Luke 24:46-48 And he [Jesus] said, "Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: 'There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.' You are witnesses of all these things."
"There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent." That is the Good News!
I have to admit, I don 't understand those who think that the resurrection was some kind of symbolic thing that didn't actually happen. I can understand those who don't believe it at all, although I don't agree with them, but symbolically rising from the dead? Don't get it. There are too many reasons to believe this - 1) no body in the tomb; 2) Jesus appears to women first; 3) The disciples go from hopelessness and disbelief that the man they thought was their savior had died to giving up their lives for him. Something happened to change their minds. And what about James who did not believe before Christ died and Paul who actively persecuted Christ's followers until he also came face to face with the Messiah - at which point he became one of the most vocal followers?
There is no question the tomb was empty. Even the Jewish leaders had to admit to that. If there had been a body in the tomb we wouldn't be celebrating Easter. Women were next to nothing in those times, their witness did not count for much in courts, so if Christ's followers were trying to convince people of something that had not happened, using women as Christ's first post-death appearance would have not helped their cause. And the disciples, who had gone back to their boats - at least the ones who fished - in a state of confusion and despair at the events that had just happened? They suddenly decide to make up a story about Jesus coming back from the dead and are willing to die for this lie? I don't think so. That doesn't make any sense at all.
And then there's Saul (Paul). In Galatians 1:13, in Paul's own words he says, "You know what I was like when I followed the Jewish religion - how I violently persecuted God's church. I did my best to destroy it. I was far ahead of my fellow Jews in my zeal for the traditions of my ancestors." And yet, Paul came to believe that he was chosen to spread the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles. What could change a man's mind that dramatically? According to Paul, it was a direct encounter with Jesus. And lucky for us he was called upon.
Paul makes two specific statements that are near and dear to my heart in his letters to the churches. The first is in 1 Corinthians 15:17 "And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins." If Jesus was not physically raised from the dead, there is no reason to have faith and we're wasting our time talking about it. But that isn't the case because Jesus was raised from the dead.
Paul's other statement is Romans 8:1 "So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus." None. And what a feeling of freedom that is. Praise God for loving us so much that he was willing to sacrifice his Son.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Friday, April 22, 2011
"It is finished."
By this time it was noon, and darkness fell across the whole land until three o'clock. The light from the sun was gone. And suddenly, the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn down the middle. Then Jesus shouted, "Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!" And with those words he breathed his last.
When the Roman officer overseeing the execution saw what had happened, he worshiped God and said, "Surely this man was innocent." And when the crowd that came to see the crucifixion saw what had happened, they went home in deep sorrow. Matthew 23:44-49
I decided today to watch The Passion of the Christ. I have owned the movie for a while, but have not watched it mainly because I didn't want to see what I knew would be a realistic portrayal of a crucifixion. I've read the history of them and what exactly went into a crucifixion but reading words and viewing an image, no matter how good your imagination, are two different things. And I remembered how just reading about the crucifixion felt.
I definitely felt deep sorrow while watching this, as I do reading about it. However, I know something that the witnesses to it did not understand at the time. I know that the resurrection happened. While I can feel sorrow that Jesus was tortured and died as he did, I can feel joy knowing that he did not let death defeat him. And because of him, we no longer need an intermediary between us and God. The curtain tore and we are free to have a direct relationship with the One True God.
Beyond understanding. Beyond comprehension. Amazing love. Alleluia Alleluia
When the Roman officer overseeing the execution saw what had happened, he worshiped God and said, "Surely this man was innocent." And when the crowd that came to see the crucifixion saw what had happened, they went home in deep sorrow. Matthew 23:44-49
I decided today to watch The Passion of the Christ. I have owned the movie for a while, but have not watched it mainly because I didn't want to see what I knew would be a realistic portrayal of a crucifixion. I've read the history of them and what exactly went into a crucifixion but reading words and viewing an image, no matter how good your imagination, are two different things. And I remembered how just reading about the crucifixion felt.
I definitely felt deep sorrow while watching this, as I do reading about it. However, I know something that the witnesses to it did not understand at the time. I know that the resurrection happened. While I can feel sorrow that Jesus was tortured and died as he did, I can feel joy knowing that he did not let death defeat him. And because of him, we no longer need an intermediary between us and God. The curtain tore and we are free to have a direct relationship with the One True God.
Beyond understanding. Beyond comprehension. Amazing love. Alleluia Alleluia
"Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?"
Matthew 27:46 "At about three o'clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" which means "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?"
I have read, and unfortunately I cannot remember in which of my books, that in the time of Jesus, people would use the first line of a scripture to mean or reference the entire scripture. In this particular case, Jesus' cry references back to the book of Psalm, chapter 22 (Bold added by me)
1 My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
Why are you so far away when I groan for help?
2 Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer.
Every night you hear my voice, but I find no relief. 3 Yet you are holy,
enthroned on the praises of Israel.
4 Our ancestors trusted in you,
and you rescued them.
5 They cried out to you and were saved.
They trusted in you and were never disgraced.
6 But I am a worm and not a man.
I am scorned and despised by all!
7 Everyone who sees me mocks me.
They sneer and shake their heads, saying,
8 “Is this the one who relies on the Lord?
Then let the Lord save him!
If the Lord loves him so much,
let the Lord rescue him!”
9 Yet you brought me safely from my mother’s womb
and led me to trust you at my mother’s breast.
