Podcasts about Magdala

We're in the long season after Pentecost and on this particular Sunday, Pastor Chris began a short series examining the Gospel readings. Matthew's account of the person and work of Jesus is full of wonderful stories. Our first story records Jesus healing several people, and one of them in particular is praised by Jesus for her faith. The Greek word is "pistis." But does our word "faith" adequately and fully describe what the Bible means? Let's dive in and learn! The painting associated with this sermon/podcast is titled "The Encounter" by Daniel Cariola. It is displayed in the chapel's lower level (recently excavated down to street level at the time of Jesus) in Magdala. The scene is the healing of the woman with the "issue of blood." Other photos Pastor Chris referred to: Duc in Altum Chapel exterior Duc in Altum Chapel interior Duc in Altum Chapel lower level

The Prophecy Pros take the audience on a prophetic journey to the epicenter of Jesus earthly ministry as they discuss the Sea of Galilee, Capernaum, and Magdala. *PROPHECY PROS ACADEMY* *LATEST BOOK RELEASES FROM THE PROPHECY PROS** The Non-Prophet's Guide to the Rapture — Todd Hampson The Non-Prophet's Guide to Heaven — Todd Hampson The End of the World According to Jesus of Nazareth — Jeff Kinley The Non-Prophet's Guide to the Book of Daniel — Todd Hampson The Prophecy Pros' Illustrated Guide to Tough Questions About the End Times — Jeff Kinley, Todd Hampson God's Grand Finale — Jeff Kinley For more resources, visit HarvestProphecyHQ.com

According to archaeologists and many Bible scholars, one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of the past 50 years was made on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee at the site called Magdala, the hometown of Mary Magdalene. During a dig, they unearthed a 1st century synagogue and at the center was this massive stone with intricate carvings engraved into it. Some of the carvings on the stone support what the Bible says about there being a temple in Jerusalem at the time of Christ. Could this also be the same synagogue where Jesus visited and taught? Find out now!-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------DONATE: https://evidence4faith.org/give/WEBSITE: https://evidence4faith.org/NEWSLETTER: http://eepurl.com/hpazV5BOOKINGS: https://evidence4faith.org/bookings/CONTACT: Evidence 4 Faith, 349 Knights Ave Kewaskum WI 53040 , info@evidence4faith.orgMy goal is that their hearts, having been knit together in love, may be encouraged, and that they may have all the riches that assurance brings in their understanding of the knowledge of the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. - Colossians 2:2-3CREDITS: Developed & Hosted by Michael Lane. Produced & Edited by Noah Sauder. Graphics & Publication by Noah Sauder. Additional Art, Film, & Photography Credits: Stock media “Memories” provided by mv_production / Pond5 | Logo Stinger: Unsplash.com: Leinstravelier, Logan Moreno Gutierrez, Meggyn Pomerieau, Jaredd Craig, NASA, NOASS, USGS, Sam Carter, Junior REIS, Luka Vovk, Calvin Craig, Mario La Pergola, Timothy Eberly, Priscilla Du Preez, Ismael Paramo, Tingey Injury Law Firm, Dan Cristian Pădureț, Jakob Owens | Wikimedia: Darmouth University Public Domain, Kelvinsong CC0 | Stock media “A stately Story (Stiner02)” provided by lynnepublishing / Pond5

Today’s Topics: Father Robert Elias joins Terry 1) Gospel – John 19:25-34 – Standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple there whom He loved.  He said to His mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I thirst.” There was a vessel filled with common wine. So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop and put it up to His Mouth. When Jesus had taken the wine, He said, “It is finished.” And bowing His Head, He handed over the Spirit. Now since it was preparation day, in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath, for the sabbath day of that week was a solemn one, the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken and they be taken down. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus. But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His Legs, but one soldier thrust his lance into His Side, and immediately Blood and water flowed out.   Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church O Blessed Mother, pray for us! Bishop Sheen quote of the day 2, 3, 4) In Part 2, Terry and Father Robert continue their discussion on Saint John of the Cross and his method of Discernment of Spirits

Original Post Date: May 20, 2024 === Gospel John 19:25-34 Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother             and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas,             and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom      he loved,             he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple,             “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. After this, aware that everything was now finished,             in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled,             Jesus said, “I thirst.” There was a vessel filled with common wine. So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop             and put it up to his mouth. When Jesus had taken the wine, he said,             “It is finished.” And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit. Now since it was preparation day,             in order that the bodies might not remain on the      cross on the sabbath,             for the sabbath day of that week was a solemn one,             the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken             and they be taken down. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first             and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead,             they did not break his legs,             but one soldier thrust his lance into his side,             and immediately Blood and water flowed out. Reflection What this presents to us is an interesting image of the role of Mary now, today in the church. She is our great intercessor. She is caring for the disciples and caring therefore for the church, for its teachers, its pastors, its flock. It's a beautiful image of a feminine figure that we can trust and know is always there with the Holy Spirit working for us, in the process of growing and becoming who were called to be. Closing Prayer Father, help us to recognize Mary as a source of great help and support for us. Help us to place her in the role that she longs to have. To draw us closer over and over again to her son, to his love, to his gift of his life. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Friends of the Rosary,Today, May 25, is Memorial Day in the U.S., the day after Pentecost. Pentecost, we celebrate the feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church.In today's Gospel (John 19:25-34), we read,"Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his ­mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour, the disciple took her into his home."Christ the Lord, in entrusting his Mother Mary to the Beloved Disciple from the cross, established a relationship between his holy Mother and all who are united to him, that is, the Church.In 2018, Pope Francis decreed that the ancient devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of Mother of the Church, be inserted into the Roman Calendar."This celebration will help us to remember that growth in the Christian life must be anchored to the Mystery of the Cross, to the oblation of Christ in the Eucharistic Banquet and to the Mother of the Redeemer and Mother of the Redeemed, the Virgin who makes her offering to God," stated the decree.By issuing the Decree on the celebration of the feast of Mary, Mother of the Church, Pope Francis wished to promote this devotion in order to “encourage the growth of the maternal sense of the Church in the pastors, religious and faithful, as well as a growth of genuine Marian piety."Ave Maria!Come, Holy Spirit, come!To Jesus through Mary!Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.Please give us the grace to respond with joy!+ Mikel Amigot w/ María Blanca | RosaryNetwork.com, New YorkEnhance your faith with the new Holy Rosary University app:Apple iOS | New! Android Google Play• ⁠May 25, 2026, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET

Read OnlineStanding by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. John 19:25–27Yesterday, we celebrated the great Solemnity of Pentecost, commemorating the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the first disciples and the birth of the Church. Just as God “breathed” life into Adam at the creation, so the Holy Spirit, the Breath of God, gives new life to the Church, the Body of Christ. At Pentecost, the Blessed Virgin Mary was present, embodying the Gift of Fortitude in her unwavering trust in God's plan.Fortitude, one of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, strengthens us to persevere in doing good, especially amid trials, suffering, or temptation. It acts as an anchor, holding us steady during life's storms and uniting us more deeply to the Mystery of the Cross.When this memorial was instituted in 2018, Cardinal Robert Sarah beautifully reminded us that “the Christian life must be anchored to the Mystery of the Cross, to the oblation of Christ in the Eucharistic Banquet, and to the Mother of the Redeemer and Mother of the Redeemed….” Today, we honor her not only as the Mother of the Redeemer but also as our Mother—the Mother of the Redeemed. What a profound gift it is to share a spiritual mother with the Son of God! Through her maternal care and intercession, she leads us to her Son and strengthens us on our journey of faith. The Gospel for today's memorial recalls one of the most sacred images in the Scriptures—the Blessed Virgin Mary standing at the foot of the Cross, gazing with perfect faith, hope, and love at her divine Son. Her fidelity to Him was unwavering. With a motherly empathy, strengthened by the fullness of grace, she felt His pains and endured His suffering until the end. Though Jesus embodied every virtue and spiritual gift, He allowed Himself to receive strength and consolation from His mother as He hung upon the Cross. This act of shared love and mutual consolation—Christ receiving strength from His mother as she shared in His suffering—invites us to embrace this same love, allowing our Blessed Mother's maternal care to unite us more fully to Christ. When Jesus turned to His mother and said, “Woman, behold, your son,” and to John, “Behold, your mother,” He was speaking to each of us, entrusting His mother to us and us to her. As the Blessed Mother stood by her Son in His suffering, she also stands by us, teaching us to remain steadfast in our faith, rooted in Christ's sacrifice and strengthened by His Eucharistic presence. God strengthens and consoles us in accord with His divine plan, which includes the grace dispensed through the Sacraments—especially the Eucharist—the charitable intercession of others, the ministry of angels, and the unique motherly mediation of the Mother of God, our mother.Reflect today on the many ways God sanctifies and strengthens you for your mission. Through the Eucharist, we are united to Christ's Cross and receive the grace to rise triumphantly with Him. Along this journey, we are strengthened by the Blessed Mother, the Mother of the Church and the Mediatrix of grace. As the Spirit filled the Church at Pentecost, so too does He fill our hearts today, leading us to Mary, whose love and intercession anchor us to her Son and His saving grace.Mother of the Church and Mother of God, the Holy Spirit filled you with the fullness of grace and perfected every virtue in your humble soul. Your strength to endure the Cross with your Son includes a promise that you will always stand by me, showering your motherly care and mediating the grace of your Son. Please be my mother now and always, and help me to be a faithful disciple of your Son, anchored in His Cross and lifted by His grace. Mother of the Church and Mother of the Redeemed, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: The crucifixion of Jesus /Christ paintingSource: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

CAMPOS, Humberto de (Espírito). Maria de Magdala. In: __.Boa nova.Psicografia de Francisco C. Xavier. 37. ed. 4. imp. Brasília: Federação Espírita Brasileira, 2014. cap. 20, p.127-135. Obras básicas e complementares da Doutrina Espírita. (live no YouTube). Palestrante: Jorge Hessen

Magazín Židé a my: Putování po biblických místech (6): Galilejské jezero, Magdala, Ginosar. Host: Radek Hejret.Tento podcast můžete podpořit na https://radio7.cz

Join Mimi and Chiara Toone with a special guest, MARIANA B, singer-songwriter who won the Vatican's award for Best Evangelising Song last year. We explore the figure St. Mary Magdalene, her temperament and her story of how Christ redeems her personality. We listen to MARIANA B's song 'New Life' which is inspired by the story of St. Mary Magdalene, written in Magdala itself. Take a listen here: https://open.spotify.com/track/0LSHtFHW9F1Xaboc73LO50?si=NMCsID6tRxqcy0trEuy_bQ Bethany Breakfast is a space to listen, to laugh and to ask questions about being a Gen Z Catholic woman. Join sisters Mimi and Chiara Toone on Radio Maria for reflections on scripture, to hear special guests and to find answers to questions about the joys and challenges of being Catholic women in a new generation.If you enjoyed this programme, please consider supporting us with a one-off or monthly donation. It is only through the generosity of our listeners that we are able to be a Christian voice by your side. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.radiomariaengland.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Pdt. Wigand Sugandi (TB) Lukas 24:10Perempuan-perempuan itu ialah Maria dari Magdala, dan Yohana, dan Maria ibu Yakobus. Dan perempuan-perempuan lain juga yang bersama-sama dengan mereka memberitahukannya kepada rasul-rasul.

