Episodes

We take a break from the Red-Letter journey today to just discuss the elephant in the room. And to be sure, your elephant might look different. You could be looking at the tail or a foot. Or at the trunk. You're just a speck on this huge planet, and your perspective will drive your agenda... or perhaps your agenda will drive your perspective. I'm not sure in which direction we travel. As I was looking at this, I recognized that I, too, have an agenda. So does President Trump. So does Netanyahu. ...

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! ...

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 i...

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 ...

This podcast follows the character in a Short Story - The Sure Mercies by Greg Newell. That story is a modern dramatic version of the same argument Paul gave in the synagogue in Athens. These are the scriptural basis for that short story. Additional notes are also provided for this Podcast. The argument Paul Adler makes in this story is not invented. It is derived entirely from the Hebrew scriptures. The reader is encouraged to read those scriptures first, on their own terms, before reading an...

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 ins...

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.c...

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.rabbith...

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 Tod...

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) re...

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.rab...

As usual, Google will put things in my path that it thinks I want to see. This was no different. 3.4 million views in three weeks. The good news is that people are very interested in this. The bad news is that people will use this as their resource for knowledge. We want to address this. The name of the YouTube video is Father Chad Ripperger - Signs of the Mark of the Beast & Rise of the Antichrist We are not criticizing Father Chad Ripperger per say. We are issuing a caution regarding how yo...

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 c...

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 L...

How many times have you blown over the passage. Yeah, you marveled that Peter heard the rooster crow, which recalls what Jesus told Peter would happen when they were in the upper room. But let's really dig into this. There is so much we can learn from Peter in this moment and the subsequent restoration. Notes for Lovest Thou Me Episode Link: https://www.rabbitholesandmeditations.com/lovest-thou-me-the-restoration-of-peter/

We are living in a simulator ! ?? I'm hearing this a lot so I wanted to address it. I don't know if this is just a meme type phenomenon or if these guys really know what they are suggesting. Let me name some of the bigger influencers on YouTube (at least the ones that cross my path). They include Tom Bilyeu, Steve Bartlett, Chase Hughes and many others including many of those whom they've interviews. It fascinates me how many of these guys default to the position of "We are living in a simulati...

Stephen Bartlett interviews two people, among many others, who have a similar landing. I chose these out of the many because they come from completely different backgrounds and arrive at similar conclusions. One is a psychologist and one is a neuroscientist. Collectively, these have gotten over 10 million views. After watching these and some others, I noticed something that feels – well – “off”. Then it hit me. Both of these people are trying to construct their spiritual world view that puts the...

As you listen to this podcast today, reflect on how little has changed. As I was reading the accounts of the interrogation of Jesus, it struck me how much we could learn just by going back to our roots for justice, for accusation, for testimony. Think about this. We often drag people (via subpoena) to "testify under oath" in the hopes of setting up a perjury trap. Smear campaigns are more than normal; they are part of the system. Leak something to the media - it doesn't have to be true; it just ...

Often when you listen to a debate between a Christian and an Atheist you get lost in emotional tension. Feedback from the Unabashedly Apologetic podcast we ran recently prompted this follow-up. Fortunately, my YouTube feed seems to know what I'm looking for. I stumbled across this video between Wesley Huff and Steven Bartlett. These are raw, honest questions from someone who is seeking answers about Christianity. The notes for this YouTube discussion include a full transcript for the discu...