3:20
Anointing
Explore an ancient practice that marks people and places as bridges between Heaven and Earth.
Reflect
Read 1 Samuel 16:1-13, Leviticus 8:9-12, Genesis 28:10-22, and Leviticus 8:10-11. Who or what is anointed in these passages? What does the anointing oil mean when it gets poured onto certain people, objects, or places?
Read Exodus 30:22-33 to see a recipe for anointing oil. These specific plants are not mentioned in the Eden narrative (Genesis 2), but they connect to Eden symbolically as lush, beautiful, and good garden plants. What point is God making? Why instruct the people to use Eden-like plants to make anointing oil?
Read Genesis 2:4-17 and notice the analogy between water and God’s Spirit as the fundamental sources of life. Take a look at Isaiah 32:15-18 and Isaiah 44:2-4. How does Isaiah draw on this analogy?
How does Jesus’ baptism (Mark 1:1-15) act as his “anointing” if there is no oil present? After the water and Spirit “anointing” in Genesis 2, other anointings always happen with symbolic oil. But Jesus’ baptism scene is different—he gets anointed with water and Spirit like the human in Genesis 2. Why does this matter? How does it help us better understand the act of anointing a person?
Read Acts 2:1-21. The specific word “anointing” does not show up in this story, but the description of the event in the larger context of the Bible tells us that this is an anointing of the 12 apostles. What are Jesus’ apostles anointed with, and how would you describe the significance and purpose of this anointing?
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Biblical Themes
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The Mountain
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Heaven & Earth
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The Messiah
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5:46
The Covenants
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6:35
Holiness
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Sacrifice and Atonement
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The Law
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Gospel of the Kingdom
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6:17
Image of God
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6:02
Day of the Lord
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4:11
Holy Spirit
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3:30
Public Reading of Scripture
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6:18
Justice
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5:11
Exile
Exile is one of the core, yet often overlooked, themes underlying the entire biblical storyline. In this video, we'll see how Israel's exile to Babylon is a picture of all humanity's exile from Eden. We are all exiles longing for home, and Jesus is the one to open the way back to our true home and the fullness of relationship with God.
8:10
God
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5:20
The Way of the Exile
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5:51
Son of Man
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4:41
Temple
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5:12
Generosity
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5:27
Sabbath
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4:52
Tree of Life
In the opening pages of the Bible, God gives humanity a gift that they quickly forfeit: eternal life that comes by eating from the tree of life. Sacred trees are a powerful symbol woven throughout Scripture, culminating in the dramatic climax of Jesus’ death. His crucifixion on a cross transforms a tree of death into a new tree of life for all humanity.
4:57
Water of Life
In the beginning of the Bible, God transforms a desolate wilderness into a garden through a stream that waters the ground and brings life wherever it goes. Water imagery continues to develop throughout the biblical story where we see wells, cisterns, rain, and rivers all become images of God’s creative power.
6:17
The Test
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5:30
Eternal Life
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5:54
Blessing and Curse
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5:31
The Last Will Be First
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3:20
Anointing
Explore an ancient practice that marks people and places as bridges between Heaven and Earth.
6:51
The City
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4:08
Chaos Dragon
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