Episodes

Almost every encounter between Jesus and the Pharisees becomes a teaching moment for Jesus and a learning one for us. It starts off simple enough. Jesus and His disciples sat down to eat. The religious elite seem mortified that they did not wash their hands. Jesus has just the opening he needs. As we were studying this, the surface level stuff became pretty obvious. By now in our red-letter journey, it is almost redundant. Jesus calls the Pharisees out on their hypocrisy... again. This time h...

It's easy to look at the scriptures and judge. It's better to look at the scriptures and learn. We often ask: "How could those guys have missed the Messiah?" He was standing right there, healing, casting out demons, raising the dead! Jesus had just fed a crowd of probably 10,000 people (5000 men plus women and children) and some of them came back and asked for a sign! Hello! We looked at what they knew. We looked at what their expectations were. We looked at scripture they would have been ...

The title is intended to be provocative. Of course A.I. is not the bread of life... however you don't have to go far into the web to discover many people that would disagree with you. As we were walking through the Red-Letter journey that we've been on, we are just leaving the scene where Jesus has fed the 5000. He sends his disciples onward. He dismisses the crowd and the retreats to the mountain. Later that evening, he heads to Capernaum taking the shortest distance, across the water. That'...

Jesus and the disciples are leaving a full day. They never seem to have time to rest. After the feeding of the 5000, Jesus instructs his disciples to take the boat over to their next destination. Jesus dismisses the crowd and retreats to the mountain to pray. After waiting a bit, the disciples move out without Jesus. They encounter rough waters and find themselves struggling against the waves and the wind. Jesus crosses the water on foot. This miracle cements the notion that Jesus is the Son of ...

The Disciples have returned from their mission. They've seen Jesus over the course of about two years perform every kind of miracle. They've seen Him calm the storms and cast out a Legion of Demons. He's turned water into wine. Now, before they've even had time to reflect on the meaning of their recent mission. With the help of a young boy, Jesus is going to show it to them the meaning of discipleship and giving. Notes for Even the Smallest Offering Episode Link:

As we continue following Jesus' words chronologically, we are about halfway through his ministry. Jesus says: “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” That prayer asked and answered launches the first mission of the disciples. We find accounts in Matthew, Mark and Luke. To make it real, we have imagined what it might be like in the day of a disciple pair on this mission journey. In fact, we imagined...

I think typically when this debate comes up in conversation it is initiated by someone who is worried about stumbling. So, let's get that off the table even before we begin the debate. We all sin! I think that your response to sin is the deciding factor. Do you sin in defiance? Do you have regrets? Do you want to fix what you did wrong? The fact that a person is worried enough to ask the question is a good sign! That person's response should be to confess to Christ and ask for forgiveness, which...

This is why we love Rabbit Holes. As we continue to follow Jesus through the gospels in our Red-Letter journey, we get to the part where Jesus is now going to send out his 12. And we asked, why 12? The answer to that simple question is deep and profound and if you trace it, you end up seeing the entire story of the Bible. Ever wonder about the 144,000? This is so cool! Notes to Twelve

As we walk with Jesus, we constantly see a stark contrast. We see the helpless, the blind, the sick, the demon possessed being healed. We see the Pharisees and the Scribes deny the very deity of the one who is healing these people. Today we seek to understand why the thoughts and ideas of the Jews of the day split into these two camps. Hopefully we begin to see how these miracles speak to the glory of God and we even recognize meaning of why sometimes the healing doesn't happen. We should never ...

I find it sometimes helpful to imagine the scene and the emotion in the moment. We often read the Bible clinically and if you don't put yourself in the scene, you're going to miss it. You read the Bible as much with your heart as you do with your mind. Today, we walk along with Jairus and try to imagine what is going on in his world in this moment. More importantly, what is his emotion. Not what is he thinking, but rather, what is he feeling. This is hard for me, I'm not a super emotional person...

I think sometimes the subject matter of these passages causes us to not go deeper. It's uncomfortable just on its surface. If you just stop, put aside your preconceived notions and look at this story beyond the blood, you'll see the entire story of the Gospel. As we have followed Jesus through the gospels, every healing is revealing. Every miracle is a microcosm of the Gospel. Notes for A Touch of Faith Episode Link: https://www.rabbitholesandmeditations.com/a-touch-of-faith/

Jesus walks on to the shores of Gergesa. A demoniac approaches Jesus. Now... we've seen Jesus cast out demons before. Why is this any different? Well, the name of the demon is "Legion... for we are many". This is probably the height of depravity and possession. Or more accurately, the height of demonic captivity. Jesus just calmed a raging storm - something His disciples recognize is Messianic. Little did they know that once Jesus stepped out of the boat and onto the shore that taming the raging...