H.C.C. is a non-denominational, non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation specializing in counseling, healing, teaching, ministering in the Spirit and deliverance. It is based on Matthew, Mark, Luke & John and patterns its practice after the Book of Acts. It’s board members include one licensed Assembly of God pastor and one former Arizona prison chaplain. The ministry also operates the House of Healing and the Charity Counselor’s Association in central Phoenix. The Biblical theme of the ministry is Acts 10:38: "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost & power. He went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil." One of the main services provided by the ministry is to provide free counseling services to the poor. https://hardcorechristianity.com/Support the show: https://hardcorechristianity.com/donations/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At Bethany, We are God's People who are: Gathered! Connected! Sent!We want to connect with you through this Podcast! Leave us a comment! Tell us where you are at! Leave a Review to help our audience grow!--April 5, 2026 -- Pr. Kevin Kritzer -- "Jesus and Resurrections!" -- Luke 24:1-12(24) Very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb. They were carrying the spices that they had prepared. 2 They found that the stone had been rolled away from the tomb. 3 When they went in, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were puzzled about this, two men in clothes that were as bright as lightning suddenly stood beside them. 5 The women were terrified and bowed to the ground. The men asked the women, “Why are you looking among the dead for the living one? 6 He's not here. He has been brought back to life! Remember what he told you while he was still in Galilee. 7 He said, ‘The Son of Man must be handed over to sinful people, be crucified, and come back to life on the third day.' ” 8 Then the women remembered what Jesus had told them. 9 The women left the tomb and went back to the city. They told everything to the eleven apostles and all the others. 10 The women were Mary from Magdala, Joanna, and Mary (the mother of James). There were also other women with them. They told the apostles everything. 11 The apostles thought that the women's story didn't make any sense, and they didn't believe them. 12 But Peter got up and ran to the tomb. He bent down to look inside and saw only the strips of linen. Then he went away, wondering what had happened. -GWhttp://www.bethanylutheran.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.facebook.com/Bethany.Long.Beach⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/c/BethanyLutheranLongBeach

Over the last couple of weeks, we have had an up-close glimpse of multiple encounters Jesus experienced. Each one leaving us with questions we should ask in our own lives… Don't you just love a bunch of questions this early in the morning!!! First with the Pharasees which should cause us to pause and ponder if there is any truth in us that reveals hypocrisy vs a real trust and faith in Jesus? And then as a result of His encounter with Mary of Magdala – are we able to say I have met him and I am different? Now this morning we are going to add a few more questions? I invite you to write these down and ponder them as we look at our next encounter. Do I truly want to encounter Jesus? Do I want the hope of Jesus in my life? Do I deeply believe Jesus will meet me where I am? Luke 24 beginning in verse 13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles[a] from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him. 17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” “What things?” he asked.  “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.” 25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. BUT NOT JESUS! Lets PRAY Dear Jesus, I need you. I know you are my hope. Open my eyes and let me see you! Amen In my early career, I was a nursing home administrator – locally at Life Care Center (that is actually what brought us to the valley) I believe and know fully that God allowed that in my life to grow me in deeper dependence and knowledge of him. That is a whole other message. One of the hardest challenges of that job is staffing (anyone relate) The responsibility to the residents and staff was tremendous – taking me often to the point of desperation. I remember one particular day that my regional director had stopped by and on this visit he had his elementary aged son with him. When they arrived, I had been sitting at my desk praying and seeking the Lords help for how exactly we would meet the need for CNAs that day. As we talked – the little guy offered to pray for me. He prayed for a simple prayer or please provide today. The heart and faith of that young man was the encouragement, an encounter I needed to continue to trust in that moment. Let's look at Jesus encounter with 2 disciples on the road to Emmaus Right before we see our next encounter in Luke, we learn that the stone is rolled away! Jesus has risen and the women who discovered the empty tomb are being hit with doubt and disbelief by the disciples as they share this indescribable news.  28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going    farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.  Jesus shows up and meets us where we are.   Jesus shows up and meets us where we are.  He is worthy of our hope JESUS SHOWS UP UNEXPECTED WAYS PLACES “ALL THAT CRYING I DID THIS MORNING” 2 BAGS OF GROCERIES MATTHEW 25 PHARISEES- JESUS ALWAYS ENCOUNTERED THEM  MARY MAGDALENE- FIRST TO HEAR HIM   ALWAYS EXISTING WITH THE FATHER-  GO BACK TO BEGINNING HOW HE APPROACHES US  SCRIPTURE GENESIS 3:6 6. “WHEN THE WOMAN SAW THAT THE FRUIT OF THE TREE WAS GOOD FOR FOOD AND PLEASING TO THE EYE, AND ALSO DESIRABLE FOR GAINING WISDOM, SHE TOOK SOME AND ATE IT. SHE ALSO GAVE SOME TO HER HUSBAND, WHO WAS WITH HER, AND HE ATE IT. SCRIPTURE GENESIS 3:7 7. THEN THE EYES OF THEM WERE OPENED, AND THEY REALIZED THEY WERE NAKED; SO THEY SEWED FIG LEAVES TOGETHER AND MADE COVERINGS FOR THEMSELVES. SCRIPTURE GENESIS 3:8 8. THEN THE MAN AND HIS WIFE HEARD THE SOUNDS OF THE LORD GOD AS HE WAS WALKING IN THE GARDEN IN THE COOL OF THE DAY, AND THEY HID FROM THE LORD GOD AMONG THE TREES OF THE GARDEN. SCRIPTURE GENESIS 3:9 9. BUT THE LORD GOD CALLED TO THE MAN, “WHERE ARE YOU?' The New English Bible describes them as "full of gloom."  THEY WERE NOT EXPECTING HIM-  DISCIPLES WEREN'T- MARY MAGDALENE DIDN'T  2ND TIME SAME DAY- DIDN'T RECOGNIZE HIM  SLOW OF HEART TO BELIEVE: JESUS TOLD THEM THE PROBLEM WITH THEIR BELIEF WAS MORE IN THEIR HEART THAN IN THEIR HEAD. WE OFTEN THINK THE MAIN OBSTACLES TO BELIEF ARE IN THE HEAD, BUT THEY ARE ACTUALLY IN THE HEART.   SCRIPTURE LUKE 24:28 28. “AS THEY APPROACHED THE VILLAGE TO WHICH THEY WERE GOING, JESUS CONTINUED ON AS IF HE WERE GOING FARTHER. (APPARENTLY WAST GONNA STAY) SCRIPTURE LUKE 24:29 29. BUT THEY URGED HIM STRONGLY, “STAY WITH US, FOR IT IS NEARLY EVENING; THE DAY IS ALMOST OVER.“ SO HE WENT IN TO STAY WITH THEM. JESUS WON'T FORCE HIMSELF  STAYS WHERE INVITED  WHEN TWO SAINTS ARE TALKING TOGETHER, JESUS IS VERY LIKELY TO COME AND MAKE THE THIRD ONE IN THE COMPANY. TALK OF HIM, AND YOU WILL SOON TALK WITH HIM, “SPURGEON SCRIPTURE LUKE 24:30 30. WHEN HE WAS AT THE TABLE WITH THEM, HE TOOK BREAD AND BROKE IT AND BEGAN TO GIVE IT TO THEM. SCRIPTURE LUKE 24:31 31. THEN THEIR EYES OPENED AND THEY RECOGNIZED HIM, AND HE DISAPPEARED FROM THEIR SIGHT. SCRIPTURE LUKE 24:32 32. THEY ASKED EACH OTHER, “WERE NOT OUR HEARTS BURNING WITHIN US WHILE HE TALKED WITH US ON THE ROAD AND OPENED THE SCRIPTURES TO US?” V 27- AND BEGINNING WITH MOSES AND ALL THE PROPHETS, HE EXPLAINED TO THEM WHAT WAS SAID AND IN ALL THE SCRIPTURES CONCERNING HIMSELF  IMAGINE THAT CONVERSATION- THAT TEACHING? SCRIPTURE LUKE 24:33 33. THEY GOT UP RETURNED AT ONCE TO JERUSALEM. THERE THEY FOUND THE ELEVEN AND THOSE WITH THEM, ASSEMBLED TOGETHER. WHEN YOU ENCOUNTER JESUS- YOU GO   WHEN YOU ENCOUNTER JESUS YOU SHARE  SCRIPTURE LUKE 24:34 34. AND SAYING “IT IS TRUE! THE LORD HAS RISEN AND HAS APPEARED TO SIMON.” SCRIPTURE LUKE 24:35 35. THEN THE TWO TOLD WHAT HAD HAPPENED ON THE WAY, AND HOW JESUS WAS RECOGNIZED BY THEM WHEN HE BROKE THE BREAD.” LEONARD SWEET They recognized him when he broke the bread  Cleopas- companion DIDN'T keep their experience to themselves -told it to the others.  Jesus seems to care well for all people- especially ones who are walking in the wrong direction.  COMMUNION GOOD FRIDAY STARTED AT THE TABLEAT THE TABLE AGAIN  WETHER A MEAL OR COMMUNION?  TODAY WE OFFER TWO WAYS TO ENCOUNTER HIM  ONE THROUGH THESE ELEMENTS-   TWO THROUGH PRAYER  30So they asked him, “What miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? 31Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it  is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.' “  32Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34“Sir,” they said, “from now on give us this bread.” 35Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. 36But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.   This food won't keep your body alive. It won't keep your stomach from growling or your throat from being thirsty. This food isn't designed to sustain the body, it's designed to sustain the soul. It's designed to help you be in constant communion with the One who created you, and the One who redeemed you. This food is to nourish the soul. MATTHEW 26:26-28 26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” 27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. MAYBE YOU JUST WANT TO PRAY TODAY YOU NEED AN ENCOUTNER WITH HIM A FRESH ENCOUNTER WITH HIM- YOU COULD ASK SOMEONE TO COME AND PRAY - OR WE HAVE A FEW PEOPLE WHO WILL PRAY WITH YOU/FOR YOU

Poor Thomas. Poor, poor Thomas. We have nicknamed him “Doubting Thomas”, and I think it is a most unfair nickname. He already has one, Didymus, which means “the twin”, but think of other nicknames people have received. Simon Peter—Peter, the Rock. That's a good, solid, strong nickname. How about “the Beloved Disciple”? I'm pretty sure John gave himself that nickname, but it's a good one. We still call John the Beloved Disciple today. Mary Magdalene is quite likely a nickname. For many years people thought it was Mary of Magdala, but archaeologists have failed to find a town called Magdala. Scholars have come up with the idea that it is “Mary Magdalena”, meaning “Mary the Tower”. They are all great nicknames, but “Doubting Thomas”?   For my sermon I am going to make an argument, and the argument is this. I am going to defend the proposition that we need to rebrand Thomas. No longer Doubting Thomas, but what can we call him? We'll try to figure that out together. Listen to or read Bingham's entire sermon by clicking “Read More.”

Reading 1Acts 10:34a, 37-43Peter proceeded to speak and said:“You know what has happened all over Judea,beginning in Galilee after the baptismthat John preached,how God anointed Jesus of Nazarethwith the Holy Spirit and power.He went about doing goodand healing all those oppressed by the devil,for God was with him.We are witnesses of all that he didboth in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem.They put him to death by hanging him on a tree.This man God raised on the third day and granted that he be visible,not to all the people, but to us,the witnesses chosen by God in advance,who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.He commissioned us to preach to the peopleand testify that he is the one appointed by Godas judge of the living and the dead.To him all the prophets bear witness,that everyone who believes in himwill receive forgiveness of sins through his name.”Reading 2Colossians 3:1-4Brothers and sisters:If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above,where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.Think of what is above, not of what is on earth.For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.When Christ your life appears,then you too will appear with him in glory.Sequence - Victimæ paschali laudesChristians, to the Paschal VictimOffer your thankful praises!A Lamb the sheep redeems;Christ, who only is sinless,Reconciles sinners to the Father.Death and life have contended in that combat stupendous:The Prince of life, who died, reigns immortal.Speak, Mary, declaringWhat you saw, wayfaring.“The tomb of Christ, who is living,The glory of Jesus' resurrection;bright angels attesting,The shroud and napkin resting.Yes, Christ my hope is arisen;to Galilee he goes before you.”Christ indeed from death is risen, our new life obtaining.Have mercy, victor King, ever reigning!Amen. Alleluia.GospelJohn 20:1-9On the first day of the week,Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning,while it was still dark,and saw the stone removed from the tomb.So she ran and went to Simon Peterand to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them,“They have taken the Lord from the tomb,and we don't know where they put him.”So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb.They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peterand arrived at the tomb first;he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in.When Simon Peter arrived after him,he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there,and the cloth that had covered his head,not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place.Then the other disciple also went in,the one who had arrived at the tomb first,and he saw and believed.For they did not yet understand the Scripturethat he had to rise from the dead.

Es ist tatsächlich erst eine Woche her, dass der Freitag Karfreitag hieß und wir uns erinnert haben an Leid und Tod Jesu in Verbindung mit Leid und Tod im Iran, im Libanon, in der Ukraine, in Gaza und und und. Und jetzt ist eine Woche später der Osterjubel noch präsent, die Erleichterung über einen, wenn auch noch so brüchigen, Waffenstillstand und die deutlichen Worte des Papstes gegen den Krieg und die irrsinnige Art, Waffen und Truppen und Kriege zu segnen.Hier sind noch die letzten Ferientage und wir hatten über Ostern Besuch und viele spannende Fragen und Gespräche über unser katholisches Verständnis der Kar- und Ostertage und der Rolle der Frauen in der damaligen Berichterstattung der Bibel und den so verschiedenen Berichten dazu. Herausragend ist natürlich dazu die Geschichte von Maria von Magdala, die den Auferstandenen als erste gesehen hat. Drei Schülerinnen unserer Franziskusschule hier in Olpe, haben dazu einen Text geschrieben und mir erlaubt, ihn vorzulesen:Gedanken von Maria aus MagdalaWer?Wer war er? der junge Mann im weißen GewandWer war er? der mich so erschreckt hatWer war er? dass er wusste, was mit Jesus geschahWer war er? dass er uns nach Galiläa gesandt hatWer war er? war er ein Engel, der die Botschaft der Auferstehung Jesu verkündeteWer war er? war er von Gott gesandtWer war er? war er Jesus von Nazareth selbstWer war ich? dass ich mich fürchteteWer war ich? dass ich einfach wegliefWer bin ich? dass ich niemandem davon erzählen will und es dann doch tue?Soweit der Text, aber soweit auch die Frage an mich und Dich an diesem Osterfreitag: Wer bin ich, die ich mich Christ nenne, wenn ich nichts davon erzähle? Oder erzähle ich doch davon in allem, was ich tue und lasse?

