A Second Pass at This Sunday's Bible Lessons

[To see an explanation of what these "passes" are about and to look at the first one, go here.]

The Bible Lessons for Christ the King Sunday, November 25:
Jeremiah 23:1-6
Psalm 46
Colossians 1:11-20
Luke 23:33-43

General Comments (continued)
5. The Psalm is important for Lutherans. It was the inspiration for the lyrics of Martin Luther's signature hymn, A Mighty Fortress is Our God.

6. The New Testament book of Colossians is a letter written by the imprisoned apostle, Paul, to the church in Colossae.

Colossae was located in the region of Asia Minor, what is modern-day Turkey. According to The Archaeological Study Bible, "The historian Herodotus...referred to Colosse [an alternate spelling] as 'a great city of Phrygia,' and Xenophon...described it in 400 B.C. as large and prosperous. Because the city was on a major trade route, these descriptions make sense.

Paul founded the church at Colossae.

The city eventually lost its prosperity when new trade routes that avoided Colossae were established. The remaining long history of the city was grim. It was raided, conquered, and eventually destroyed by a succession of foreign armies. The Turks totally destroyed the place in the 12th.-century A.D. The site is currently unoccupied and, says The Archaeological Study Bible, no digs have ever been undertaken there.

7. Our lesson from Colossians, among the most beautiful in Scripture, is a stirring affirmation of the deity of Jesus Christ. It's an appropriate passage for Christ the King Sunday.

Tomorrow, I hope to present verse-by-verse comments on the lesson from Luke, the passage on which my message will be based on Sunday.