This article was first published on Working Preacher. Matthew’s account of the beginning of Jesus’ ministry and the call of his first disciples is a tale of two kingdoms. Matthew 4:12-23 demonstrates the call for allegiance required to be part of the Kingdom of Heaven. This allegiance runs counter to Roman imperial claims to lives, labor, and land.
I'm writing an Advent devotional focused on embodiment. This is what I wrote yesterday for one of the devotionals. I selected the passages some time ago, but they really resonated with the events of January 24, 2026. Psalm 40:6–8 Sacrifice and offering you do not desire, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt … Continue reading A Reflection in the aftermath of Alex Pretti
This article was first published on Working Preacher. As we journey through ordinary time, our lectionary turns to passages that reveal who Jesus is and lead us into deeper discipleship. The text chosen for this week, John 1:29-42, makes some striking claims about who Jesus is and how his disciples, then and now, can relate to him.
This article was first published on Working Preacher. I find it easy, maybe comforting even, to imagine the nativity events that Luke describes as tranquil: a beaming new mother and father admiring their sleeping infant while stable animals sleep around them. A silent night, indeed. Yet, for those there, this was a world changing event.
This article was first published on Working Preacher. Matthew shows Jesus to be an active agent of God’s power among the people and an authoritative teacher, highlighted by what is arguably the most famous of Jesus’ teachings, the Sermon on the Mount. This week’s passage is the overture, if you will, to this sermon.
Rachel's Long-Awaited Sons The matriarchs hold a special place in the Hebrew canon and society. They are so much more than “Jacob’s wives” or “the mothers of the Children of Israel.” In this post, we will look at the naming speeches for Rachel's sons and draw conclusions regarding what they tell us about a family's … Continue reading Mothers of the Children of Israel (6)
Mandrakes and Three More Children for Leah The matriarchs hold a special place in the Hebrew canon and society. They are so much more than “Jacob’s wives” or “the mothers of the Children of Israel.” To this point, we have discussed when Rachel and Leah met Jacob, Leah's loveless marriage and her first four children, … Continue reading Mothers of the Children of Israel (5)
Bilhah and Zilpah: the Enslaved Matriarchs The matriarchs hold a special place in the Hebrew canon and society. They are so much more than “Jacob’s wives” or “the mothers of the Children of Israel.” This post introduces Bilhah and Zilpah as mothers for Jacob's children and examines the ways that their enslaved bodies are used for … Continue reading The Mothers of the Children of Israel (4)
Leah's First Four Sons The matriarchs hold a special place in the Hebrew canon and society. They are so much more than “Jacob’s wives” or “the mothers of the Children of Israel.” This post looks at the naming of Leah's first four sons. Reuben Reuben is Leah's and Jacob's first-born. Genesis reports that Leah said "Because the … Continue reading The Mothers of the Children of Israel (3)
Leah's Loveless but Productive Marriage The matriarchs hold a special place in the Hebrew canon and society. They are so much more than “Jacob’s wives” or “the mothers of the Children of Israel.” This blog explores a bit of they dynamic of Leah's marriage to Jacob. Before learning of Leah’s conception, the text states that God … Continue reading The Mothers of the Children of Israel (2)
Jillian D. Nelson, PhD 