'Le dimanche matin de très bonne heure, les femmes se rendirent au tombeau emportant les huiles aromatiques qu'elles avaient préparées. Elles découvrirent que la pierre fermant l'entrée du sépulcre avait été roulée à quelque distance de l'ouverture. Elles pénétrèrent à l'intérieur, mais ne trouvèrent pas le corps du Seigneur Jésus. Pendant qu'elles en étaient encore à se demander ce que cela signifiait, deux personnages vêtus d'habits étincelants se tinrent tout à coup devant elles. Elles étaient tout effrayées et baissaient les yeux vers le sol. Ils leur dirent alors : Pourquoi cherchez-vous parmi les morts celui qui est vivant ? Il n'est plus ici, mais il est ressuscité. Rappelez-vous ce qu'il vous disait quand il était encore en Galilée : « Il faut que le Fils de l'homme soit livré entre les mains des pécheurs, qu'il soit crucifié, et qu'il ressuscite le troisième jour. » Elles se souvinrent alors des paroles de Jésus. Elles revinrent du tombeau et allèrent tout raconter aux Onze, ainsi qu'à tous les autres disciples. C'étaient Marie de Magdala, Jeanne, Marie, la mère de Jacques. Quelques autres femmes, qui étaient avec elles, portèrent aussi la nouvelle aux apôtres ; mais ceux-ci trouvèrent leurs propos absurdes et n'y ajoutèrent pas foi. Pierre, cependant, partit et courut au tombeau. En se penchant, il ne vit que des linges funéraires. Il s'en retourna, très étonné de ce qui s'était passé . Le même jour, deux de ces disciples se rendaient à un village nommé Emmaüs, à une douzaine de kilomètres de Jérusalem. Ils s'entretenaient de tous ces événements. ' Luc 24:1-14

"Gesù le disse: "Maria!". Ella si voltò e gli disse in ebraico: "Rabbunì!" - che significa: "Maestro!". Gesù le disse: "Non mi trattenere... ma va' dai miei fratelli" (Gv 20, 16-17)In questa meditazione, Cesare Zucconi ci conduce davanti al sepolcro vuoto attraverso le lacrime di Maria di Magdala. Il pianto della Maddalena non è un ripiegamento su di sé, ma un'espressione di nostalgia autentica e di partecipazione al dolore, una "preghiera muta" che solo la compassione sa cogliere.Guarda il video completo della preghiera su YouTube:https://youtube.com/live/5vMKohZysbg

John 20:1-9On the first day of the week,Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning,while it was still dark,and saw the stone removed from the tomb.So she ran and went to Simon Peterand to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them,“They have taken the Lord from the tomb,and we don't know where they put him.”So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb.They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peterand arrived at the tomb first;he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in.When Simon Peter arrived after him,he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there,and the cloth that had covered his head,not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place.Then the other disciple also went in,the one who had arrived at the tomb first,and he saw and believed.For they did not yet understand the Scripturethat he had to rise from the dead.

John 20:1-9On the first day of the week,Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning,while it was still dark,and saw the stone removed from the tomb.So she ran and went to Simon Peterand to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them,“They have taken the Lord from the tomb,and we don't know where they put him.”So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb.They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peterand arrived at the tomb first;he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in.When Simon Peter arrived after him,he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there,and the cloth that had covered his head,not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place.Then the other disciple also went in,the one who had arrived at the tomb first,and he saw and believed.For they did not yet understand the Scripturethat he had to rise from the dead.

John 20:1-9On the first day of the week,Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning,while it was still dark,and saw the stone removed from the tomb.So she ran and went to Simon Peterand to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them,“They have taken the Lord from the tomb,and we don't know where they put him.”So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb.They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peterand arrived at the tomb first;he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in.When Simon Peter arrived after him,he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there,and the cloth that had covered his head,not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place.Then the other disciple also went in,the one who had arrived at the tomb first,and he saw and believed.For they did not yet understand the Scripturethat he had to rise from the dead.

She’s been misidentified for 14 centuries. Today we set the record straight. In this episode of the Bible Moms series, Kate and Rebecca study one of the most misunderstood women in all of scripture — Mary Magdalene. Was she really a prostitute? What does it mean that seven demons were cast out of her? And why was the most important message in human history entrusted to a woman whose testimony wasn’t even legally valid in her day? From the shores of Magdala to the empty tomb, discover how a woman who went from completely bound to completely free became the very first person to proclaim the resurrection — earning her the ancient title: Apostle to the Apostles. Whether you’re a mom carrying a label that doesn’t belong to you, a woman who has shared truth that wasn’t received, or someone who just needs to hear Jesus call your name — this episode is for you. TAKEAWAYS FOR MOMS 1. You are a disciple to your disciples. Like Mary Magdalene, your assignment is to faithfully carry the message — not to control how it’s received. 2. Let Jesus call your name. Don’t build your identity on what others have said about you. Entrust yourself to the God who judges justly. 3. Prodigal mom? Keep speaking truth. Their response is not your assignment. SCRIPTURES REFERENCED · Luke 8:1-3 (introduction of Mary Magdalene) · Mark 15:40 (women at the cross) · John 20:11-18 (Mary at the tomb) · Luke 24:9-12 (disciples don’t believe her) · 1 Peter (entrusting yourself to God who judges justly) CONNECT WITH GATHER MOMS Website: gathermoms.comInstagram: @gathermomsPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/gathermoms?utm_campaign=creatorshare_fan Workbook: Moms. Let’s Talk: 9 Conversations You Must Have with Your Children SUBSCRIBE & LEAVE A REVIEW Your reviews help more moms find the podcast! Gather Moms: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook Kate Henderson: Instagram | Facebook Rebecca Bradford: Instagram | Facebook

eries: God's Promises, Our JourneyTitle: "Can God really restore what's broken?Scripture: Genesis 1:31-3:15, John 19:38-20:1-18 NIV Bottom Line: Because of the cross and resurrection, what was broken by sin can be restored by Jesus—if we repent, believe, and receive Him.In fact, it will be restored for the Church. The real question today is will it be restored for you?INTRODUCTIONCONTEXTSERMON OUTLINECONCLUSIONDISCUSSION QUESTIONSNOTESYOUTUBE DESCRIPTIONMAIN REFERENCES USEDMy opening prayer: Lord God, help us grow to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him and leading others to do the same. INTRODUCTIONMarvel Universe“If you've ever watched the Marvel movies, you know they're not just random, disconnected stories.At first, it feels like Iron Man, Captain America, Thor—they all have their own separate plots.But as the story unfolds, you realize… it's all connected.Every movie is part of a much bigger story that's building toward one climactic moment.The Bible works the same way.It's made up of dozens of books, written over centuries, with different people and settings—but it's telling one unified story.And that story moves from creation… to brokenness… to redemption… to restoration.Today, we're going to step into two scenes in that story—two gardens—and see how everything connects… and how it connects to your life.”OUTLINE (With help from ChatGPT)I. Name the room: “We Know Something Is Broken”Some of you walked in here celebrating...others are carrying heavy burdens• Loss (recent deaths)• Marriages under strain• Financial anxiety• Health struggles• Relationships in crisis“You don't need a theology degree to know something is wrong with the world… you just need to live in it for a while.”“The Bible tells one story that explains all of it—and offers one solution that can heal it.”II. Eden: Where brokenness began (Genesis 1:31-3:15)God designed life to be good and whole (Genesis 1:31-2:25)Sin shattered what God made whole. (Genesis 3)• Relationship with God → broken• Relationship with each other → broken• Relationship with self → broken• Relationship with creation → brokenTie directly to today:“Every funeral, every divorce, every anxiety… traces back to this moment.”Share the 3 Circles here--Link: https://youtu.be/5W8ynRMr59k?si=6FZMytsIOhLmbQib“So the question is not: Is there brokenness?The question is: How do we get out of it?”III. Cross/Good Friday - Jesus enters our brokenness on the cross (where sin was paid for)Bring them to the cross.• Jesus doesn't ignore brokenness—He enters it• He carries:• Our sin• Our shame• Our sufferingIV. Resurrection/The Garden Tomb - Where restoration begins (John 19:38--20:1-18)Jesus didn't just die—He rose to restore.• The tomb is in a garden• Mary mistakes Jesus for the gardener (John 20:15)That's not accidental.“In Eden, humanity lost the garden. In the resurrection, the Gardener begins restoring it.”Tie her in personally:• Delivered from demons → deeply broken• At the cross → grieving• At the tomb → confused• Encounters Jesus → transformedKey moment:“Jesus said her name—‘Mary'—and everything changed.”V. Connect to OUR Story“Some of you feel like your story is too far gone…”Apply specifically:• “Your marriage…”• “Your past…”• “Your regrets…”• “Your grief…”Then:“If Jesus can walk out of a grave, He can step into your situation.”Name their pain again—but now with hope:• Grief → “Death is not the end”• Broken marriages → “God restores what seems beyond repair”• Anxiety → “You are not alone in the garden”• Shame → “Jesus already carried it to the cross”Power line:“The same Jesus who called Mary by name is calling your name today.”VI. Call to RespondA. REPENTTurn from sin and self-ruleB. BELIEVETrust what Jesus did on the cross and resurrectionC. RECEIVESurrender to Him as Lord and SaviorTie to Romans 10:9–10VII. How baptism fits“Earlier in the service, you saw people baptized—that's a picture of this very thing.”Tie to gospel:“Buried with Christ… raised to new life.”Then pivot immediately:“But baptism doesn't start the story—Jesus does.”VIII. Closing ImageBring it back to gardens:“We lost everything in a garden…Jesus paid for it on a cross…And in a garden, He began making all things new.”Then:“The question is not: Is restoration possible?The question is: Will you come to the Gardener?”John 15:1-5 "my Father is the Gardener"As we move to celebrate the cross and resurrection through the Lord's Supper, where he instituted a perpetual reminder, we pause to confess our sins to a holy God, repenting of those sins, believing Jesus forgives and saves, and receiving the gift of salvation by grace through faith in him alone.Questions (Write this down)What is God saying to you right now? What are you going to do about it?PrayDISCUSSION QUESTIONSDiscovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/Read the passage together.Retell the story in your own words.Discovery the storyWhat does this story tell me about God?What does this story tell me about people?If this is really true, what should I do?What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)Who am I going to tell about this?Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcastNOTESIntroduction (long version, but here it is stream of consciousness)Marvel Studios turned their company around when they began making superhero movies. (Tell this story briefly how they went from near bankrupcy to box office success through the risk taking of Kevin Fahge and the first Iron Man movie) The idea became a series of movies (22?) that fit under the banner of phases 1-4 of the Avengers. (?) What makes this franchise pretty unique is that all 22 of these movies fit into a larger story arc that covered many (15 years?) years. Each superhero origin story and sequel contributed to the meta-story arc resulting in one of the most successful movie franchises of all time. Why do I share this with you? Because it is very much like what the Bible represents in it's library of 66 books with dozens of origin stories all pointing to the meta-story arc from Genesis 1-2 through Revelation 21-22. The story: Creation-->Fall-->Redemption-->Restoration. As I was preparing for today, I ran across this quip by author Leonard Sweet:"How can a church silence or stifle the voices of women when you can't tell the story of Holy Week without hearing the voices of women?"I'd already been considering the 2 gardens--2 women idea when I read that and sensed God confirming my direction.As I was trying to decide what to preach this Easter Sunday, I seriously considered continuing through our Genesis series. But Sodom and Gomorrah. Not your typical "Positive and uplifting" Easter fodder. Earlier that week, my wife gently suggested that it might be good to preach a resurrection sermon on resurrection day. Ha! So, believing that that was from the Lord, I pivoted to John 20:1-18, dipping back into that deep well of truth John writes about so well. And there I found a woman. Mary Magdalene or Mary from the town of Magdala. Tradition says she was a prostitute, though scripture does not back that up. However, she was demonically possessed. In Mark and Luke we read where Jesus delivered her from not 1, not 2 but 7 demons. She was thoroughly and completely enslaved to demons. Is anything too difficult for God?She then begins to follow Jesus, though women were not permitted to be disciples formally. She was apparently a woman of some means. She followed Jesus and supported his ministry both financially and personally with all her time. She was as devoted as any of the twelve disciples were. In John 20, we find her devotion unwavering as she approaches the tomb early Sunday morning. It's before dark as she heads to the tomb. Hence, many participate in sunrise services every Easter. At some point, 3 other ladies join her at the tomb. And none of them know how they'll actually get into the tomb with a giant bolder rolled in place to keep people out. Yet here she is. Here they will gather. But let's focus on Mary of Magdala. In a garden. Joseph of Arimethia's tomb was in or near a garden. In fact, when Mary sees the resurrected Jesus at first, she thinks he's the gardener (v. 15).What was lost in the Garden of Eden will begin to be restored at the tomb in another garden...a garden near Golgotha, the place of the skull. And if you think it's weird to have a garden close to tombs, think about cemetaries today. We cultivate gardens with flowers around them headstones and around the grounds. We want people to rest in a beatiful place symbolic of the most beautiful place they will (hopefully) end up in...the new heaven and the new earth.We'll go back in time another 2,000 years to another garden and another woman. Eve, in the Garden of Eden, will disobey her father. She'll crave, take and then eat a piece of forbidden fruit, share a piece with Adam, and thrust humanity into darkness. We'll see the Fall of humanity in that moment where brokenness on earth began. We'll also see a promise made by God to Adam and Eve. A promise that the "Seed" of Eve will make things new again. Will reverse the curse and re-establish a new garden and a new city. We'll begin to see that we're in a meta-story. One that began with Creation that was good. (Genesis 1:31) We are in the part of the story between Genesis 1-2 and Revelation 21-22. The bookends, if you will, of this meta-story. ZBrokenness begins in Genesis 3. Restoration begins in John 19-20.The Bible tells one story that explains all of it. Good to broken to Good again.The Bible is one story. His-story. History. The 66 books of the Bible include origin stories that all point to the meta-story. After all, it's the one story that matters most of all. But our story fits underneath this story arc. Our story matters. Our story is still being written today. How will it end?“To quote another German one Nietzsche would have deeply disagreed with, the great Martin Hengel of the University of Tübingen concluded his groundbreaking study of the origins of the New Testament idea of atonement with these words. Jesus celebrated the Passover meal with his disciples, and in it, in a symbolic action, he related the broken bread to the breaking of his body, and at the end of the meal the wine in the cup of blessing to the pouring out of his blood, through which the new eschatological covenant with God would be founded, and atonement would be achieved for all. A story is told about the late Archbishop of Milan, Cardinal Martini, and man, I hope it's an accurate story.The Cardinalʼs ConfessionApparently, in a public lecture years ago, he told this lovely anecdote. He said he knew of three young men in Rome years before, who spent a debauched night out on the town together, which ended with them all sitting drunk on the steps of an old church in Rome. And high above them, they noticed on the outside wall of the church, there was a huge crucifix.For a moment, they looked up at it, remembering the lessons from their childhood, and then one of them gave a dare. One of us should go in, find the priest on duty, and confess to him all the terrible things we've done tonight, and shock him by inventing further sins, and then just as a joke, do whatever penance he offers. One of them piped up and said he'd do it.So he walked in, found the elderly priest on duty, sat down, and in excruciating detail began to describe all of the actual sins of the evening, and then some of the invented ones, hardly holding back the mockery. The priest apparently just listened patiently, and then said, I want you to do something for me. Outside our church is a large statue of Jesus on a cross.He died for your sins. I want you to go down the front steps of the church, turn around, point your finger at it, and say out loud, I know what you've done, and I don't give a damn.Will you do that?It didn't sound like any penance the boy had heard about before, but he thought he'd give it a go. He ran outside. His friends were eager to hear what happened.He walked down the steps. He turned around, and sure enough, there's the statue that somehow looked bigger and more serious than he remembered. And he pointed his finger at it and rehearsed in his mind the words, I know what you've done and I don't give a damn.He couldn't do it. In fact, in front of his friends, he knelt down on the steps in remorse and respect. Now, when the Bishop of Milan told this story, he ended by saying, I want you to know this story is true.I was that young man in Rome 40 years ago, and it was the pivotal moment of my life. What was it that changed him? Well, not a piece of religious penance, but confronting his guilt and shame while looking at the cross.And my question this Easter, dear listeners, is how would you finish the sentence in the light of Good Friday? I know what you've done, and… For some, I'm sure it's going to be, and I don't give a damn.For others, it might be, I need more time to think about it. For others, thank you. Thank you for Good Friday.Good beyond compare.On Undeceptions Podcast.”From Undeceptions with John Dickson: 173. Good Friday, Mar 29, 2026https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/undeceptions-with-john-dickson/id1478239058?i=1000758071210&r=3294YOUTUBE DESCRIPTION Series: God's Promises, Our JourneyTitle: Can God Really Restore What's Broken?Scripture: Genesis 2:18–25; John 19:41–20:18What if the Bible isn't a collection of disconnected stories—but one unified story pointing to Jesus?In this Easter message, Pastor Darien Gabriel walks us from one garden to another—from the Garden of Eden, where brokenness began, to the garden tomb, where restoration began through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.We all feel it—grief, broken relationships, anxiety, regret. The question is: Can anything truly restore what's been lost?Through the cross and resurrection, we discover that Jesus doesn't just meet us in our brokenness—He makes a way to restore us.This message includes a clear, visual presentation of the gospel using the “3 Circles” and a powerful look at the story of Mary Magdalene, the first witness to the risen Christ.If you're searching for hope, healing, or a fresh start—this message is for you.⸻Bottom Line:Because of the cross and resurrection, what was broken by sin can be restored by Jesus—if we repent, believe, and receive Him.⸻Next Steps:If you made a decision to follow Jesus or want to learn more, we'd love to connect with you.