10 I was thrust into your arms at my birth.
You have been my God from the moment I was born.
11 Do not stay so far from me,
for trouble is near,
and no one else can help me.
12 My enemies surround me like a herd of bulls;
fierce bulls of Bashan have hemmed me in!
13 Like lions they open their jaws against me,
roaring and tearing into their prey.
14 My life is poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart is like wax,
melting within me.
15 My strength has dried up like sunbaked clay.
My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.
You have laid me in the dust and left me for dead.
16 My enemies surround me like a pack of dogs;
an evil gang closes in on me.
They have pierced my hands and feet.
17 I can count all my bones.
My enemies stare at me and gloat.
18 They divide my garments among themselves
and throw dice[a] for my clothing.
19 O Lord, do not stay far away!
You are my strength; come quickly to my aid!
20 Save me from the sword;
spare my precious life from these dogs.
21 Snatch me from the lion’s jaws
and from the horns of these wild oxen.
22 I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters.[b]
I will praise you among your assembled people.
23 Praise the Lord, all you who fear him!
Honor him, all you descendants of Jacob!
Show him reverence, all you descendants of Israel!
24 For he has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy.
He has not turned his back on them,
but has listened to their cries for help.
25 I will praise you in the great assembly.
I will fulfill my vows in the presence of those who worship you.
26 The poor will eat and be satisfied.
All who seek the Lord will praise him.
Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy.
27 The whole earth will acknowledge the Lord and return to him.
All the families of the nations will bow down before him.
28 For royal power belongs to the Lord.
He rules all the nations.
29 Let the rich of the earth feast and worship.
Bow before him, all who are mortal,
all whose lives will end as dust.
30 Our children will also serve him.
Future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord.
31 His righteous acts will be told to those not yet born.
They will hear about everything he has done.
Just something I thought was interesting that I wanted to share.
I have read, and unfortunately I cannot remember in which of my books, that in the time of Jesus, people would use the first line of a scripture to mean or reference the entire scripture. In this particular case, Jesus' cry references back to the book of Psalm, chapter 22 (Bold added by me)
1 My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
Why are you so far away when I groan for help?
2 Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer.
Every night you hear my voice, but I find no relief. 3 Yet you are holy,
enthroned on the praises of Israel.
4 Our ancestors trusted in you,
and you rescued them.
5 They cried out to you and were saved.
They trusted in you and were never disgraced.
6 But I am a worm and not a man.
I am scorned and despised by all!
7 Everyone who sees me mocks me.
They sneer and shake their heads, saying,
8 “Is this the one who relies on the Lord?
Then let the Lord save him!
If the Lord loves him so much,
let the Lord rescue him!”
9 Yet you brought me safely from my mother’s womb
and led me to trust you at my mother’s breast.
10 I was thrust into your arms at my birth.
You have been my God from the moment I was born.
11 Do not stay so far from me,
for trouble is near,
and no one else can help me.
12 My enemies surround me like a herd of bulls;
fierce bulls of Bashan have hemmed me in!
13 Like lions they open their jaws against me,
roaring and tearing into their prey.
14 My life is poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart is like wax,
melting within me.
15 My strength has dried up like sunbaked clay.
My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.
You have laid me in the dust and left me for dead.
16 My enemies surround me like a pack of dogs;
an evil gang closes in on me.
They have pierced my hands and feet.
17 I can count all my bones.
My enemies stare at me and gloat.
18 They divide my garments among themselves
and throw dice[a] for my clothing.
19 O Lord, do not stay far away!
You are my strength; come quickly to my aid!
20 Save me from the sword;
spare my precious life from these dogs.
21 Snatch me from the lion’s jaws
and from the horns of these wild oxen.
22 I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters.[b]
I will praise you among your assembled people.
23 Praise the Lord, all you who fear him!
Honor him, all you descendants of Jacob!
Show him reverence, all you descendants of Israel!
24 For he has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy.
He has not turned his back on them,
but has listened to their cries for help.
25 I will praise you in the great assembly.
I will fulfill my vows in the presence of those who worship you.
26 The poor will eat and be satisfied.
All who seek the Lord will praise him.
Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy.
27 The whole earth will acknowledge the Lord and return to him.
All the families of the nations will bow down before him.
28 For royal power belongs to the Lord.
He rules all the nations.
29 Let the rich of the earth feast and worship.
Bow before him, all who are mortal,
all whose lives will end as dust.
30 Our children will also serve him.
Future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord.
31 His righteous acts will be told to those not yet born.
They will hear about everything he has done.
Just something I thought was interesting that I wanted to share.
Good Friday
One of my favorite days in the Christian calendar of events. I try to take at least part of the day off on Good Friday to be able to read, reflect and honor our Lord who willingly died for us. Today I have the whole day to consider this event, but a day, even a lifetime, is not enough time to wrap my head around what Christ did for us. Did he want to die? I think he was struggling with his humanity at the end. He knew he had to fulfill the scriptures and was willing to obey his Father at all costs.
Matthew 26:36-46 shows us Jesus' turmoil and suffering. 38 He told them, "My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death." 39 He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, "My Father! If it is possible,let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine." 42 "My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done." Heartbreaking. Part of me wants him to be released from this obligation when I read this, I don't want to see someone so beloved by me suffer. But, of course, the other part of me knows that he has to go through with it - for me. If he didn't all would be lost.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)