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Tag: resurrection

  • Behold the Light of a New Covenant Rises from an Empty Tomb

    Behold the Light of a New Covenant Rises from an Empty Tomb

    The Solid Promise of a Covenant

    And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you. Genesis 9:9a

    And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words. Exodus 24:8

    The LORD works miracles for those He loves and God works miracles impossible for man or hidden from those without eyes to see.

    Scripture records many miracles as the light of new hope for the faithful. Even when all hope seems lost, the Lord responds to prayers of the faithful.  Even before the greatest miracle ever, the Lord confirms new covenants with the return of sinners to righteousness. 

    Israel and Judah Defeated, Yet a King in the line of David Appears

    Christians may think that the miracle mentioned here is the incarnation of Jesus Christ, the Messiah. Yet even the greatest miracle of Jesus’ resurrection is not the only instance of an unexpected son of David.

    Perhaps a Jew diligent in scripture will recall a new covenant following a prior appearance of a son of David. 

    (Go ahead, take a shot. Do you recall such a miracle?)

    וַיִּכְרֹת כָּל־הַקָּהָל בְּרִית בְּבֵית הָאֱלֹהִים עִם־הַמֶּלֶךְ וַיֹּאמֶר לָהֶם הִנֵּה בֶן־הַמֶּלֶךְ יִמְלֹךְ כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר יְהוָה עַל־בְּנֵי דָוִֽיד׃

    Sadly, most Christians discount the importance of the Old Covenant which enriches the New Covenant of Christ.

    In a commentary of David Guzik we learn: 

    From the place where the oath was made and the context of the oath, we learn that the worship of the true God was not dead in Judah. These captains could respond to their responsibility before the LORD.

    Behold, the king’s son shall reign:

    This was a dramatic moment. For six years everyone believed there were no more surviving heirs of David’s royal line and there was no legitimate ruler to displace the wicked Athaliah. The secret had to be secure, because the king’s son would be immediately killed if his existence were revealed. The captains must have been shocked by the sight of this six-year old heir to the throne.

    And all the congregation made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And he said unto them, Behold, the king’s son shall reign, as the LORD hath said of the sons of David.

    – 2 Chronicles 23:32

    Author’s note:

    Although I generally quote the English Standard Version, the King James suggests a forgotten formality appropriate to covenant with the LORD. 

    The King James Version English translation of the Bible was completed in 1611. It was brought to the original colonies of a rebellious new world, fleeing kingship served by religious authorities.

    Jesus entered a Jerusalem ruled by a king and religious authorities politically beholden to a godless foreign Emperor. The aging fallen empire of Israel and Judah was ruled by a growing Roman empire. But before Rome ruled Judea, Samaria, Galilee and more, several different empires had ruled a captive remnant of the Lord’s ‘chosen people.

    Israel and Judah defeated, yet another promise of a New King

    For further study of the original Hebrew, see the Jeremiah 31 link below, which includes the Orthodox Jewish Bible, ESV & KJV,

    Six centuries before Christ, Jeremiah partially reveals the character of the coming sinless Messiah 

    Jeremiah 31: KJV

    31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 

    32-34 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:

    But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

    And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

    Do you also recognize his mention of the Holy Spirit, the gift of a risen Christ?

    From the Second Temple to the Herod’s Temple

    Now we move on from survival of the line of David and renewal of covenant with the Lord to about four centuries before Christ.

    Malachi, the messenger and Prophet just before a great silence foretells the arrival of another great prophet.

    Malachi 3:

    Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.

    Again, Malachi speaks of not only a messenger, but also that he will be the messenger of the covenant.

    Before this most controversial teacher, prophet and King of the Jews will come another great prophet.

    Behold the Light

    “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

    – John 9:5

    Genesis 1:

    In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was[a] on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

    3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness.

    John 1:

    In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

    2 The same was in the beginning with God.

    3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

    4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

    5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

    6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

    7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

    8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

    9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

    10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

    11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

    The Expected Messiah

    Luke 3:15-22

    15 And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not…

    And those in Judah remembered that Herod had beheaded John.

    Yet some recalled hearing thunder as Jesus had been baptized by John. Others recalled how Jesus had healed many, saying their sins were forgiven. Some even told of a boy in Nain who Jesus raised to life from a coffin! Even more witnesses knew the truth of Lazareth from nearby Bethany.

