Jesus through the gospels helps afford you the same maturity of thoughts and ideas that the disciples would have been going through. It's only fitting that each encounter feels more deeply meaningful. I like to consider myself the 15th disciple. Matthias was the 13th replacing Judas. Paul, the 14th and the rest, you, me, ...

We hinted at this podcast in our last discussion. Up to this point in the man's history, all earthly systems have a mutually dependent relationship. No matter what the system, if that is where you place your trust, your faith, then you are engaging in idolatry. You are trusting something of earthly origin more than you're trusting in your own Creator. By contrast, your own creator, does not exist in that mutual, symbiotic relationship. You still depend on the Creator, whether you want to admit i...

What happens if man creates a system that does not depend on man? This is a more direct discussion leading to tomorrows podcast. I'll let you ponder it. No notes today, this is just a short intro. Episode link: https://www.rabbitholesandmeditations.com/creating-a-non-dependent-creation/

There's a lot of talk about the nature of dependence in this podcast and I'm not sure it does a good job at answering the questions I was trying to resolve. Here are the questions... The bible talks about slavery - to your money, to your reputation, even to your religion. In short - slavery to sin. We defined this a basically a symbiotic relationship between the slave and the master. Though it might not appear so, the master is as much dependent on the slave as the slave is to the master. The po...

I'm trying not to be so linear in my thinking. It stretches my logical brain when I am presented things that are true in both directions. This is exactly what we encounter in John 8 verses 12-20. Jesus is still teaching at the Feast of Booths. And the Illumination of the temple ceremony is the perfect backdrop for this passage. Notes for A Light in the Darkness Episode Link: https://www.rabbitholesandmeditations.com/a-light-in-the-darkness/

We approach a very common story in John 8. It is the morning after the Feast of Booths. Jesus is up early and still teaching. The pharisees detect and opportunity to trap Jesus. They bring out a woman they claim is an adulteress and the story unfolds. I don't think it's a surprise to those listening to this podcast that we use AI to help dig deep into scripture. Just so you know that none of these podcasts are a one-way AI conversation, today, we left the commentary and the challenges intact. Th...

We've been following Jesus's Red Letters chronologically for quite some time. Most of that journey, up to this point has been chronicled in the Matthew, Mark and Luke. Chronologically, The Red Letters Follow the Mission Pattern. Jesus’ ministry moves from: Public proclamation (Galilee) to Growing opposition to Private Instruction of disciples to Passion and fulfillment. If you're wondering why we haven't heard much from the Gospel of John - you're noticing something that was intentional (not by ...

Imagine a room sealed shut. No hidden panels. No alternate exits. No clever puzzles left to solve. There is only one way out. In the center of the room stands a man holding a key. He is not shouting. He is not forcing it into anyone’s hand. He simply says, “This is the key.” Around him, conversations multiply. Some argue about the walls — how thick they are, who built them, and who should be blamed for being trapped. Others debate strategies, hierarchies, and theories. A few suggest the real exi...

So, I walked into today's program preparation like every other day. But something clicked and given the context of where we are in scripture, I just didn't expect it. Earlier today, I did a study on the history leading up to the birth of Jesus. Then, on a completely unrelated part of scripture, that study became relevant. It wasn't the central theme, but it was a key component. But that was only part of it. As I'm reading, I'm watching how divine orchestration plays out. And it is there that I r...