Colossians 1:19-20a, ‘For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven…’ [This illustration is for pages 8-9 of the upcoming Colossians board book.] Two life-alteringly beautiful realities are bound up in these few words of the Apostle. […]
Colossians 1:19-20a Read More »
Hebrews 9:14, ‘Christ…through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God…’ This text is primarily about the superiority of Jesus’ death in relation to the sacrifices of the Old Covenant). However, what I’m focusing on in today’s visual exegesis is the absolutely reality-re-shaping implication that is tucked away inside the author’s main argument: Namely,
Here’s a new piece based on the Creation account in Genesis 1. The New Testament teaches us that all things were created in, are sustained by, exist for, and are communicative of the crucified and risen Jesus Christ (Col.1:15-17). I’ve tried to visually exegete that vision of cosmological origins in this image. I made this
The Days of Creation Read More »
Ecclesiastes 1:4-8, ‘A generation goes, a generation comes…the sun rises, and the sun goes down…around and around goes the wind…all streams run to the sea…All things are full of weariness…” According to these first verses of Ecclesiastes, the world is full of soul-numbing weariness, and this is exemplified in the cyclical nature of the world
Ecclesiastes 1:4-8 Read More »
1 John 3:5, ‘…He appeared in order to take away sins…’ Jesus appeared—the Word was made flesh—in order to take away sins. But what does it mean that He takes away sins? Certainly He bears them in Himself as the representative head of redeemed humanity (2 Cor.5:21); certainly He secures their forgiveness through the sacrifice
Luke 8:26, ‘Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes…’ This is the first of two visual exegeses that will be considering Jesus’ interactions with the demoniac in the region of Gerasenes. In this first post and picture, I just wanted to highlight the descent of Jesus as Living Hope into the darkness and
Hebrews 7:25, ‘…He is able to save to the uttermost the ones drawing near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede on their behalf.’ The author of Hebrews uses two related words here. The word translated ‘to the uttermost’ is παντελής which combines ‘pan’ (for all) and ‘telos’ (as
Exodus 28:4-5, ‘They shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother and his sons to serve me as priests. They shall receive gold, blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen.’ The vestments of the priest are formed of the same materials as the tabernacle (Ex.26:1ff), which means that the high priest is
Matthew 16:23, “Get behind me, Satan; you are a stumbling block for me, because you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of men.” What are the things of men, that Jesus refers to (which, notice, are simultaneously the things of Satan?) Well, what does Peter do
1 Peter 1:18, “…you were ransomed…with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world…” According to these verses, Christ was foreknown in the mind of God “before” the beginning of creation. But notice specifically how Christ was foreknown: as
Isaiah 16:10-11, “I have but an end to the shouting. Therefore my inner parts moan like a lyre for Moab, and my inmost self for Kir-hareseth.” Consider the complexity of what we might analogically call God’s “emotional life.” In perfect and holy freedom He acts only in accordance with His will and rejoices in
1 Chronicles 29:14. “But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given to you.” This is part of David’s prayer after the collection for the building of the temple, and the implication
1 Chronicles 29:14 Read More »
Proverbs 30:5, “Every word of God proves true; He is a shield for those who take refuge in Him.” How does one take refuge in the Lord? What does that look like? He is not a physical fortress to whom we can literally run….He is not a charm or magic stone which we can
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,
Romans 8:17, “…provided we suffer with Him, in order that we may also be glorified with Him.” The Passage Considered Sometimes, when we think of suffering with Christ, we might imagine that Christ is the sufferer and that WE take on HIS sufferings. While there is a sense in which this is true,
Micah 5:4, “And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of YHWH, in the majesty of the name of YHWH his God.” Micah anticipates an eschatological Shepherd-King, and the WAY in which this Shepherd-King will lead His people will display the sovereign power and majestic identity of who the one true God
John 6:40, “…this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in Him should have eternal life…” What is the Will of God in this verse? Well, in the context of John 6, the Son who is looked upon is the crucified Son (v.51-56)….And to believe in this
– Part VII- Through faith-union to God the Son, wrought by the indwelling Spirit of God, a once scattered and rebellious people have become the unified and sanctified Bride of Christ. Because of the incarnation of God in Christ, the Church truly is bone of God’s bones, and flesh of God’s flesh, united in
The Gospel – VII – Consummation Read More »
Isaiah 49:9-10, “They shall feed along the ways; on bare heights shall be their pasture; they shall not hunger or thirst, neither scorching wind nor sun shall strike them, for he who has pity on them will lead them, and by springs of water will guide them.” I was in Isaiah 47-49 this
Isaiah 49:9-10 + Revelation 7:17 Read More »
Psalm 36:8, “They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights.” I think the ultimate fulfillment of this Psalm is hinted at in Jesus’ prayer to the Father in John 17. There we glimpse the inconceivable truth that we will–in some sense–be woven into
