The river of bad blood between Jews and Samaritans ran wide and deep. Yet, there was one event that was the straw that broke the camel’s back.
The Trouble with Samaritans (Part 1)
So what caused the bad blood between the Jews and Samaritans? Who’s to blame?
As with most things in Israel, it’s complicated.
Did the Samaritans Get a Bum Rap?
If you read the Bible—especially the New Testament—it’s pretty easy to come away with a bad impression of Samaritans. In fact, most of us would probably rank the Samaritans just slightly better than the Pharisees when it comes “disliked” groups of people in the Gospels.
Yet, are these portrayals accurate? The short answer is, not exactly.
Departing Thoughts
JUC has been everything I had hoped it would be and so much more. This place is probably the best-kept secret for Biblical study in the entire world—and I miss it already.
The Samaritan Passover
Growing up in suburban Cincinnati, sacrifices were not part of everyday life. They were something I read about in the Bible or learned about in Sunday school. I had never experienced a sacrifice and all that it entailed—that is until last Thursday evening at sunset.
A Very Strange Vow
Does God place things in our lives—whether they be obstacles, hardships, or other limitations purely for our own protection or to better enable us to bless others?
Perhaps without these restrictions we would not live into the calling that God has for us.
The Benefits of a Stiff Neck?
It’s never our weaknesses that cause us the most problems. It’s our strengths.
The Most Important Biblical Site You’ve (Probably) Never Heard of
When we think about decisive battles for the Israelites, Jericho always comes to mind. Yet, there is another battle that was far more significant; and most of us probably don’t even know the name.
The Trouble with Jericho
What do you do when the “Facts in the Ground” don’t align with your understanding of the Biblical Text?
Away in a Manger?
Traditions have a funny way of morphing over time. Sometimes, the original meanings get lost or adapted to fit new circumstances. They end up taking on a life of their own. Such is the case with the Christmas story.
