Meat for the Hungry

There are many things in scripture I don’t understand, and so, I skim over them, or I set them aside until I have a reason to dig. Today is a day for digging. I love  Moody Radio  – WCRF – 103.3 or 90.5 on the FM dial. In the past few weeks, Pastor Colin Smith of Unlocking the Bible has been reading from his new book, Heaven, So Near – So Far . It’s the story of Judas Iscariot, the betrayer of Jesus. These readings intrigued me because in January I thought quite a bit about Judas. Why? I was preparing the communion service for our Women in Ministry (WIM) Retreat, based on Luke 7:36-50. Near the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, at the home of Simon, the Pharisee, a woman, plagued by many sins, poured a fragrant and very expensive oil,  Spikenard , on the feet of Jesus. In my studies, I found  John’s gospel  confirms four times that Judas was the son of Simon. [1] Some have suggested the Pharisee in Luke was Simon Iscariot. Still, Scripture mentio...

sarahbmartin.wordpress.com Ruth 4:13-22: Joy exploded as shouts of mazel tov came to Boaz. Wasting no time, he mounted his steed and rushed from the city gate to Naomi’s home. Today he would purchase her field and redeem his beautiful bride. “So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife…” But what was Ruth’s redemption price? Leviticus 27:4 reveals the price of a female is thirty shekels. In Exodus 21:32, thirty shekels will also purchase a gored slave. Since ancient Israel’s shekel was a silver coin, i s it possible Boaz paid thirty pieces of silver to redeem Ruth? Again, there’s a hint of symbolism:  Boaz spiritually representing our Lord and Ruth, the Church.