Editors’ Note

The Behemoth is, if nothing else, about grace and truth (John 1:14)—but not necessarily in that order.

Take truth. Our lead piece, “The True Man,” is an attempt to get us to rethink what we imagine is real. When it comes to our relationship with God, the real is sometimes hard to imagine. Karl Barth’s spirit hangs all over this imagined scene by Mark Galli.

Then there’s a strange truth about the earth: scientist Joseph Spradley thinks it’s unimaginable without the moon. The moon may be “the lesser light” (Gen. 1:16), but not much less if Spradley is right.

Then take grace. Most of the time we just marvel at the beauty of the world around us. Some of the time, some people—like the great theologian Jonathan Edwards—wonder why it’s beautiful. In that wondering there is grace as well.

Often grace and truth come together, as church history attests time and again. An excerpt of a sermon by Aimee Semple McPherson is a case in point. In the early 20th century, there was much skepticism about God’s healing power today. That’s not debated much anymore, but the sermon remains a witty reminder of the power of God here and now.

—The Editors

Also in this issue

On being seen as the Son, the life-giving existence of the moon, Jonathan Edwards on beauty, and a rousing sermon by Aimee McPherson.

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