The story doesn't end at the cross. Indeed, John writes that every miracle, every moment, was recorded “so that you will believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and so that you will have life by believing in him.” (John 20:31) Jesus doesn't just fix a chapter of our lives; he completes the whole story—with new life, hope, and a future we couldn't write for ourselves. Wherever you are in your journey, resurrection life is for you, here and now. If you are new to Community Church, WELCOME! We would love to get to know you. Please fill in the following form and we look forward to connecting with you: https://bit.ly/cc-new-connect You can find all timely and relevant links from this service on https://bit.ly/cc-links You can also find out more about us at https://communitychurch.hk/ ================ This Week's Scripture: // John 20:1-10 (NIV) // Jesus Comes Back to Life Early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary from Magdala went to the tomb. She saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb's entrance. So she ran to Simon Peter and the other disciple, whom Jesus loved. She told them, “They have removed the Lord from the tomb, and we don't know where they've put him.” So Peter and the other disciple headed for the tomb. The two were running side by side, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and came to the tomb first. He bent over and looked inside the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there but didn't go inside. Simon Peter arrived after him and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there. He also saw the cloth that had been on Jesus' head. It wasn't lying with the strips of linen but was rolled up separately. Then the other disciple, who arrived at the tomb first, went inside. He saw and believed. They didn't know yet what Scripture meant when it said that Jesus had to come back to life. So the disciples went back home.

Read OnlineOn the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don't know where they put him.” John 20:1–2Have you ever misunderstood something, even when your intentions were good? We all experience moments when we act with love but still get things wrong. Even our good actions are rarely perfect.On that first Easter morning, before the sun rose, Mary Magdalene offers an example of this. She got some things right—her love and devotion to Jesus were sincere—but she did not yet understand the full reality of what she witnessed. Though the other Gospels mention other women at the tomb, John highlights Mary. Saint Augustine suggests that this is because she was “undoubtedly the most fervent in love” with Christ. When Mary Magdalene saw the stone rolled away, her love compelled her to act immediately. Saint John Chrysostom says she “ran to the disciples with all the speed of love.” Her fervor drove her to tell Simon Peter and John what she had seen, showing us how love urges us to seek God without delay.Despite her deep love, Mary misunderstood the meaning of the empty tomb. Her emotional response—“They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don't know where they put him”—reveals her struggle to grasp the mystery unfolding before her. Like many of us, she was driven by emotion rather than a deeper trust in God.Jesus was certainly not displeased with her misunderstanding, as Scripture identifies her in John 20:11–17 as the first to whom He appeared. When she encountered the risen Christ, she initially mistook Him for the gardener, indicating that her understanding of the Resurrection was still unfolding. Despite that, Jesus met her where she was and guided her toward deeper faith. This reminds us that our emotions, though good, must be purified by faith, allowing love to mature into greater trust and understanding. Reflect today on Mary Magdalene's experience on Easter morning. Like her, we are called to seek our Lord with fervor, even when our understanding is incomplete. And like her, we can trust that Jesus will meet us where we are, gently leading us into deeper faith. As we celebrate the Resurrection, pray that your love, with all its emotions, may be more fully purified by grace, so that you, too, will encounter Christ with renewed understanding and joy. My resurrected Lord, I love You deeply but acknowledge that my love must be further purified by faith so that I will understand You and Your will more clearly. As I grow in understanding of the many divine mysteries You reveal to me, help my love to grow so that I may more perfectly imitate the pure love You desire of me. Jesus, I trust in You.    Image: Christ's Appearance to Mary Magdalene after the Resurrection by Alexander Ivanov. State Russian Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia. Source: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

Am Karfreitag spricht Irmela Preissner von "Biblische Reisen" über die Heilige Woche in Jerusalem, wie sie verläuft, wenn Friedenszeiten sind. Gerade der Karfreitag ist zwar dann sehr voll in Jerusalem, aber für viele Gläubige ein unvergessliches Erlebnis!Das Evangelium schilder, wie sich Jesus am Kreuz noch um seie Mutter und Jünger sorgt. Er kümmert sich bis zum Schluss um die Menschen, die ihm nahe sind, und wünscht sich, dass sie zukünftig aufeinander achten, sagt sie.Eine Folge, die trotz des Todes am Kreuz die Hoffnung bringt, dass mit dem Tod doch nicht alles aus ist!Aus dem Johannesevangelium: Sie übernahmen Jesus. Und er selbst trug das Kreuz und ging hinaus zur sogenannten Schädelstätte, die auf Hebräisch Golgota heißt. Dort kreuzigten sie ihn und mit ihm zwei andere, auf jeder Seite einen, in der Mitte aber Jesus. Pilatus ließ auch eine Tafel anfertigen und oben am Kreuz befestigen; die Inschrift lautete: Jesus von Nazaret, der König der Juden. Diese Tafel lasen viele Juden, weil der Platz, wo Jesus gekreuzigt wurde, nahe bei der Stadt lag. Die Inschrift war hebräisch, lateinisch und griechisch abgefasst. Da sagten die Hohepriester der Juden zu Pilatus: Schreib nicht: Der König der Juden, sondern dass er gesagt hat: Ich bin der König der Juden. Pilatus antwortete: Was ich geschrieben habe, habe ich geschrieben. Nachdem die Soldaten Jesus gekreuzigt hatten, nahmen sie seine Kleider und machten vier Teile daraus, für jeden Soldaten einen Teil, und dazu das Untergewand. Das Untergewand war aber ohne Naht von oben ganz durchgewoben. Da sagten sie zueinander: Wir wollen es nicht zerteilen, sondern darum losen, wem es gehören soll. So sollte sich das Schriftwort erfüllen: Sie verteilten meine Kleider unter sich und warfen das Los um mein Gewand. Dies taten die Soldaten. Bei dem Kreuz Jesu standen seine Mutter und die Schwester seiner Mutter, Maria, die Frau des Klopas, und Maria von Magdala. Als Jesus die Mutter sah und bei ihr den Jünger, den er liebte, sagte er zur Mutter: Frau, siehe, dein Sohn. Dann sagte er zu dem Jünger: Siehe, deine Mutter! Und von jener Stunde an nahm sie der Jünger zu sich. Danach, da Jesus wusste, dass nun alles vollbracht war, sagte er, damit sich die Schrift erfüllte: Mich dürstet. Ein Gefäß voll Essig stand da. Sie steckten einen Schwamm voll Essig auf einen Ysopzweig und hielten ihn an seinen Mund. Als Jesus von dem Essig genommen hatte, sprach er: Es ist vollbracht! Und er neigte das Haupt und übergab den Geist. (Joh 19,16-30)(© Ständige Kommission für die Herausgabe der gemeinsamen liturgischen Bücher im deutschen Sprachgebiet)

Read OnlineStanding by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. John 19:25–27If God invited you to be present at one moment in the Scriptures, to see it with your eyes, hear it with your ears, and experience it with your heart, what moment would that be? Certainly, Gabriel's announcement to Mary, Christ's birth, a miracle, or a sermon would be awe-inspiring. The moment, however, that perhaps best manifests pure and perfect love is the love shared between Mother and Son during Jesus' three hours on the Cross.Throughout His life, Jesus' mother was uniquely privileged to know Him like no other. She bore Him in her womb, nursed Him at her breast, bathed Him as a child, fed Him, watched Him grow, and was attentive to His every virtue. As His ministry attracted both great attention and harsh criticism, her Immaculate and motherly Heart remained perfectly attentive to Him and His mission.As tensions rose during the week of Passover, her motherly intuition filled her Immaculate Heart with an intertwining of the most holy love and sorrow imaginable. When Jesus was arrested, the pain was deeper than any human heart had ever suffered, and her resolve to be present at her Son's Passion was stronger than any earthly force could stop. No fear, threat, or sorrow could keep her from accompanying her Son to the very end. In perfect union with the will of God, Mary's love was unwavering. Her silent presence at the Cross became a testament to the boundless strength of maternal devotion. Just as she had embraced Jesus in the joy of His Nativity, she now held Him in her heart during His Passion, standing as both witness and participant in the work of redemption.As Jesus looked down at her from the Cross upon which He hung, the human consolation He received from His mother's gaze was all He needed. Her love and affection were His only remaining earthly possessions. Stripped bare, nailed to the Cross, and suffocating, His mother's love could not be taken from Him. Yet Jesus came to give all out of love—everything He possessed, including His mother. Out of love, Jesus entrusted her to John, the beloved disciple—and through him, to all of us—so that we might receive her as our own mother.As He looked at her with the deepest love ever shared between two people, He called her “Woman”—“Woman, behold your son.” By calling her “Woman,” Jesus revealed the fulfillment of her identity in salvation history. She was the woman foretold in Genesis and the woman revealed in the vision of Revelation. In that moment, when the heavens were torn open and grace poured down upon the world, Jesus' mother fulfilled her role as the New Eve and the new Mother of all the Living. She became the Mother and protector of all God's children, interceding for them with unparalleled love and participating in the mediation of God's grace. To John, who stood by her, Jesus said, “Behold, your mother.” With that, He thirsted, drank the bitter wine on a sprig of hyssop, cried out, “It is finished!,” bowed His head, and handed over His spirit.As we celebrate this Good Friday, fix your gaze upon the moment when human love, united with divine love, was revealed to the world in the most sacred way. The love between this Mother and Son, alongside the gift of His mother and the New Eve to all of us, embodies the selfless nature of divine love. Ponder the mystery. Pray that you may be spiritually drawn into that moment. Gaze upon their love and hear the Messiah, the Son of God, say to you: “Behold, your mother.” Hearing, believing, and responding to those words makes you present at that moment when love was perfected and salvation poured forth upon the world.Most glorious Lord, as You suffered upon the Cross, having nothing left in this world but Your mother, You entrusted her to us to be our mother, so that we could participate in the love that You and she shared. I do behold her as my mother, and You as my King and God. I love You and thank You with all my heart for the unfathomable gift You have given me. Jesus, I trust in You.  Image: Gent - Crucifixion paint on the wood plate by Renáta SedmákováSource: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