    But the authorities had arrested Jesus secretly at night during the Passover. How could they capture the seemingly all-powerful Son of Man and sentence Jesus to a death more horrendous than John? Why would God allow this to happen?

    The LORD began to reveal a few answers just at the time of the Sacrifice of Righteous Blood on a Cross. For only the Twelve had first witnessed the reason for Jesus’ Sacrifice as they shared a last Passover Seder in a private upper room.

    Matthew 26: NKJV

    ‘The Teacher says, “My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at your house with My disciples.”’”

    19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover.

    20 When evening had come, He sat down with the twelve…

    A New Covenant

    26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”

    27 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.

    28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

    Between the Cross and the empty tomb

    We could have begun with the road to Emmaus or other liturgically familiar retelling of the Resurrection of Christ Jesus. I have chosen instead to share less familiar scriptures, also testimony to the Truth of the resurrection of Christ.

    Imagine the immanent fear of those who had cried out, “crucify him! crucify him!” when this happened?

    Matthew 27:52-53 KJV 

    And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

    Who would not fear it, after realizing that our own words and actions had convicted the Messiah – God With Us in the flesh?

    Yet His Disciples, who witnessed His New Covenant, would teach the reason for His Sacrifice.

    “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” – Matthew 26:23

    Those who had just celebrated Passover knew well the need for the shedding of blood for the remission of sins. But because of our contemporary worldly forgetfulness, allow me ask your consideration of the meaning of remission.

    ἄφεσις ἁμαρτία – in the common Greek of the day: aphesis hamartia

    The remission of sins:

     I. release from bondage or imprisonment

    II. forgiveness or pardon, of sins (letting them go as if they had never been committed), remission of the penalty

    [Sin] I. to be without a share in, pr to miss the mark, to err, be mistaken; to miss or wander from the path of uprightness and honour, to do or go wrong; to wander from the law of God, violate God’s law, sin

    II. that which is done wrong, sin, an offence, a violation of the divine law in thought or in act

    III. collectively, the complex or aggregate of sins committed either by a single person or by many

    The blood of Christ, given for you and for many for the remission of sins.

    His purpose is clear.

    Jesus becomes our Perfect Passover Sacrifice for the remission of sins. The Messiah suffered death, that final enemy captive to sin.

    Christ returned from the darkness of death; He IS the Light of eternal life!

    Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week Mary Magdalene and the other Mary saw Jesus. Jesus met the Apostles and they came up to Him, held the Lord by His feet and worshiped Him. [Matthew 28]

    The Lord walked with two disciples leaving Jerusalem, explaining the Messiah of Scripture, breaking bread with them and after being recognized, He vanished! Jesus appeared to the Disciples, allowing them to touch His resurrected body, and He ate fish with them. He taught them, as before; but now their eyes were opened. [Luke 24]

    Jesus appears to the Disciples again by the Sea of Tiberius (Sea of Galilee). John reveals an intimate conversation of Jesus with Peter, restoring him from denial and telling Peter of the kind of death he would suffer.  The Acts of the Apostles reveal that the risen Christ prepared the Apostles for their mission to go into all the world for forty days until His ascension into the clouds. (Imagine witnessing that!) And Paul later reveals that ‘Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom [were alive at the time he wrote his letter to the church at Corinth].

    Clearly, Jesus IS! He is the Light of life and the hope of mankind.

    No covenant or promise between the LORD and His created is more important to the redeemed in Christ than this New covenant, a New Testament to the love of Almighty God for those made in his Image.

    May the joy of the resurrection of Christ Jesus fill your heart, satisfy your soul and embrace your failing flesh in the Light of His love.

    Grace and peace, beloved saint.

  • For you will always have the poor – 2

    For you will always have the poor – 2

    “For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.” – John 12:1 NKJV

    This remark of Jesus cuts right to the quick, does it not? A sense of urgency here: the Son of Man is about to depart from the company of those the Lord came to save.

    An earlier story (in the home of Lazarus)

    Once again, I ask us to examine the 5 W’s of the gospel accounts.

    In the first part of this series we examined the gospel of Mark.

    We established some facts:

    1. It took place on Tuesday, two days prior to the Passover.
    2. It took place in Bethany, in the home of Simon the Leper.
    3. An unnamed woman came in and broke an alabaster flask, anointing Jesus’ head.
    4. There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that?” [Once more, ‘to themselves.’]
    5. Jesus praises the unnamed woman.

