Theology of the text Our passage must be heard in light of the entire passion narrative. Jesus’ resurrection will be the Good News and hope of the Gospel and the foundation for both becoming and living into the vocation of being a disciple. The beginning of Matthew 28 must also be seen as celebration and advocation of the faithfulness and apostolicity of the women. Matthew 28 is a clear example that the women are seen as the first and most faithful disciples of Jesus through the passion...

Context of the text This text comes in the first Sunday in Lent. Lent is a powerful season that reminds the church of its deep sinfulness. This sinfulness is to create this desperate recognition of Christ as a savior. Lent also reminds the church of its physical mortality. While Christians are getting better at rejecting neo-Gnosticism, where leaving the sinful earth is our goal. Lent does remind all of us or our physical mortality and cautions against an idolatrous temptation that all of...

“Flourishing and Finding God in Exile” Textual Opportunity This is a crucial text, largely because of how popular Jeremiah 29:11 has...