Read OnlineReclining at table with his disciples, Jesus was deeply troubled and testified, “Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” John 13:21Love, betrayal, divine glory, and human weakness permeate today's Gospel, offering us a contrast of emotions and experiences to ponder. All forms of joys and trials affect our lives. Life is not “a bed of roses,” as the old saying goes. Besides joy, love, and excitement, we are touched by hurt, anger, fear, and anxiety. The same was true of Jesus' human experience with His disciples and all those who encountered Him. Through no fault of His own, Jesus was a polarizing figure. Some people loved Him deeply—such as His Blessed Mother, John, Mary of Bethany, and Mary of Magdala—while others despised Him, such as the scribes and Pharisees. Today's Gospel presents us with another figure whose life added great drama to the Gospel story—not because he loved or hated Jesus with passion—but because he was greedy and spiritually misguided. Today we read Saint John's account of the Last Supper. Jesus and His disciples were gathered in the Upper Room to celebrate the Passover meal. He began by washing the disciples' feet, a profound act of humble service. After this, Jesus prophesied that one of the Twelve would betray Him. When John, the Beloved Disciple, asked who the traitor was, Jesus identified Judas by handing him a morsel of food—an act of intimate friendship and trust. At that moment, “Satan entered him.” With both meekness and authority, Jesus told Judas: “What you are going to do, do quickly.” And immediately, “Judas took the morsel and left at once. And it was night” (John 13:27, 30). The night's unfolding drama did not end with Judas's betrayal. Jesus also revealed to Peter, “Amen, amen, I say to you, the cock will not crow before you deny me three times” (John 13:38).Though Jesus was God, He was also fully human, capable of feeling every human emotion to a much greater degree than we are, due to the perfection of His humanity. Therefore, within Jesus' human soul we discover a profound contrast of emotions to the full range of human experience. One of the Twelve will hand Him over to death later that evening, while another, the one He would entrust with the leadership of His Church, would deny he even knew Jesus. On top of that, Jesus was fully aware that later that night He would be arrested, tortured, falsely accused, imprisoned, and await the sentence of death in the morning. He not only felt the effects of these events within His humanity, but His empathy enabled Him to perceive the experiences of the Twelve, His mother, and all who hated Him. He felt their pain, confusion, and anger far before they did, and He felt those emotions much deeper than they ever would. Only His mother, who would stand by Him faithfully at the Cross, would experience the depth of human suffering that Jesus felt within His soul.Why would God take on human nature and permit Himself to experience such pain? Because all human emotions—even pain—-needed to be intermingled with divine love. Because of the hypostatic union, all of Christ's human experiences—whether joyful or sorrowful—were perfectly united with divine love and transformed into sources of grace for those whom He loves. His courageous entrance into His Passion makes it possible for us to endure our own human trials with His strength, hope, and peace. Reflect today on your life and the experiences you endure and enjoy. If some experiences are overwhelming, know that Jesus perfectly understands, deeply empathizes, and offers a remedy. He invites you into His own trials, promising you His divine strength to untangle confusion and flood you with peace. Unite the blessings you enjoy with Jesus' Passion as well. Among Jesus' greatest earthly delights was the love His mother lavished upon Him, especially as she stood faithfully at the foot of the Cross. With our Lord, receive your blessings with gratitude and allow them to strengthen you so that you may endure your own daily trials, guided by His meekness and authority, leading you to a share in His Resurrection.My empathetic and understanding Lord, by taking on our human nature, You permitted Yourself to experience everything we experience. Though sinless, You endured the effects of sin with suffering and love. Please draw me into Your human joys and trials so that I can live my life in You, by You, and through You, receiving grace through Your humanity so as to share in Your glory and divinity. Jesus, I trust in You.  Image: Metropolitan Museum of Art, CC0, via Wikimedia CommonsSource: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

"Make the inside the same of the outside and the outside the same of the inside"  a world of Balance Your Divine Feminine and Your Divine Masculine always have been holding hands, one cannot be without the other, That is your very first key for your multidimensionality    I am you Magdala www.magdalas.com

JOHN THE BAPTIST taught a radical new idea: Forgiveness of sins came through repentance, not ritual—even for Gentiles. And this new doctrine was first introduced in the Book of 1 Enoch. John's teaching came from 1 Enoch 50:2–3: He heaped evil upon the sinners; but the righteous ones shall be victorious in the name of the Lord of the Spirits. He will cause the others to see this so that they may repent and forsake the deeds of their hands. There shall not be honor unto them in the name of the Lord of the Spirits. But through his name they shall be saved, and the Lord of the Spirits shall have mercy upon them, for his mercy is considerable. (James H. Charlesworth translation) The “righteous ones” were the Essenes. Scholars generally agree now that this section of 1 Enoch, the Book of Parables (chapters 37–71 of 1 Enoch), was written by one or more Essenes living in a community near the city of Magdala on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee in the last quarter of the 1st century BC—in other words, just before the birth of Jesus. “The others” referred to Gentiles (and Jews who didn't follow the Law). The idea that Gentiles could be saved was a radical departure from traditional Jewish (and Essene!) teachings, which is why priests and Levites from Jerusalem came to interrogate John. We also find a prophecy of resurrection—including the resurrection of “the Elect (or Chosen) One.” Sharon's niece, Sarah Sachleben, has been diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer, and the medical bills are piling up. If you are led to help, please go to GilbertHouse.org/hopeforsarah. Our new book The Gates of Hell is now available in paperback, Kindle, and as an audiobook at Audible! Derek's new book Destination: Earth, co-authored with Donna Howell and Allie Anderson, is now available in paperback, Kindle, and as an audiobook at Audible! If you are looking for a text of the Book of 1 Enoch to follow our monthly study, you can try these sources: Parallel translations by R. H. Charles (1917) and Richard Laurence (1821)Modern English translation by George W. E. Nickelsburg and James VanderKam (link to book at Amazon)Book of 1 Enoch - Standard English Version by Dr. Jay Winter (link opens free PDF)Book of 1 Enoch - R. H. Charles translation (link opens free PDF) The SkyWatchTV store has a special offer on Dr. Michael Heiser's two-volume set A Companion to the Book of Enoch. Get both books, the R. H. Charles translation of 1 Enoch, and a DVD interview with Mike and Steven Bancarz for a donation of $35 plus shipping and handling. Link: https://bit.ly/heiser-enoch Follow us!• X: @gilberthouse_tv | @sharonkgilbert | @derekgilbert• Telegram: t.me/gilberthouse | t.me/sharonsroom | t.me/viewfromthebunker• YouTube: @GilbertHouse | @UnravelingRevelation | @thebiblesgreatestmysteries• Facebook.com/GilbertHouseFellowship Thank you for making our Build Barn Better project a reality! We truly appreciate your support. If you are so led, you can help out at GilbertHouse.org/donate. Get our free app! It connects you to these studies plus our weekly video programs Unraveling Revelation and A View from the Bunker, and the podcast that started this journey in 2005, P.I.D. Radio. Best of all, it bypasses the gatekeepers of Big Tech! The app is available for iOS, Android, Roku, and Apple TV. Links to the app stores are at www.gilberthouse.org/app/. Video on demand of our best teachings! Stream presentations and teachings based on our research at our new video on demand site! Gilbert House T-shirts and mugs! New to our store is a line of GHTV and Redwing Saga merch! Check it out at GilbertHouse.org/store! Think better, feel better! Our partners at Simply Clean Foods offer freeze-dried, 100% GMO-free food and delicious, vacuum-packed fair trade coffee from Honduras. Find out more at GilbertHouse.org/store. Our favorite Bible study tools! Check the links in the left-hand column at www.GilbertHouse.org.

JOHN THE BAPTIST taught a radical new idea: Forgiveness of sins came through repentance, not ritual—even for Gentiles. And this new doctrine was first introduced in the Book of 1 Enoch.  John's teaching came from 1 Enoch 50:2–3: He heaped evil upon the sinners; but the righteous ones shall be victorious in the name of the Lord of the Spirits. He will cause the others to see this so that they may repent and forsake the deeds of their hands. There shall not be honor unto them in the name of the Lord of the Spirits. But through his name they shall be saved, and the Lord of the Spirits shall have mercy upon them, for his mercy is considerable. (James H. Charlesworth translation) The “righteous ones” were the Essenes. Scholars generally agree now that this section of 1 Enoch, the Book of Parables (chapters 37–71 of 1 Enoch), was written by one or more Essenes living in a community near the city of Magdala on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee in the last quarter of the 1st century BC—in other words, just before the birth of Jesus. “The others” referred to Gentiles (and Jews who didn't follow the Law). The idea that Gentiles could be saved was a radical departure from traditional Jewish (and Essene!) teachings, which is why priests and Levites from Jerusalem came to interrogate John.  We also find a prophecy of resurrection—including the resurrection of “the Elect (or Chosen) One.” 

We sit down with Father Eamon Kelly the Priest in charge of Magdala in Israel to get his perspective on the Holy land and the Importance of the site. His daily devotion: Sunrise Stroll & Chat - https://www.facebook.com/freamonkellylcThe website for the Center - https://onestepcloser.org To Purchase our cigar line go to: https://1689cigars.com/collections/4-freedom-cigars Our Experience Box: https://1689cigars.com/collections/4-freedom-cigars/products/the-4-freedom-experience-boxTo purchase James New Book "From Brokenness to Freedom" https://a.co/d/c7UX3xT For more info visit our website: https://4freedompodcast.comFor Merch visit this site: https://www.teepublic.com/user/freedom-ministries?utm_source=designer&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=Gq_E0abDp_8