    Read carefully a similar, earlier incident from the gospel of John:

    John 12:

    Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.

    Again, earlier – six days before the Passover, not two. And as we mentioned the Passover that year was a Thursday; therefore, most likely on the evening of the Sabbath, Friday, not the following Tuesday after Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

    Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, for a final Sabbath meal with his dear friends.

    2 So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table.

    Once again, we are in Bethany, but with all certainty Lazarus is hosting the meal with Jesus as honored guest in his own home (not one of another resident of Bethany who will host them all just four days later). Martha, Mary, Lazarus and Judas Iscariot are all named in addition to Jesus.

    3 Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

    Some new detail

    In addition to naming Lazarus, Mary and Martha, we now learn that Mary anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. It is the act of a servant, an act of humility. Furthermore, we learn from the Apostle John, who wrote this account and knew the disciples well, that Judas complains about the value of the pure nard. It is Judas who suggests to all the value that could be uses for the poor; yet John reveals Judas’ motive in mentioning the poor, that Judas steals cash from this treasury of the disciples.

    4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.

    7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. 8 For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”

    Jesus, of course, ignores the false suggestion that Judas and the disciples can sell Mary’s expensive ointment for a profit to ‘help the poor.’ Jesus defends Mary’s generous and kind act of worship.

    I ask us, though: aren’t you and I just like Judas in that way?

    Don’t we so often accuse the generous act of another in a way to imply that we could be better stewards of their gift to the Lord?

    Jesus’ last Sabbath before the Sacrifice

    Exodus 16:26  שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים תִּלְקְטֻהוּ וּבַיֹּום הַשְּׁבִיעִי שַׁבָּת לֹא יִֽהְיֶה־בֹּֽו׃

    It is now Saturday, the Sabbath.

    9 When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.

    10 So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.

    The Triumphal Entry

    12 The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!”

    Jesus, the Twelve and some followers had traveled one final journey from Galilee to Jerusalem, via Bethany. In preparation for the time at hand, they rest in the home of their risen friend, Lazarus.

    Do you remember what Jesus had assured Mary after Lazarus had been in the grave four days?

    (This was not the first resurrection Jesus caused, but it was the most recent.)

    John 11:

    25 Jesus said to her, [ctt title=”“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.” tweet=”Do you believe this? – John 11:25-26 ESV” coverup=”Q4g8Y”]

    Do you believe this?”

    27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

    No words speak more of the life of one who believes than these:

    To be continued…

     

     

  • Death’s Melancholy: Resurrection’s Rapture

    Death’s Melancholy: Resurrection’s Rapture

    “Then beginning with the scriptures of Moses and from all the prophets he uncovered the things concerning himself.” – the good news of Luke 24:27

    Scripture taught along a road from Jerusalem

    One of the the most remarkable verses in scripture comes to us from witnesses on a road to Emmaus from Jerusalem. Though less notable than much scripture, two followers of the crucified Christ learn scripture from him. We quickly learn the personal witness of Cleopas and one other follower who encounter the risen Lord in person! Jesus, as we might expect, picks up in teaching scripture just as the Lord had done for three years.

    Describing the Scene

    Matthew Henry [1662-1714], scriptural commentator from Wales U.K., describes the scene with much compassion for those who had just endured the traumatic events in Jerusalem.

    Our Lord Jesus went gloriously down to death, in spite of the malice of his enemies, who did all they could to make his death ignominious; but he rose again more gloriously, of which we have an account in this chapter; and the proofs and evidences of Christ’s resurrection are more fully related by this evangelist than they were by Matthew and Mark.

    One of these two disciples was Cleopas or Alpheus, said by the ancients to be the brother of Joseph, Christ’s supposed father; who the other was is not certain..

    They went to a village called Emmaus, which is reckoned to be about two hours’ walk from Jerusalem; it is here said to be about sixty furlongs, seven measured miles..

    Henry describes these two former followers of Jesus of Nazareth:

    They were sad; it appeared to a stranger that they were so. They had lost their dear Master, and were, in their own apprehensions, quite disappointed in their expectations from him. They had given up the cause, and knew not what course to take to retrieve it.

