The Alabaster Jar

In this episode of The Alabaster Jar, Dr. Lynn Cohick and Dr. Josephine Stringer begin a new series on the Book of Acts as the story of the Holy Spirit building and expanding the church. They discuss how Acts’ sweep from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth brings its history, speeches, and characters to life—and why reading the book as one complete story can deepen our understanding. They also consider how the gospel offers a new way of life, rather than a bid for earthly power, and how that way of life challenged the Roman status quo.   Resources Mentioned: The Visual Museum of Women in Christianity World Upside Down: Reading Acts in the Graeco-Roman Age by Dr. C. Kavin Rowe Dr. Lynn CohickLet Her LeadEpisode Sponsor:   The Alabaster Jar is brought to you by The Center for Women in Leadership, a 501©3 nonprofit organization whose purpose is to equip women in a context that is biblically rooted, theologically robust, and ethnically diverse to thrive as leaders in the academy and the Church. Follow them on Instagram @leadershipwithoutapology.

In this episode of The Alabaster Jar, Dr. Lynn Cohick concludes our Cross of Christ series with Dr. Caryn A. Reeder as they talk about how John tells the story of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. They explore how Jewish festivals, the Passover Lamb imagery, and Jesus washing his disciples’ feet shape John’s portrait of sacrificial love and service. They consider how John reframes the humiliation of crucifixion as glory, and how Jesus’ exchanges with Pilate highlight questions of truth, power, and kingship. Then, they conclude by reflecting on Nicodemus’s gradual movement toward devotion and Mary Magdalene’s encounter with the risen Jesus.   Resources Mentioned: The Visual Museum of Women in Christianity The Samaritan Woman's Story: Reconsidering John 4 After #ChurchToo by Dr. Caryn A. Reeder Dr. Lynn CohickLet Her Lead Episode Sponsor:   The Alabaster Jar is brought to you by The Center for Women in Leadership, a 501©3 nonprofit organization whose purpose is to equip women in a context that is biblically rooted, theologically robust, and ethnically diverse to thrive as leaders in the academy and the Church. Follow them on Instagram @leadershipwithoutapology.

In this episode of The Alabaster Jar, Dr. Lynn continues our Cross of Christ series with Dr. Holly Beers to explore how the Gospel of Luke presents Jesus’s cross and resurrection. They discuss the cross’s brutality and shame, Jesus’s encounters with Herod and Pilate, and the significance of his words from the cross—including forgiveness and the promise to the penitent criminal. Beers explains how Luke connects Jesus’s suffering and vindication to Isaiah’s servant and to the disciples’ continuing witness in Acts. They also consider the Emmaus meal, repentance and restoration, and the Holy Spirit’s role in equipping Jesus’s followers to live out his kingdom mission.   Resources Mentioned: The Visual Museum of Women in Christianity Witness at the Cross by Dr. Amy-Jill LevineA Week in the Life of a Greco-Roman Woman (A Week in the Life Series) by Dr. Holly Beers Colossians and Philemon: (A Transformative Bible Commentary for Spirit-filled Christians) (Word and Spirit Commentary on the New Testament) by Dr. Holly Beers Dr. Lynn CohickLet Her Lead Episode Sponsor:   The Alabaster Jar is brought to you by The Center for Women in Leadership, a 501©3 nonprofit organization whose purpose is to equip women in a context that is biblically rooted, theologically robust, and ethnically diverse to thrive as leaders in the academy and the Church. Follow them on Instagram @leadershipwithoutapology.

In this episode of The Alabaster Jar, Dr. Lynn Cohicks continues our 4-part episode series on the Cross of Christ with Dr. Jeannine K. Brown as they explore how the Gospel of Matthew presents Jesus’s death and the cross. They explore the hints and predictions leading to the crucifixion, and how “taking up your cross” points to a life of humble service to others. Dr. Brown also highlights the faithful women who remain present through Jesus’s death and burial, along with the cosmic signs that signal death’s defeat. They also discuss Matthew’s recurring theme of Gentile inclusion and the need to interpret the crowd’s words about Jesus’s blood with care.   Resources Mentioned: The Visual Museum of Women in Christianity Matthew (Two Horizons New Testament Commentary (THNTC)) by Dr. Jeannine K. Brown and Dr. Kyle RobertsCommentary on Matthew: From The Baker Illustrated Bible Commentary by Dr. Jeannine K. Brown"Interpreting Gentile Women in Matthew: Misrepresentation, Misappropriation, and a Missed Chance." Journal of Gospels and Acts Research 6 (2022), 7-24. by Dr. Jeannine K. BrownPontius Pilate: Portraits of a Roman Governor by Dr. Warren CarterA Ransom for Israel: Jesus and Jewish Salvation in Matthew by Dr. Nicholas J. SchaserDr. Lynn CohickLet Her Lead Episode Sponsor:   The Alabaster Jar is brought to you by The Center for Women in Leadership, a 501©3 nonprofit organization whose purpose is to equip women in a context that is biblically rooted, theologically robust, and ethnically diverse to thrive as leaders in the academy and the Church. Follow them on Instagram @leadershipwithoutapology.

In this episode of The Alabaster Jar, Dr. Lynn kicks off a 4-part episode series on the Cross of Christ with Dr. Holly J. Carey as they explore the Passion narrative in the Gospel of Mark. They discuss how Mark’s fast-paced story leads to the cross, the shame of crucifixion, and Jesus’s predictions of his death and resurrection. Dr. Carey explains how Psalm 22 illuminates Jesus’s cry from the cross and points to vindication through resurrection. They also consider the unexpected response to Jesus’s entry into Jerusalem and the faithful women whose witness connects the cross to the empty tomb.   Resources Mentioned: The Visual Museum of Women in Christianity Women Who Do: Female Disciples in the Gospels by Dr. Holly J. CareyThe Crucifixion: Understanding the Death of Jesus Christ by Rev. Fleming RutledgeJesus' Cry from the Cross: Towards a First-Century Understanding of the Intertextual Relationship Between Psalm 22 and the Narrative of Mark's Gospel (Dissertation by Dr. Holly J. Carey) Dr. Lynn CohickLet Her Lead Episode Sponsor:   The Alabaster Jar is brought to you by The Center for Women in Leadership, a 501©3 nonprofit organization whose purpose is to equip women in a context that is biblically rooted, theologically robust, and ethnically diverse to thrive as leaders in the academy and the Church. Follow them on Instagram @leadershipwithoutapology.