La commune de Delmas est devenue, pour de nombreux habitants, l'un des épicentres des enlèvements contre rançon. Entre octobre 2025 et février 2026, les cas se sont multipliés, installant un climat de peur permanent. Ce vendredi matin (6 mars 2026), le calme règne à Delmas 75. Les véhicules sont rares et filent à vive allure. Quelques marchands installent déjà leurs petits commerces sur les trottoirs. Mais derrière cette apparente normalité, dans les cœurs, la peur s'installe. À la base : le phénomène du kidnapping. Magdala, 24 ans, est assise calmement sur une place publique de la zone. L'enlèvement récent d'une jeune fille de son quartier la scandalise. « Ce n'est pas normal qu'en tant que jeune, on vive dans un pays où l'on n'arrête pas d'enlever des personnes, parfois pour les violer (…) Une jeune fille qui aurait pu être utile à sa famille… soit elle est violée, soit elle est tuée par la suite. Ce pays est devenu invivable », dénonce-t-elle au micro de notre correspondant à Port-au-Prince, Peterson Luxama. Entreprise florissante pour les malfrats, drame sans nom pour les familles, le kidnapping prend de l'ampleur. « Pour moi, le kidnapping est le moyen le plus rapide de décapitaliser une famille, parce qu'on exige de la victime le paiement d'une rançon, des sommes que la plupart des familles n'ont pas accumulées durant des décennies. À une certaine époque, on pouvait attribuer les enlèvements uniquement aux bandits et aux groupes de gangs armés organisés. Mais aujourd'hui, il y a même des agents des forces de l'ordre, censés nous protéger, qui seraient impliqués dans des réseaux de kidnapping », avance Josué Estinvil, habitant de Delmas. De graves séquelles Le kidnapping frappe à la porte de tous. Jeunes ou adultes, femmes ou filles, aucune catégorie n'est épargnée. Une situation dénoncée par les organisations de défense des droits humains. « D'octobre 2025 à février 2026, nous avons constaté dans la commune de Delmas une hausse des cas d'enlèvements suivis de séquestrations contre rançon, rapporte Marie Rosy Auguste Ducenat, responsable de programmes au sein du Réseau national de défense des droits humains. Il s'agit d'un phénomène qui laisse des séquelles graves, des séquelles énormes chez les victimes, particulièrement chez les femmes et les filles qui sont souvent violées ou qui sont menacées d'être violées. Elles nous affirment par la suite se sentir souillées même si elles n'ont pas effectivement subi de viol. » Aujourd'hui, dans plusieurs quartiers de Port-au-Prince, notamment dans la commune de Delmas, la peur dicte les déplacements, modifie les habitudes et fragilise davantage un tissu social déjà éprouvé.   Des législatives dans le calme en Colombie La Colombie a voté hier (8 mars 2026) pour renouveler la Chambre basse et le Sénat. Des élections législatives tests à trois mois de la présidentielle, marquées par une forte progression de la coalition de gauche du chef de l'État sortant Gustavo Petro. El Espectador estime que ces élections ont été un succès pour les institutions colombiennes. Le processus a certes été entaché par des accusations de fraudes, de corruption, de la violence, mais El Espectador préfère retenir que la polarisation et les tensions n'ont pas empêché l'élection d'un Congrès diversifié, représentant l'ensemble du spectre politique. D'autant qu'avec 21 millions de Colombiens qui se sont déplacés aux urnes, la participation est la plus élevée depuis 1990. C'est ce que souligne La Silla Vacia. El Tiempo juge de son côté que ce scrutin est l'illustration d'« une démocratie solide ». « Démocratie, nom féminin », titre enfin El Colombiano. Car hasard du calendrier, ces élections législatives se sont tenues le même jour que la journée internationale des droits des femmes. Et il s'avère qu'hier, (8 mars 2026) 40% des candidats au Congrès étaient des candidates. Un progrès. Mais El Colombiano estime que c'est encore trop peu, alors que les femmes représentent 51% de la population colombienne. Dans le New York Times, vous pourrez lire comment un décret présidentiel sur le glyphosate signé le mois dernier (février 2026) protège aussi la production d'une arme extrêmement controversée. Ça se passe cette fois aux États-Unis. Le glyphosate, c'est ce désherbant accusé d'être cancérigène. Il est fabriqué par l'entreprise allemande Bayer. Et il est notamment composé de phosphore blanc, un produit également fabriqué par Bayer qui sert aussi pour produire les munitions incendiaires de l'armée états-unienne. Et qu'Israël est accusée de l'avoir utilisé contre des civils à Gaza et au Liban en 2023.   Concerts de casseroles à La Havane À Cuba, où les coupures de courant se multiplient en raison du blocus énergétique imposé par les États-Unis. Ce qui provoque la colère d'une partie de la population. La contestation enfle à La Havane malgré une forte présence policière, notamment dans les quartiers de Regla et Guanabacoa. C'est que rapporte 14ymedio. Ces manifestations contre le pouvoir s'accompagnent de feux de déchets. « Un geste significatif, écrit 14ymedio, car les déchets qui inondent la ville reflètent la misère dans laquelle vit la population ». En Bolivie, les zones de recharges hydriques, souvent situées en montagne, sont essentielles, car elles fournissent de l'eau aux communautés proches mais également aux villes et villages alentour. En échange de la protection de ces zones, les habitants des zones rurales reçoivent de l'aide pour améliorer leur accès à l'eau ou pour développer des activités économiques respectueuses de l'environnement. Reportage au nord de la capitale La Paz, par notre correspondant Nils Sabin.

To Purchase our cigar line go to: https://1689cigars.com/collections/4-freedom-cigars Our Experience Box: https://1689cigars.com/collections/4-freedom-cigars/products/the-4-freedom-experience-boxTo purchase James New Book "From Brokenness to Freedom" https://a.co/d/c7UX3xT For more info visit our website: https://4freedompodcast.comFor Merch visit this site: https://www.teepublic.com/user/freedom-ministries?utm_source=designer&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=Gq_E0abDp_8

Skeptics said synagogues didn't exist in Galilee during Jesus' lifetime. They were wrong. They said crucified victims were never buried. They were wrong. They said the Gospel writers invented details about first-century Palestine. Wrong again.Dr. Craig Evans, one of the world's leading scholars on the historical Jesus and New Testament archaeology, has spent decades connecting physical discoveries to the Gospel narratives. He's authored over 70 books, founded the Dead Sea Scrolls Institute, lectured at Cambridge, Oxford, and Yale, and appeared on BBC, the History Channel, Discovery Channel, and National Geographic. In this episode, he walks us through the discoveries that secular Israeli archaeologists rely on the Gospels as their primary sources, why skeptical theories collapse under the weight of evidence, and how the skeletal remains of a crucified man confirm that Jesus would have been buried exactly as the Gospels describe. This conversation will transform how you read the New Testament.In this episode, you will learn:Why Israeli archaeologists, even non-believing ones, use Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Acts as their most reliable sourcesThe discovery of first-century synagogues at Magdala and what they reveal about Jesus' ministryWhat the Theodotus Inscription proves about synagogues existing in Jerusalem before 70 ADHow the Pilate Stone and Caiaphas Ossuary confirm key figures from the Passion narrativesWhy the Gospel writers showed remarkable restraint and integrity in recording only what Jesus actually saidThe archaeological evidence that crucified victims in Jewish Palestine were in fact buriedHow the skeletal remains of Yehohanan, a crucified man with a nail still in his heel, validates Gospel burial accountsWhy Joseph of Arimathea's burial of Jesus is historically plausible and fits Jewish law perfectlyThe stunning continuity of village memory that preserved the location of Jesus' tomb for centuriesCheck out Dr. Craig Evans' work:Website: https://www.craigaevans.comJesus and His World: The Archaeological EvidenceFabricating Jesus: How Modern Scholars Distort the GospelsThe Bible Seminary: https://www.thebibleseminary.eduStay Connected with Johnny Ova and The Dig In Podcast: Subscribe and follow The Dig In Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thejohnnyova Follow all things Johnny: https://linktr.ee/johnnyova Grab Johnny's book, The Revelation Reset: https://a.co/d/hiUkW8H

Archaeologist and author Amanda Hope Haley joins Ginny Yurich for a conversation that makes the Bible feel both more historically grounded and more alive. From sixth-grade “digs” and a life-changing biblical archaeology class to fieldwork near ancient sites and fresh discoveries that keep rewriting what we think we know, Amanda explains how archaeology doesn't “prove” Scripture—it illuminates it, clears away centuries of assumptions, and restores the texture of the ancient world. They talk Noah's Ark (and why the obsession misses the point), the surprising power of stone memorials, why traditions sometimes get mistaken for text, and how new finds—like the excavation of Magdala—can sharpen our understanding of familiar stories without shaking faith. Plus, an unforgettable Amish family story, a quick, mind-bending detour into space and the James Webb telescope, and a closing childhood memory under the stars that perfectly fits the 1000 Hours Outside message. Find everything Amanda Hope Haley offers here: https://www.amandahopehaley.com Get your copy of Stones That Speak here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Reponemos esta intrigante y docta tertulia con el historiador y escritor Oscar Fabrega y su libro sobre la autencidad de Maria de Magdala y al final os damos una actualizacion sobre figuras que se dedican a acosar por las redes sociales que creo que es interesante en estos tiempos que corren. VIAS DE CONTACTO: Radio: https://edenex.es/ RADIOCADENA SPAIN www.radiocadenaspain Un abrazo desde Argentina fmlarama.listen2myradio.com fmlarama.blogspot.com Fm 107.3 Mhz. Email: podclave45@gmail.com Web: clave45.wordpress.com Google+ : podclave45@gmail.com Twitter: @laclave45 @santiso6969 Facebook: https://facebook.com/clave45 YouTube.com iTunes.com Spotify.com

Friday, 30 January 2026   When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” Matthew 16:13   “And Jesus, having come to the allotments – Caesarea, the Phillipi, He entreated His disciples, saying, ‘Whom they say, the men, Me to be, the Son of Man?'” (CG).   In the previous verse, the disciples finally clued in to what Jesus was trying to teach them. His words about the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees were speaking of their evil doctrine. Matthew now continues the narrative of their time after arriving on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, saying, “And Jesus, having come to the allotments – Caesarea, the Phillipi.”   A new word, Kaisareia, Caesarea, is introduced. It is derived from Kaisar, Caesar, a Latin word referring to the title of the Roman Emperor. Caesarea refers to two places in the area of Israel. The first is this location, Caesarea Philippi. Of this location, Albert Barnes says –   “There were two cities in Judea called Caesarea. One was situated on the borders of the Mediterranean (See the notes at Acts 8:40), and the other was the one mentioned here. This city was greatly enlarged and ornamented by Philip the tetrarch, son of Herod, and called Caesarea in honor of the Roman emperor, Tiberius Caesar. To distinguish it from the other Caesarea the name of Philip was added to it, and it was called Caesarea Philippi, or Caesarea of Philippi. It was situated in the boundaries of the tribe of Naphtali, at the foot of Mount Hermon.”   Having come to this general area, “He entreated His disciples, saying, ‘Whom they say, the men, Me to be, the Son of Man?'” Translations consider His words in one of two ways. One is “Whom do men say that I am? The Son of Man?”, or “Whom do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”   The latter is correct. Jesus has referred to Himself as the Son of Man nine times already, making this the tenth. Peter's answer will also show that He is not asking if people say He is the Son of Man. Rather, He is asking what He, the Son of Man, is called by others. He is preparing them for a great pronouncement by asking this probing question first.   Life application: Jesus came to His own country in Matthew 13:53-58. He was rejected by them. In Matthew 14:1-12, the account of the beheading of John the Baptist was given. That was followed by the feeding of the five thousand in Matthew 14:13-21.   Jesus then walked on the sea, as is recorded in Matthew 14:22-33. From there, they came to the area of Gennesaret, at which time He fully saved all who simply touched Him. In Matthew 15:1-20, it then noted the traditions of the Jews which Jesus condemned, explaining that what comes out of a man is what defiles, not what enters into him.   That was then followed by His journey to the allotments of Tyre and Sidon, where the faith of the Canaanite woman was noted, and her daughter was saved. After that, Jesus went around the Sea of Galilee to the eastern side of it. There, He healed many and eventually fed four thousand. After feeding them, they crossed the Galilee, coming to the region of Magdala.   While there, He was accosted by the Pharisees and Sadducees who looked for a sign from heaven. He told them no sign would be given but the sign of Jonah. Once that was complete, they once again crossed the Sea of Galilee to the eastern side, being instructed on the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Now in the account, they have remained on this eastern side and gone north to the area of Caesarea Philippi.   This crisscrossing of the land and the Sea of Galilee all has a purpose. Jesus' movements are being used as a walking instructional tool in what God is doing in redemptive history. It is good to stop and reconsider where He has gone and where He is at any given time. By considering these things, we can follow what God is doing in reconciling the world to Himself through Jesus.   Each area visited, each topographical marker that is mentioned, and each thing Jesus does is being woven into a marvelous tapestry for us to ponder and learn from. Keep paying attention to the details, both from a micro and macro viewpoint. God is telling us a story of humanity's long trek back to Him, and it is all centered on Jesus.   Lord God, it would make no sense for You to send Your Son into the world unless there was something to be gained from it. His life of trials and burdens, culminating in His cross and resurrection, tells us that there is a great plan that has been put in place to bring Your people to a place we cannot even imagine at this time. We are grateful to be on this journey because of Jesus! Thank You for the sure hope we possess. Amen.

Tuesday, 27 January 2026   Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many large baskets you took up? Matthew 16:10   “Nor the seven loaves – the four thousand, and how many hampers you took?” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus reminded the disciples about the five loaves of the five thousand, asking them to recollect how many handbaskets they had taken up. He next reminds them of the second feeding of a multitude, saying, “Nor the seven loaves – the four thousand.”   If the chronology is as recorded by Matthew, this was a very recent event. It is recorded in Matthew 15:32-38, as the chapter closed out. Therefore, unless the events are not chronological, it has been an extremely short period of time since then.   They went to the area of Magdala, had an interaction with the Pharisees and Sadducees, and then they departed. Upon their departure to the other side, Jesus warned them about the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. The implication is that all of this was in a very short time span. And yet, Jesus is questioning them about what happened, as if they had completely forgotten. He continues with, “and how many hampers you took?”   The answer is seven hampers, meaning big basketfuls, of leftovers. How they could have forgotten that and worried about not having taken bread is a bit astonishing.   Life application: Despite being incredible that the disciples forgot the great thing Jesus did, how can we look down on them for having done so? Do we remember what Jesus did for us? He saved us from the power of sin and the hand of the devil.   One would think we would be constantly and eternally grateful for this. And yet, how often do we forget as we go through our daily lives? We may go back and do some of the stupid things we once did, or we may find some other thing that we never did before and pick up that habit.   Instead of living holy lives and honoring Him, we fail Him often. Imagine the words He would say to us! “Don't you remember the pit you were in? Don't you remember the joy of the day you first believed? How can it be that you have forgotten those things and have picked up the ways of the world again?”   The good news is, Jesus didn't say, “You guys can't be my disciples anymore. Your memory is short, and your level of understanding isn't up to par.” Rather, He continued to work with them despite their many faults and limitations. And He will continue to work through those He has saved throughout the ages.   We are fallible creatures doing an imperfect job in telling the world about the goodness of God in Christ. This is how Jesus has set things up, and it is how God is being glorified as the years pass. When people point their finger at you and say, “You aren't a good Christian because of XXX,” you can respond, “XXX is why I am a Christian. Jesus saved imperfect me. I understand my faults, and Jesus does too. We are in the process of getting me to be more like Him. That is why I need Jesus!”   If we were all perfected when we came to Christ, there would be no need for us to grow in Him. We wouldn't be dependent on Him for our walk. But just as the universe is being held together by the power of His word, we are continually being saved by the power of His all-sufficient atonement.   Thank God for Jesus Christ, who has accepted us and granted us eternal life. How great He is! Let us not forget the great thing He has done and is doing for us. Praise God for His goodness to us.   Lord God, thank You for the surety we possess because of Jesus. We are ever-unfaithful, and yet You are ever forgiving of it because You have saved us through the fully sufficient sacrifice of Jesus. Despite our faults and waywardness, we are Yours. Hallelujah! Hooray for Jesus! Amen.  