You know, sometimes you get caught in the middle of some crisis. Your immediate thought is, "OK" how am I going to get myself out of this.". In our Red-Letter journey, today we see the disciples, experienced fishermen, in a boat with Jesus. Jesus is tired and sleeping. A storm comes up that drives these fishermen to the point of panic. We discover how the storm can be a test of faith. "How am I going to get myself out of this" is not the right response! Notes for "When the Storms Come" Epi...

Every time I get into a small scripture, the larger message pulls me into a direction I didn't expect. Today is no exception. Jesus is explaining the present kingdom using parables. Through these parables I could hear the voice of Noah pleading to those of his day. He remained faithful, building the Ark. That same message is resonating through these parables, and we blow right past them. In the infamous words of the late Voddie Baucham: "If you can't say Amen, you oughta say ouch!". The world w...

This has one of the shortest parables in the bible. And it's easy to say ok, when you plant a tiny mustard seed, it turns into a great big plant. I get it... and then you move on. But, not so fast. Let's watch the seed grow and see what Jesus is really saying about that very tiny seed. Notes to Great Things Come in Small Packages Episode Link https://www.rabbitholesandmeditations.com/great-things-come-in-small-packages/

How many times have we blasted through this parable? The wheat and the tares. Today we slowed down and let the Word speak. What we ended up seeing was the entire story of the Bible unfolding in this simple yet profound parable. Interesting references fall into place. Remember Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego? It's a clue! As it was in the days of Noah? It's a promise! And that pretribulation rapture? Probably not a thing if you listen to Jesus. Oh, and paradise? You're standing on it. Notes to We...

I think most Christians understand the Parable of the Sower. It is very familiar. What may be less familiar are the nuances between the Gospels and how each presents a slightly different, though complimentary view of the parable. We also dig into some of the English translation that trips people up relative to text in Mark 4:11-12: lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them. Notes for The Parable of the Sower Episode Link: https://www.rabbithole...

It is already filling up the YouTube air waves... Let's step back and take a solid, biblical look at what is going on in Gaza and whether we should be mapping biblical prophecy onto the current peace events in the Middle East. Here are some of the recent YouTube Headlines (like within the hour!): "The Dragon's Prophecy" - BlazeTV (Glenn Beck) "Unbelievable! 6 Million Muslims Report Seeing Jesus in Gaza - Prophecy Unfolding" "Prophecy Unfolding in Gaza" "End is Near? See What Just Happened i...

No, it is not in scripture, but we used scripture and the meaning to write this parable. I prayed even before releasing this Podcast. Please listen and consider the source material in light of the intent. We start where Jesus is called out of a crowd to His mother and brothers. We often are taken aback by Jesus's response. In fact, the emotional response to this passage is often about the rejection of His blood family in favor of His spiritual family. In that exchange we are as stunned as we ca...

I started this like any other deep dive in Scripture and while I started looking at the external, obvious comparisons between the Pharisees and the Catholic Church - which is important to bring up - I found that my own personal journal crashed right into this scripture and I went down the self-reflection rabbit hole. I think from a personal, more disciple-oriented viewpoint, this becomes much more instructive and helpful. Yes, we need to be discerning about our leadership and our churches but no...

Jesus has just healed a blind and mute man. The crowd who has seen the miracle is speculating that Jesus could indeed be the son of David. The Pharisees have to divert that belief. They can't deny the miracle, so they attack the messenger. That is a very common occurrence, even today! No amount of showing them signs would convince them, they are not after proof, they are looking for escape. They are looking for a way to trap Jesus. It's like what happens when the defendant takes the witness stan...

Next in our Red-Letter series we encounter a blind mute. These passages (covered in Matthew 12:22-37, Mark 3:20-30 and Luke 11:14-26 are not just about casting out another demon. We've seen that countless times. By this point in Jesus' journey, casting out demons is almost common. Jesus heals the blind mute almost as a sidenote. There is a difference here though. This demon is mute. The crowd recognizes the Messianic nature of the healing, but there is another dumb, blind one there that Jesus c...

While I read Matthew 11:27, this was knocking around in my head: Jesus said: “No one can come to Me unless the Father draws him”. So, let's begin with that seeming paradox - Matthew 11:27.. Jesus said, ‘All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.’ See me dilemma? I couldn’t figure out who was giving and who was receiving. Was the Father sending people to...

Jesus gives a sharp rebuke to the local cities surrounding his ministry. Not just rebukes but Woe's. This is serious! In Matthew 11 he says to Capernaum (the town of his headquarters) - Mat 11:23-24 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.” My immed...