John 16:21-22, ‘When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer removers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. So also, you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your […]
John 6:68, ‘Lord, to whom will we go? You have the words of eternal life.’ When the torrents of confusion and uncertainty and doubt hammer against the disciples’ faith, what is it that binds them to Christ? It is not an elaborate system of apologetic arguments, it is not a collection of manuscript evidence, it
John 1:5, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome / comprehended it.” The ‘light’ that shines in the darkness is the ‘life’ that is in the Word from all eternity (v.4), and what is that life? It is the knowledge of who God is as He is known in the
This animation draws especially on Isaiah 25:6-9. In that passage, Isaiah envisions the day of YHWH’s eschatological salvation of His people as a great feast prepared by the Lord on the mountain of Zion (Is. 25:6). On the day of the feast–which implies table fellowship between man and man, and God and humanity–on the day
What Child Is This? – An Animation Read More »
Psalm 61:6-8, “Prolong the life of the king; may his years endure to all generations! May he be enthroned forever before God…So will I ever sing praises to your name…” Notice that God’s prolonging of the king’s life and His enthronement of the king in His presence *results in* or *forms the ground of* the
Is 12:5-6, “Sing praises to YHWH, for He has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth. Shout and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.” Isaiah envisions a day when the joyful praises of YHWH’s redeemed people will fill
Ps. 52:8-9, “But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever…I will wait for your name, for it is good…” David as a tree in God’s house is an image for his trusting in the Lord. As in Ps. 1:3—and
This picture is based on John 6:35-40 and was created for a pastor friend in Minneapolis. The specific focus my friend was eager to see expressed was Jesus’ call to “come to,” “look to,” and “believe in” Him, and so these became the center of the image. Jesus’ invitation for any and all to
Genesis 5:29, “Out of the ground YHWH has cursed, this one shall bring us relief…” These are the words spoken over Noah at his birth, and Noah in some sense fulfills them in that he goes on to grow vineyards, tangibly bringing a source of relief up from the cursed earth (Gen. 9:20). However,
John 6:51, “…the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” The bread that fed the multitudes was given to the people only in its being broken (Mark 8:6). Were it not broken, it could not have been given….and it is only in the breaking that it becomes
Genesis 6:18-19, “But I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark…and of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every sort into the ark to keep them alive with you.” The connection between the Ark and Christ is a longstanding one. Peter has already
Mk 4:18-19, “…the ones sown among thorns…hear the word, but the anxieties of the world…choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.” 1 Pt 5:7, “…cast all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you…” Jn 19:2, “…the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head…” In Mk 4,
Mark 4:18-19 + 1 Peter 5:7 + John 19:2 Read More »
Though “He Is Risen” functions as a stand alone animation about the resurrection of Christ–and of all things in and with Christ–it is also the third in a loose trilogy of animations that cover the events of Holy Week. Check out Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence, and Holy Saturday to see the first two
He Is Risen – An Animation Read More »
Psalm 104:30, “When you send forth your Spirit [or “breath’], they are created…” John 19:30, “He bowed His head and handed over the spirit [or “breath”].” As you may know, the same word is used both for “Spirit” and “Breath” in Hebrew as well as in Greek. This is a fruitful ambiguity. Biblical authors
Psalm 104:30; John 19:30 Read More »
John 21:15-17, “Do you love me?…Feed my lambs…tend my sheep…feed my sheep…” These words were spoken specifically to Peter and the “feeding” etc. in view refers to Peter’s leadership in the Church. However, the same words can be received and applied by those who are not called to a ministry of teaching / leading.
Revelation 4:6, “And around the throne…are four living creatures…” In the central vision of Revelation (ch. 4-5), John stands before the throne of God. Four “living creatures” surround the throne and ceaselessly sing the praises of the one seated thereon. To this point, John’s vision of the divine throne room largely agrees with other
Opposition to who God is results in exile from His presence. This is the primordial wound from which flows the entire deluge of sorrow, suffering, and death that plagues humanity. However, on the cross, this entire mass of opposition to God pierces to–and is borne in–the heart of God Himself. This is the eschatological
Felix Culpa – An Animation Read More »
John 14:6-7, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father if not through me. If you have known me, also have also known my Father. And from now on you know Him and have seen Him.” The way for the disciples to come to the Father—both truly now,
John 13:7, “What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand after these [things].” One truth we can derive from this text is that the resurrection of the crucified Christ (the “these things” He refers to) is the illumination of His person and work. He is not known aright until
John 11:9-10, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If someone should walk in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But, if someone should walk in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” If Jesus goes to help Lazarus, he will