The Land Of Israel - Magdala  Part 5:  The Importance Of Coins  -  English only.  At an archeological excavation, everyone is excited to find a coin...and with good reason!  Recorded January 14, 2026.

Thursday, 22 January 2026   Now when His disciples had come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. Matthew 16:5   “And His disciples, having come to the beyond, they overlooked to take bread” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus rebuked the Pharisees and Sadducees for having sought after a sign. From there, it says He left them and departed. The meaning of where He departed to will be found in the next words, “And His disciples, having come to the beyond.”   In Matthew, it isn't obvious where Jesus is at this time. The reason is that in verse 15:39, it says that Jesus got into a boat and came to the region of Magdala. Nothing is said about His disciples, which is usually the case.   However, Mark specifically notes that they all had traveled together. Therefore, they have gone from the eastern shore of the sea to the borders of Magdala (Dalmanutha in Mark). Jesus talked to the Pharisees and Sadducees in that area. They then went back to the eastern side of the sea. When there, Matthew records, “they overlooked to take bread.”   A new word is seen here, epilanthanomai, to lose out of mind. It is derived from epi, upon, and lanthanó, to escape notice. The sense, then, is a focus on the consequences that arise when one forgets. The word overlook is a suitable match for what the Greek signifies.   Because of this oversight on their part, the disciples will misunderstand what Jesus will next convey to them.   Life application: It is interesting that Matthew did not record if the disciples traveled with Jesus in Matthew 15:39. Nor did he mention if His disciples went with Him in verse 16:4. Because of that, one might question if His disciples came to Him in Magdala in verse 16:5 or if He and His disciples traveled together to the eastern shore. This is unlike Matthew's normal precision concerning Jesus' travels, but it shows that the accounts are dependent on each other to fully understand what is going on. And yet, each is a single whole that gives exactly what is needed to meet the intent of the narrative.   The Bible does this in both testaments. Each main narrative is sufficient for the purpose being conveyed, but there are details that must be determined from other narratives to see the full scope of what actually happened.   A long and detailed example is found between the details of the books of Kings and the books of the Chronicles. They each provide the necessary information to understand the intent of the books, and yet, without having both of them, there seem to be contradictions in the timing of the kings' histories. However, when placed side by side and along with an understanding of the type of dating used by each author, the histories come together to form a complete whole. Along with that, adding in the overlapping historical and prophetic narratives found in other books, an even more detailed understanding of what is being conveyed comes into focus.   This is true with the book of Acts and the epistles as well. Taken together, the timing and details of what occurred at various times are more fully understood. And so, what we have is a collection of books that are independently sufficient for the intended purpose being conveyed, but they are actually all dependent on the whole for the entire panorama of God's redemptive purposes to be fully understood. Without including all sixty-six books, there would be a deficiency in knowing what the ultimate purpose of Scripture is. There would also be an unraveling of being sure of the authenticity of the books.   Therefore, the Bible is like a tapestry that has been perfectly woven together. By pulling out one string, the book would unravel in its perfectly harmonious intent.   This pattern is followed by authors of series today. Each book written by an author is an independent whole, but when details refer forward or back to other books, you can say, “Ah ha! I see why this happened in that other book!” There was no lack in the other book. And yet, there is a synchronization of all of the books that forms a complete panorama of the intent of the author. The difference, however, is that the Bible spans about fifteen hundred years and has about forty human authors.   And yet, it is a perfectly harmonious whole where thousands of years later, people are still finding new insights, almost daily, where it can be said, “Ah ha! I see why this happened in that other book!”   As the majority of the human authors had no idea who the other authors were, having come from different lands and different times, it means that the Bible is either the greatest fluke in human literary history, or it is truly the divinely inspired word of God. By faith, you can choose to believe the latter. That would be the wise course to take.   Lord God, we confidently receive the Bible as a reliable record of Your dealings with humanity as You work to reconcile us to You through the span of history. We know what we possess, and we thank You for it. Be glorified, O God, in our cherishing and careful handling of this precious word. Amen.

Saturday, 17 January 2026   And He sent away the multitude, got into the boat, and came to the region of Magdala. Matthew 15:39   Note: You can listen to today's commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)   You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).   “And having dismissed the crowds, He in-stepped into the boat, and He came to the borders of Magdala” (CG).   In the previous verse, it was noted that there were four thousand men, besides women and children, who comprised the multitudes Jesus fed. With that portion of the narrative complete, and to close out the chapter, Matthew next notes, “And having dismissed the crowds, He in-stepped into the boat.”   They have been on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee. With this cycle of attending to a Gentile woman in the allotments of Tyre and Sidon noted, followed by a time in the Gentile-led eastern regions near the Decapolis completed, He got into a boat, “and He came to the borders of Magdala.”   This is a location not named this way anywhere else in Scripture. Some manuscripts note the location as Magadan, meaning Megiddo, but that is incorrect based on Matthew 16:5, which notes they are still in the region of the lake. Rather, the town Magdala in Hebrew is Migdal-el, Tower of God, a city of Naphtali recorded in Joshua 19:38.   This is also known as Al-Majdal (Mejdel) on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, north of Tiberias. Mark 8:10 notes that when they got in the boat, they came to the allotments of Dalmanutha. Saying it this way, there is no contradiction to be found. Just as Jesus went to the “allotments” of Tyre and Sidon, meaning the surrounding areas, in Matthew 15:21, so they went to Magdala in the allotments, meaning the surrounding areas, of Dalmanutha.   Life application: Chapter 15 of Matthew gives a picture of what is going on in the world from the time Jesus fulfilled the law until the rapture. The verses, though literally occurring at the time of Jesus, point to truths after the completion of Jesus' ministry. The New Covenant is now what God is doing in the world. Israel as a whole, however, rejected that.   Though they no longer observe the Law of Moses, they remain bound to it. During this dispensation, they are spiritually led by rabbis, both in their writings in the Talmud as well as in their cultural and religious life.   These are reflected by the scribes and Pharisees who came from Jerusalem (verse 1) to challenge Jesus. Paul explains in Galatians 4:21-31 that the earthly Jerusalem reflects them and their teaching. The main point for now says –   “But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, 24 which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar— 25 for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children— 26 but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.” Galatians 4:23-26   In verses 2-9, Jesus explains the state of Israel at this time, living by the laws of men rather than by the law of God. After the introduction of the New Covenant, the law of God is not the Law of Moses. Rather, that is fulfilled.   At this time, religious Israel draws near to the Lord with their lips, but their hearts, because of their rejection of Jesus, are far away from Him.   In verse 11, Jesus stated that what goes into the mouth does not defile. Rather, what comes out of it does. Though that was a truth concerning the traditions of these elders, it is a truth that is spiritually seen in Israel to this day. They refuse to proclaim Jesus.   This is their defilement. But what does Paul say concerning this? In Romans 10, he says –   “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:8-13   The only thing that can cleanse a person from sin is Jesus. Anything else, meaning any other proclamation, defiles that person. As such, Jesus says in verse 14 to let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind, and both will fall into a pit.   In verse 15, Jesus reexplained to dull Peter (later, the Apostle to the Jews) the matter of the heart and what it is that causes defilement. While Israel remains in their state of defilement because of their oral proclamations, something else takes place. This is seen in verse 21, where Jesus “went out from there,” meaning from the Jewish people to the allotments of Tyre and Sidon, a Gentile area.   Tyre (Hebrew: Tsor) signifies Rock. While Israel abandoned their Rock, the Gentiles received Him. That this is speaking of Christ is seen, for example, in Deuteronomy 32:32, where it says, “For their rock is not like our Rock.” There are those who are confident in their rock (tsur), and yet their rock is not the Lord who is the Rock (tsur).   Sidon (Hebrew: Tsidon) signifies Fishery. It is a place for catching fish. Everyone is like a fish. When Jesus said to Simon and Andrew that they would be fishers of men, He meant that men are like fish to be caught.   While in this area (verse 22), a Canaanite woman came to Jesus and begged for compassion for her demon-possessed daughter. Canaan signifies Humbled, Humiliated, or even Subdued. She pictures those of faith who have humbled themselves before the word of Christ.   The issue is the daughter. In Scripture, a son or a daughter is representative of the state of something. A “son of death,” for example, is a person deserving of death. That is his state. A daughter, in this case, is the state of a group of people, such as “daughter of Jerusalem,” “daughter of Tarshish,” etc. What is the state of the Daughter of the Humbled who are also Gentiles?   Jesus said in verse 24 that He had come “if not to the sheep, the ‘having been lost' – House Israel.” Despite there being a New Covenant, with whom was that covenant made? The answer is found in both Jeremiah and Hebrews –   “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.” Jeremiah 31:31   The early church did not understand that the word was to go to the Gentiles. That is a major subject found in Acts. It is representative of the disciples' comments found previously in verse 23 when they told Jesus to dismiss her.   It literally took an act of God to get them to see that the New Covenant included Gentiles, first with the Ethiopian eunuch and then the house of Cornelius. Jesus' calling, though, to redeem the House of Judah and Israel, is inclusive of the Gentiles of faith, as seen in this account. It is something prophesied in Isaiah 49:6, but which is revealed in typology here.   The woman was told that it wasn't “good to take the children's bread and cast to the puppies.” In the Bible, dogs represent Gentiles. That is seen in the Caleb series of sermons. Caleb, kalev, is from kelev, dog. It is also seen in the account of Gideon and his men, who lapped like dogs, a typological picture dealing with the Gentiles.   The woman didn't argue Jesus' point. Instead, she noted that “even the puppies – he eats from the crumbs, the ‘falling from their master's table.” Jesus thus remarked concerning her great faith, something evidenced in the Gentile world. At that time, it noted the child was cured. Salvation, in fact, is also directed to the Gentiles. They are brought into the commonwealth of Israel (Ephesians 2:12).   From there, verse 29 said of Jesus that “He went near the Sea of the Galilee, and having ascended to the mountain, He sat there.” The Galilee has previously been explained as “the Liberty.” It is a picture of freedom from sin. As sin stems from a violation of law, it ultimately signifies freedom from law.   A mountain in the Bible represents a lot of something gathered. In typology, it is synonymous with a large but centralized group of people. Though it is only stated in Mark, the last area noted was the Decapolis, a Gentile controlled area.   Thus, this is typologically referring to a large but centralized group (meaning under Jesus) of Gentile people. The Canaanite woman already established that, but this is an extension of the thought, explaining the result of the dispensation of the Gentiles. In other words, “What will happen in the world once it is established that Gentiles are to be included in the New Covenant?”   In verses 30 and 31, multitudes came to Jesus for healing, so many that they were strewn about Him. It is reflective of the broken Gentile world coming to Christ for healing and salvation. As many came, He healed them so that “they glorified the God of Israel.”   As noted at that time, the term is unique in the New Testament. It suggested the presence of Gentiles on the mountain, but it typologically asserts this fact. Paul's ministry literally shouts out the parallel to this thought in Matthew –   “Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.” Acts 19:11, 12   Was the God of Israel glorified through this? The answer is found in Romans –   “Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers, 9 and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written: ‘For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles, And sing to Your name.'” Romans 15:8, 9   And...   “For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient— 19 in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.” Romans 15:18, 19   In verses 32-38, the feeding of the four thousand is recorded. Jesus said they had been with Him three days. In Scripture, three “stands for that which is solid, real, substantial, complete, and entire. ... Hence the number three points us to what is real, essential, perfect, substantial, complete, and Divine.” Bullinger   The time these people have been with Jesus speaks of a divine fullness, something reflected in Romans 11:25, “that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.” It goes right back to the state of Israel, noted in Matthew 15:14, where the blind are leading the blind.   While Israel is blinded, the blind of the Gentiles (Matthew 15:31) are brought to sight. The miracle of the bread (think of Jesus, the Bread of Life) and fish (a word which signifies “increase” in Hebrew) speaks of the immense harvest. There were seven loaves, the number of spiritual perfection, and a few tiddlers. However, they were enough to feed the multitude of four thousand. The number is a product of four and tens.   Four is the number of material creation, the world number. It speaks of the entirety of the world hearing the gospel, just as Jesus said it would. Ten is the number where nothing is wanting, and the whole cycle is complete. The entire world of the Gentiles will be evangelized before the end comes.   To demonstrate the immense harvest that will be realized in the church age, the baskets of fragments were collected, totaling seven large baskets. Notice the difference from the feeding of the five thousand –   “And they ate all, and they gorged, and they lifted the superabounding pieces – twelve handbaskets full. 21And those eating, they were about five thousand men, besides women and children.”   “And they ate all, and they gorged, and the superabounding of the fragments they lifted – seven hampers full. 38And those eating, they were four thousand men, besides women and children.”   Whereas a remnant of the twelve tribes of Israel represented by the twelve small handbaskets (Greek: kophinos) was collected, there will be an immense harvest of the seven churches (as defined in Revelation 2 & 3), represented by the seven large hampers (Greek: spuris).   The chapter ended with a location only mentioned here in Scripture, saying of Jesus, “And having dismissed the crowds, He in-stepped into the boat, and He came to the borders of Magdala.”   The town Magdala in Hebrew is Migdal-el, Tower of God, a city of Naphtali recorded in Joshua 19:38. Migdal El is contrasted to the tower of man, meaning Babel and all that accompanies her. Thus, this is implicitly a picture of the ending of the church age, where believers are delivered from the Babylon of the end times recorded in Revelation.   To understand why these conclusions have been made, one should refer to the descriptions of these locations found in the Old Testament sermons given by the Superior Word. Each location, number, or other reference has been drawn from the information already recorded there. Thus, the typology is not new. It has already been seen and has been reused without change, confirming that this analysis of Matthew 15 is sound.   Lord God, Your word is beyond amazing. It is a lifeline for the soul caught in despair. It is a treasure for the seeker of riches. It is a guide for the path of our lives. And Lord, it is so much more. It is so glorious to enter into its pages and find rest for our souls in the Person of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Thank You for this precious word. Amen. Matthew 15   15 Then they came to Jesus from Jerusalem, scribes and Pharisees, saying, 2“Through what – Your disciples, they sidestep the tradition of the elders? For they wash not their hands when they may eat bread.”   3And answering, He said, to them, “Through what – also you, you sidestep the ‘God's commandment' through your tradition? 4For God, He enjoined, saying, ‘You honor your father and your mother,' and the ‘disparaging father or mother,' death – he expires!' 5And you, you say, ‘Whoever, he should say to father or mother, “Gift – whatever if from me you should benefit.”' 6And no, not he should honor his father or his mother. And you invalidated God's commandment through your tradition. 7Hypocrites! Well, Isaiah, he prophesied concerning you, saying,   8‘He neared Me, this people – the mouth, And the lips – he honors Me, And their heart, it distances far from Me. 9And vainly they revere Me,  Teaching instructions – men's injunctions.'”   10And having summoned the crowd, He said to them, “You hear and comprehend! 11Not the ‘entering into the mouth' it profanes the man, but the ‘proceeding from the mouth,' this, it profanes the man.”   12Then His disciples, having come near, they said to Him, “You have known that the Pharisees, having heard the saying, they stumbled!” 13And having answered, He said, “Every planting that not He planted, My heavenly Father, it will be uprooted. 14You leave them! They are blind, blind-conductors. And blind, if they should conduct, both – they will fall into a pit.”   15And Peter, having answered, he said to Him, “You expound to us this parable.”   16And Jesus, He said, “And yet, you, you are unintelligent! 17Not yet you grasp that all, the ‘entering into the mouth,' into the stomach it contains, and into the john it ejects? 18And those proceeding from the mouth, it comes from the heart, and those, it commonizes the man. 19For from the heart, they come: evil meanderings, murders, adulteries, harlotries, thefts, false-witnessings, blasphemies. 20These, they are, the ‘defiling the man,' but to eat with unwashed hands, not it defiles the man.”   21And having departed thence, Jesus, He withdrew to the allotments – Tyre and Sidon. 22And you behold! A Canaanite woman from those same borders, having come, she cried to Him, saying, “You compassionate me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter, she is demon possessed-badly.”   23And He answered not a word.   And having approached, His disciples, they entreated Him, saying, “You dismiss her! For she cries after us.”   24And answering, He said, “Not, I was sent, if not to the sheep, the ‘having been lost' – House Israel.”   25And having come, she worshipped Him, saying, “Lord, You rush-relieve me!”   26And answering, He said, “It is not good to take the children's bread and cast to the puppies.”   27And she said, “Yes, Lord. And even the puppies – he eats from the crumbs, the ‘falling from their master's table.'”   28Then, Jesus answering, He said to her, “O! Woman, your faith is great! It become to you as you determine.” And she's cured, her daughter, from that hour.   29And having departed thence, Jesus, He went near the Sea of the Galilee, and having ascended to the mountain, He sat there. 30And they came to Him, great crowds, having with them lame, cripples, blind, mutes, and others – many, and they strewed them near Jesus' feet, and He healed them. 31So too, the crowds marveled, seeing mutes speaking, cripples healthy, lame walking, and blind seeing, and they glorified the God of Israel.   32And Jesus, having summoned His disciples, He said, “I gut-wrench upon the crowd because already three days they bivouac with Me, and naught they have that they may eat. And I wish not to dismiss them unfed, not lest they should collapse in the way.”   33And the disciples, they say to Him, “Whence to us in solitude – loaves so many as to gorge a crowd so vast?”   34And He says to them, Jesus, “How many loaves do you have?”   And they said, “Seven, and a few tiddlers.”   35And He ordered the crowds to sit upon the ground. 36And having taken the seven loaves and the fish, and having thanked, He broke, and He gave to His disciples, and the disciples to the crowd. 37And they ate, all, and they gorged, and the superabounding of the fragments they lifted – seven hampers full. 38And those eating, they were four thousand men, besides women and children. 39And having dismissed the crowds, He in-stepped into the boat, and He came to the borders of Magdala.

