John's Gospel places Jesus cleansing the Temple at the very beginning of His ministry. Matthew, Mark, and Luke place it at the very end. At first glance, this looks like an irreconcilable contradiction — but is it?

In this episode, I walk through the three most common solutions scholars have proposed: that one of the Gospel writers simply got it wrong, that John rearranged the event for theological reasons, or that Jesus actually cleansed the Temple on two separate occasions.

I'll examine the chronological evidence, the key differences between John's account and the Synoptics, and the objections that have been raised and make the case that Jesus actually cleansed the temple twice — once at the beginning of His earthly ministry and once at the end.

You can read this article to follow along more closely on the website.

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Scripture never pretends that the living for Christ in a fallen world is easy. Rather than comparing the life of faith to a leisurely stroll or a summer picnic, the Bible compares it to toiling, to warfare, to running a race. In Hebrews 12:1-2, the author calls believers to run with endurance the race that is set before them, and gives us two essential keys to doing so: laying aside every weight and sin that slows us down, and fixing our eyes on Jesus Christ.

In this sermon on Hebrews 12:1-2, we look at what it means to lay aside not only the sins that so easily entangle us, but also the good things in life that can become unnecessary weight — the hobbies, habits, and distractions that sap our energy and keep us from pursuing Christ with everything we have. Running this race well requires honest self-examination, intentional community with other believers, and the willingness to hold loosely to anything that doesn't make us more fit for the race ahead.

But the heart of enduring faith is not discipline alone — it's keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith. He endured the cross for the joy set before Him, and He now reigns at the right hand of the throne of God. Because He began this work in us and He will complete it, we can run with confidence. Whatever mile of the race you find yourself in today, the call is the same: look to Jesus.

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Each edition of the Reasonable Theology newsletter contains my latest article or podcast episode PLUS:

• A Theological Word or Phrase Explained Quickly and Clearly
• A Painting Depicting a Scene from Scripture or Church History
• Audio of a Hymn or other Musical Selection to Enjoy
• A Recommended Book or Resource to Expand Your Library

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We all have a stack of books that we'd like to read but haven't gotten through yet. So how can we read more books, faster?

Thankfully, the answer isn't found in speed reading or in simply reading shorter books. Instead, these four simple tips will help you read more books in less time.

HELPFUL RESOURCES MENTIONED:
🗎 Book List Spreadsheet Template (Plus recommended books)
[You'll need to make a copy of the spreadsheet in order to edit it]

📖 The 5-Foot Bookshelf: 57 Books Every Christian Should Own:
https://reasonabletheology.org/bookshelf

🎧 Audio Book Options:

• Everand
• Audible (30 Days Free)

Support the show

GET THE NEWSLETTER
Each edition of the Reasonable Theology newsletter contains my latest article or podcast episode PLUS:

• A Theological Word or Phrase Explained Quickly and Clearly
• A Painting Depicting a Scene from Scripture or Church History
• Audio of a Hymn or other Musical Selection to Enjoy
• A Recommended Book or Resource to Expand Your Library

SUBSCRIBE HERE