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Category Archives: Theology
What Makes Jesus Happy?, Part 5: Redeeming Us Through His Death
In my search for smiling Jesuses, I came across this drawing by five-year-old Abi Davis, which her father, Jimmy, shared on his blog: As you can see, it shows Jesus smiling on the cross—a very odd concept, I must say, … Continue reading
What Makes Jesus Happy?, Part 4: Fellowshipping with Us
“Fellowship” is one of those Christian buzzwords that is tossed around loosely in prayers and sermons and church bulletins and such. One might speak of a “Fellowship Luncheon,” or thank God for “this time of fellowship”—the reference is to spending … Continue reading
Posted in Non-Western Art, Theology
Tagged alphonso doss, fellowship with christ, first supper, koinonia
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What Makes Jesus Happy?, Part 3: Unity
This papercut by Chinese artist Fan Pu makes me smile: Jesus strolling along cheerfully, wrapped in a cloak made up of Christian faithfuls of all colors. The artist said that when she created it, she had in mind the joyful … Continue reading
Posted in Non-Western Art, Theology
Tagged body of christ, christian denominations, christian unity, e pluribus unum, fan pu artist
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What Makes Jesus Happy?, Part 1: Revealing Himself to Us
A few weeks ago, I stumbled across an art exhibition called “Jesus Laughing.” It’s made up of 60 paintings, drawings, and papercuts from sixteen different countries. The purpose of the project, according to one of its organizers, Sir Maxwell Macleod, … Continue reading
Alive Because He Is
“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” -John 11:25-26 “Don’t you know that all of … Continue reading
Gethsemane, Part 4: To Drink Or Not To Drink?
Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane has always been a question-raiser for me, mostly on the subject of wills. I might have alternatively entitled this post “A Will Divided?”. Before I go any further, let me first cite the … Continue reading
Posted in Theology, Western Art
Tagged apollinarianism, Cyrilian, Eutychianism, let this cup pass, monophysitism, Nestorianism, prayer in Gethsemane
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Gethsemane, Part 3: Through the Oil Press, or The Final Temptation
The Garden of Gethsemane is located at the foot of the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem (yes, it’s still there). The name literally means “oil press.” I’m going to fly away with a metaphor here, so bear with me, and … Continue reading
Gethsemane, Part 2: Hematidrotic Jesus
(If you’re not familiar with what happened in Gethsemane, the story is chronicled in three places: Matthew 26:36-45, Mark 14:32-42, and Luke 22:39-46. I will be referencing only bits and pieces at a time.) “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow … Continue reading
Posted in Popular Art, Theology
Tagged agony in the garden, Fred Carter, hematidrosis, sweat blood
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Jesus as Logos, or Cosmic Christ (Part 2)
“In the beginning was the Logos,” the disciple John wrote in his Gospel, referring to Jesus Christ. On Monday, we considered the possible influences the philosopher Philo’s multipart definition of “Logos” might have had on John. Now I wish to … Continue reading
Jesus as Logos, or Cosmic Christ (Part 1)
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. … And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten … Continue reading
The Jesus Question 