Zerubbabel, a descendant of King David and ancestor of Jesus, played a crucial role in leading the exiled Jews back to Jerusalem after the exile in Babylon and in overseeing the rebuilding of the Temple.
Category: Gothic Revival
The Repentance of King Manasseh (2 Chronicles 33:1-20)
The story of King Manasseh's repentance is a tale of God's mercy and forgiveness. Despite his grievous sins, including sacrificing his own children, Manasseh humbled himself and was forgiven by God.
The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13)
This parable teaches the importance of readiness for the arrival of Jesus, who is symbolised by a bridegroom. The wise bridesmaids, who were prepared for his coming, are contrasted with the foolish ones, who were not.
Elijah prophesies to Israel (1 Kings 17:1-24)
Elijah was a prophet in the Old Testament who lived in the northern kingdom of Israel in the ninth century BC. Elijah came from Tishbe near the River Jordan. Like St John the Baptist, he was known for wearing a distinctive shaggy cloak and a leather belt.
The Lamentations (Lamentations 4:20)
The Book of Lamentations is a collection of five songs about the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 587 BC. They were written afterwards, to give expression to the grief felt by the people of the city, who by then were living in exile. As mourning songs, they were also an attempt to make sense of the disaster.
Nehemiah rebuilds Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2:1-20)
The story of Nehemiah is found within the book that is named after him. He lived in the 5th century BC, during the exile of the Jews in Persia. Nehemiah was the cupbearer to King Artaxerxes of Persia, in the capital city of Susa. This was an important role at court that meant he had … Continue reading Nehemiah rebuilds Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2:1-20)
12. The Magi arrive in Jerusalem
“After Jesus had been born in Bethlehem of Judea during the reign of King Herod, wise men traveled from the east and arrived in Jerusalem, inquiring, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw the rising of his star, and we have come to pay him homage.” (Matthew 2:1-2)
11. Christ among the Doctors
“After three days they found him in the temple, where he was sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his intelligence and his answers.” (Luke 2:46-47)
4. The Feast of the Holy Innocents
“When Herod realized that the wise men had deceived him, he flew into a rage and issued an order to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and the surrounding area who were two years old or less, in accordance with the information that he had obtained from the wise men.” (Matthew 2:16)
2. The Feast of St Stephen
St Stephen spoke of the arrival of the Messiah, saying: “It was Moses who said to the children of Israel, ‘God will raise up for you, from your own people, a prophet like me.’” (Acts 7:37)