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Jesus’ ministry shows that preaching has consequences. We should preach anyway.

In last week’s Gospel passage we saw how a divine fragmentation moves readers from the center to the margins. In this week’s, I hold that another divine fragmentation prepares believers in Jesus to hold connection even around issues of identity. Specifically, the passage begins by alluding to a “true” Israelite—even as John’s Gospel prepares readers for tumultuous conflict with οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι, “the Jews” or “the Judaeans.”

I was diagnosed just after Christmas. It changed my perspective on the incarnation.

Readers of Mark’s Gospel know that a divine fragmentation could happen at any time.

How Pharaoh treated the Hebrews and how the US has treated my people

Esau McCaulley’s book reclaims what the Black church has always known.

Epiphany is the ultimate bad-guy story.

Ariel Sabar’s nonfiction book contains more twists and turns than a car chase.

It started with a FaceTime call with my grandson.

I want to be an eccentric when I grow up.

My role models? A bevy of beloved church members I have known over the course of my life. For instance, Mrs. P., who wore large, fantastic pieces of jewelry from her travels all over the world and reliably brought stewed rhubarb to every church potluck, portioned out in Dixie cups on a tray, though I am not sure anyone ever ate any of it. There was M., who wore “purple, purple—everything purple,” as she would say, because her ex-husband didn’t like the color. Once they were divorced, it was the only color she ever wore.