The Land Of Israel - Magdala  Part 4:  Mary Magdalene -  English only.  Join us as we study the most famous resident of the town of Magdala!  Recorded December 18, 2025.

The Land Of Israel - Magdala  Part 3:  Yeshua And The Synagogue Of Magdala  -  English only.  Is there any evidence that Messiah visited the synagogue of Magdala?  Recorded November 11, 2025.

The Land Of Israel  -  Magdala  Part 2:  Touring Magdala Today  -  English only.  What can we see when we visit Magdala today?  A lot!  Recorded November 10, 2025.

The Land Of Israel - Magdala  Part 1:  The History Of The City Of Magdala  -  English only.  Join us in our latest series visiting the land of Israel, as we explore the history of the ancient city of Magdala, the home of Mary Magdalene.  Recorded November 9, 2025.

Sunday, 7 December 2025   When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret. Matthew 14:34   “And, having through-crossed, they came to the of land Gennesaret” (CG).   In the previous verse, Matthew noted that those in the boat came and worshiped Jesus, saying, “Truly! You are God's Son!” Next, he records, “And, having through-crossed.”   The word, used in Matthew 9:1, signifies to cross through from one side to another. They safely made the journey, despite the storm. Having come to the other side, it next says, “they came to the land of Gennesaret.”   This is a new and rare word, found only once in each of the three synoptic gospels, Gennésaret. It is a word of Hebrew origin. Strong's thinks it may be related to the name Kinnereth, and would thus mean Harps. This seems unlikely.   Another possibility is that it is derived from gan, garden, and Sharon. Thus, it would signify the Garden of Sharon. Another likely possibility would be Garden of Princes, the second half coming from the plural of the Hebrew sar, a prince. However, the plural may designate a fulness as in Princely Garden or Garden of the Prince (Hitchcock).   Of this location, the Topical Lexicon says –    “Gennesaret denotes the fertile plain that stretches for roughly three miles along the north-western shore of the Sea of Galilee. Bounded by the rising hills of Naphtali on the west and washed by the fresh waters of the lake on the east, the plain is celebrated in both Jewish and later historical sources for its mild climate, abundant springs, and astonishing productivity. Josephus wrote that it produced ‘every fruit' in profusion and that its temperate air allowed for continuous harvests. Numerous thermal and cold springs join to form streams that empty into the lake, creating a natural irrigation system. The plain's prominence made its name a convenient designation not only for the shoreline but for the entire lake itself, hence ‘Lake of Gennesaret' (Luke 5:1) as an alternate title for ‘Sea of Galilee' or ‘Sea of Tiberias.'”   John's gospel says that they were heading towards Capernaum when they left the other side. That is in the general area, Capernaum being to the north and Magdala to the south.   Life application: Despite having terrible times on the Sea of Galilee, struggling against the winds and waves, the appearance of Jesus taught the disciples a valuable lesson concerning who He is and our capabilities when we focus, or fail to focus, on Him.   After the ordeal, the sea was calmed, and the boat safely arrived on the other shore. This trip can be equated to our lives. We set out with confidence in where we are going, planning on a particular trip to take a certain amount of time, with a safe arrival at a designated location.   Nobody plans a trip and says, “We'll leave at 6:47 tomorrow, fly to Atlanta, switch planes, and continue towards Montana, but we will encounter terrible turbulence at 3:47 in the afternoon, lose the left wing of the aircraft, and die in a fiery inferno as the plane crashes into the side of a remote mountain.”   We don't know the future, so how can we plan such an event? But despite having a set schedule for arriving at Helene, Montana, we also don't know if we will actually get there or not. Our life is a journey where risk is involved. For most of us, we attempt to make it on our own effort, and usually without God.   But then the troubles come, and for those who are the Lord's, we remember Him, pick up our Bibles, and find Him there with us, reassuring us that He is present with us. With the knowledge of His presence, and with our eyes fixed on Him, we can do the miraculous in this life.   And when our journey is through, we will arrive safely on the next shore. Jesus has absolutely assured us that this is so. His word will never fail, and so let us not get disheartened, no matter what the trial. Nothing can prevent us from being brought safely into God's presence after this life is complete.   “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:37-39   Lord God, our walk can be a walk of confidence and surety if we simply pick up the word, trust what it says, and apply faith in that to our lives. Otherwise, we are like rudderless ships tossed about on a sea of confusion and without hope. But because we know Your word, we know that You are there with us, ever faithful and tenderly guiding us to our final shore. Amen.  

Read OnlineJesus journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God. Accompanying him were the Twelve and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities… Luke 8:1–2Our Lord was on a mission. He traveled on foot from one town to another, “preaching and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God.” His message truly was “good news.” He healed the sick, cast out demons and, most importantly, He forgave sins. As a result, many began to follow Him. Not only did His followers consist of the Twelve whom Jesus personally called and who He would eventually send forth as His Apostles, but others followed Him also. Today's Gospel also mentions three women by name: Mary of Magdala, Joanna and Susanna. These are but a few of the people who were deeply touched by our Lord, who in turn left all to follow Him.The choice of these first followers to abandon all and follow Jesus invites us to examine the extent to which we have committed our lives to following Him also. Among the many people who heard Jesus preach, there were undoubtedly various responses. Some rejected Him, others were intrigued by Him, others believed in Him but were not willing to become His disciple, and some did commit themselves wholeheartedly to Jesus and His mission of proclaiming good news. For the latter, the good news they heard changed their lives.What is your response to our Lord? One good way to properly answer this question is to examine the amount of time and energy you have committed to our Lord and His message of good news. How much time have you spent reading His holy Word, praying to Him, speaking about Him and learning the faith that He has taught? How much does His message affect the decisions you make in life? Being a Christian is not something we can compartmentalize. We cannot have our “faith time” a few moments of each week and then spend the rest of our time on other activities. True, our days will be filled with many activities that are simply normal parts of our lives. We all have duties and responsibilities that occupy much of our days. But being “all in,” so to speak, means that Jesus and His message permeates everything we do. Even our ordinary daily activities such as work, chores, and the like must be done for God's glory and in accord with His divine will. For Jesus' first followers, though they traveled with Him from town to town and radically changed the course of their daily lives, they still would have engaged in many ordinary activities. But those ordinary activities were ultimately done so as to help them and others fulfill their ultimate mission of listening to and responding to the Word of God. Reflect, today, upon the extent that you have consecrated every part of your life to our Lord and His mission. Doing so does not necessarily require that you become a public evangelist, spend all day at Church or the like. It simply means that Jesus and His mission are invited into everything you do every day all day. We can never serve our Lord fully enough. As you examine your daily activity, look for ways to bring our Lord into everything you do. Doing so will truly make you one of His faithful disciples who are all in with your life. My divine Lord, You are on a mission to save souls and to build up Your glorious Kingdom. I thank You for inviting me to not only become transformed by Your holy Word but to help spread that Word to others. My life is Yours, dear Lord. Please enter into every part of my daily life and use me for Your glory. Jesus, I trust in You.  Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.Image: Hole, William, 1846-1917, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons