Dorothy Lee joins us to unpack the themes and theology of John 3. We begin with the Numbers reading, looking at the people’s grumbling, the difficulty of transition, and the strange use of snakes as both punishment and redemption from punishment. Metaphorically, the lack of trust in God is poisonous for the community.
John 3 picks up this remarkable imagery of snake healing and compares it to the cross. The emphasis is on (eternal) life and the paradoxical manner in which God gives life.
Dorothy’s latest book is “The Ministry of Women in the New Testament”. We mention “A Wrinkle in Time”.
By the Well is a weekly lectionary-based podcast for preachers by Fran Barber and Robyn Whitaker. Each week we’ll take a deep dive into one of the texts from the Revised Common Lectionary, exploring its ancient setting and how we might preach it today.
Robyn Whitaker
Guest Author
Pilgrim Theological College
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