Episodes

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 test...

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 Pri...

First of all, Merry Christmas! Today, we walked through Biblical history to trace the prophecy from Eden to the Birth. Christmas is the day when Heaven came down. It truly is the most beautiful day in the history of mankind.

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 st...

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, m...

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 ...

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...

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....

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 ...

When you hear your typical church service about Christmas, more often than not, the story jumps to Luke narrative, Luke, Chapter 2, verses 8 through 14. Linus recites this in the Charlie Brown Christmas! It's one of my absolute favorite readings of this scripture. But what many don't realize is that the History of the birth of Jesus has a narrative that goes back to the very beginning of the Old Testament and threads its way all the way to the Luke story we are so fond of. Stick around to ...

I love reading scripture quietly, slowly and intentionally and then following the hyperlinks that appear in my head! I've already told you guys; I can't shut off the spicket. I'm not good at the details but I pick up on the patterns. I can't go directly to scripture passages from memory but in this jumble of wires in my head, I can somehow connect the dots. I thank God for allowing me to make this affliction something useful and not some sort of craziness! I let my apps sort it out into somethin...

We've walked with Jesus' first two and a half years in our red-letter journey, and we've seen the growth and evolution of his audience. Hopefully we've even added a few believers along this podcast journey. What is becoming plainly evident is the great divide within Judea. You could consider the great divide within our society as a parallel example and the context hints to reasons why that occurs. Here, we stick to the context of Jesus' ministry, but we do approach why people gravitate to "posit...

You hear this all the time, right? "I'm a Good Person". or "I have a Good Heart". or this one: "Well, I'm only human!" I have to be truthful, I've said these things! The fact is, most of us would consider ourselves to be pretty good people. Here's the thing. I used to think that every decision I made in life could be traced back to a decision leading to life or death, no matter how trivial the subject. That was just a core philosophy. That original thought was rooted in my secular lifestyl...

Feel like you're being a pest sometimes? God doesn't look at it that way. He loves your persistence! Never stop asking. I think if you read the notes today, you'll see how we like to read scripture. One might be inclined to just plough through a set of passages; but if you don't have thoughts and questions along the way, you probably are not reading scripture the way it was intended. As you read, let your mind wander into questions. If you're inclined to want to finish the passage, write down...

On its surface, the parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man is simple enough. But with it are some profound statements that will lead you down rabbit holes. And we love rabbit holes! It is here that we come to understand that Purgatory is not in scripture! With all deference to the faithful Catholics, you don't get a do-over! If you die in your sin, you stay in your sin. If you die in Christ, you're in paradise. Notes to You Don't Get a Do Over Episode Link: https://www.rabbitholesandmeditatio...