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I and the Father are One.
“Before Abraham was born, I AM” – John 8:58ff Jesus’ declaration is a challenge. It’s a WWE smackdown. He’s in a contentious dispute with the Pharisees–again. This particular argument concerns who their respective fathers are. Read John 8 for context. It always puts a smile on my face. They claim Abraham as their father and accuse Jesus of being illegitimate. In John 8:44, He tells them their father is the devil. That’s a scene I’d like the replay of when we get to heaven. Jesus is telling the Pharisees He is the I AM of the burning bush. That claim is utterly outrageous. It’s either blasphemy, or it’s true.…
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The Tower of the Flock, Part 6 – Ihsan’s story
Ihsan’s story Matthew 2:1-8 I can’t tell you what I was expecting, but it wasn’t this. I, Ihsan, was one of the magi, renowned for our knowledge and wisdom. We’d been confident we would find the King of the Jews at the palace in Jerusalem. Isn’t that where the king should be? The Prophet Daniel established our caste hundreds of years ago to fulfill a sacred purpose. We’d seen the sign. “I see him, but not now. I look at him, but not near. A star shall appear from Jacob; a scepter shall rise from Israel.” When the star appeared, we gathered our ancestor Daniel’s own treasure and set out…
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I AM
This name closes out the year-long study on the Names of God. I am deeply grateful to Ann Spangler for letting me share her insights through this blog. If you haven’t gone through the book yet and you’re looking for something to do in 2025, I can’t recommend it enough. This is the perfect name to wrap the year up with because it ties the persons of the Trinity together so well. Ehyeh is I Am in Hebrew, and we first encounter it at the burning bush. Then Moses replied to Elohim, “Suppose I go to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The Elohim of your ancestors has…
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The Tower of the Flock, Part 5 – Tobiah’s story
Tobiah’s story Luke 2:15-20 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased. Luke 2:14 I don’t remember how we got to the tower. I couldn’t think about anything but all those angels filling the night sky. “Eliezer, you saw them, too, right?” For the seventh or eighth time, my big brother said, “We all saw them.” He cut me off before I asked my next question. “I’m sure it wasn’t a dream. Hush, now.” Eliezer’s hand on my shoulder gave me the courage to peek into the stable. I don’t know why I was afraid. The angels told us to go…
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The Tower of the Flock, Part 4 – Mary’s story
Mary’s story Luke 2:7 I cradled my precious baby, the Son of God. Soft, sweet cheeks, perfect little mouth, wispy dark curls. His belly full, he slept like a lamb. Shortly after Joseph brought me to this stable in the base of the watchtower, his aunt Shlomit bustled in. Poking her finger into his chest, she clucked her tongue. Her chin waggled as she upbraided him. “A stable? You brought your wife to a stable to give birth? I couldn’t believe my old eyes when I saw you leading her out here to a. . . This is where animals sleep.” And yet it was cleaner, quieter, and smelled better…
