It is Christmas time and we are discovering the fullness of the Origin Story of Jesus. Matthew and Luke tell us so much more than the moment of Jesus' birth. Dr. Jack Beck joins us again to talk about how the geography matters in the way we understand who Mary and Joseph are. This week we start with Nazareth. How big was it? Where was it located? Did the geography influence what people expected from life?

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Discover Dr. Beck's books HERE

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Dr. Nicholas Schaser introduces us to the fascinating world of rabbinic interpretation. Today we talk about how similar Jesus is to his contemporary sages like Hillel and Shammai. What were their views of interpretation? What kind of humor did the sages use?

Find out more about Dr. Schaser HERE

Explore his book: A Ransom for Israel: Jesus and Jewish Salvation in Matthew

Read short articles by Dr. Schaser on Israel Bible Center's website HERE

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As we set the context for the birth of Jesus, we explore the dominant voices of Jewish thought and practice at the beginning of the 1st Century CE. Dr. Nicolas Schaser from Macalester College introduces us to the sages of Hillel and Shammai - who are they? What were their philosophies? This will lead us into more conversations next week about how these two compare to the teachings of Jesus.

Find out more about Dr. Schaser HERE

Explore his book: A Ransom for Israel: Jesus and Jewish Salvation in Matthew

Contact Cyndi Parker through Narrative of Place.

Join Cyndi Parker's Patreon Team!