    Isn’t this how death of one we love and admire generally comes upon us?  Listen more to Henry’s account:

    Note, Christ’s disciples are often sad and sorrowful even when they have reason to rejoice, but through the weakness of their faith they cannot take the comfort that is offered to them. Being sad, they had communications one with another concerning Christ…

    Weep with them who weep

    Henry continues: Giving vent to the grief may perhaps give ease to the grieved; and by talking it over we may talk ourselves or our friends may talk us into a better frame.

    “Joint mourners should be mutual comforters; comforts sometimes come best from such.”
    Matthew Henry on the mourning of the Disciples after Jesus’ death.

    Though Christ had now entered into his state of exaltation, yet he continued tender of his disciples, and concerned for their comfort. He speaks as one troubled to see their melancholy.. Note, Our Lord Jesus takes notice of the sorrow and sadness of his disciples, and is afflicted in their afflictions.

    Christ has hereby taught us, [1.] To be conversable. Christ here fell into discourse with two grave serious persons, though he was a stranger to them and they knew him not, and they readily embraced him. It does not become Christians to be morose and shy, but to take pleasure in good society.

    [2.] We are hereby taught to be compassionate. When we see our friends in sorrow and sadness, we should, like Christ here, take cognizance of their grief, and give them the best counsel and comfort we can: Weep with them that weep.

    Luke 24:13-35 excerpts

    [You may want to take time here to read Luke 24 or additional verses.]

    15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad.

    Conversation along a road to Emmaus

    NOTE: The conversational style of their witness presumes who speaks, yet who says anything other than Jesus does not really matter.

    Cleopas: “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

    The unrecognized man now walking with them:  “What things?”

    Cleopas (most likely): “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him.  But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.

    The other disciple: Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive.

    Cleopas (perhaps): Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.

    The unrecognized, risen, Son of Man: “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?”

    Reaction to the Risen Christ!

    Can you image their reaction and sudden recognition of their witness of the Risen Christ?

    From this point forward, their journey would be transformed. Sorrow lifts toward rapturous joy! Jesus once more walks with those He loves. The Lord begins teaching more scriptures from the books of Moses. He unwraps so many verses from the scriptures written about Him by the Prophets.

    Jesus’ words from Isaiah and other Prophets we have just read must have pierced the hearts of these two disciples. For He spoke of His life as predicted by scripture and explained why the Lord’s crucifixion for our sins had to take place.

    What a glorious walk to Emmaus after having left Jerusalem dejected and directionless.

    Conclusion to conversation at journey’s end

    28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther..

    Cleopas:  “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.”

    ,, So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread,,

    Jesus (familiar words of blessing, to this effect):

    ‘This is my body which is given for you…

    He broke it and gave it to both disciples…

    31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him.

    And he vanished from their sight!

    The other disciple (in mutual amazement) to Cleopas:  “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”

    33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem.

    Yes, even though it was toward evening, these two disciples who had just encountered Jesus immediately returned. They had just completed a seven mile walk, yet would return under the cover of darkness for about a three hour journey and ascent back into the Roman-guarded city of Jerusalem.

    35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

    Melancholy or Joy?

    What describes your mortal life? Does the inevitability of death (and yes, judgment) cause you grief?

    Christians speak of a rapture, really an overflowing indescribable joy in one sense.

    The Gospel of the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus is filled with joy.
    “for those who believe.
    Yet you must believe in Jesus and receive the Holy Spirit.”

    Scripture also prophesies a rapture of these last days as certainly as death destroys the flesh. Judgment of all, in Christ or against Christ (the only two choices). Resurrection lifts up the soul and the Lord creates a new and indestructible sinless body! Only by the purification of the Blood of Christ Jesus… only through Christ.

    The Bible speaks of a new Jerusalem, a new heaven and a new earth! An eternal place in the Presence of the LORD where:

    “..there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. – The Revelation of Jesus Christ to John: 21:4 KJV

    Who do you choose?

    Do you stand alone, justifying your sins by your own good works? After having done so little for the Lord, as we all may rightfully be convicted, are you facing death’s melancholy?

    Or in Christ Jesus, the incarnate son of man, born to a virgin, died for our sins as Perfect Sacrifice on a cross – in Christ the LORD, One with the Father and One with the Holy Spirit, will you embrace the resurrection’s rapture? It is the Good News, the great joy, the glad tidings of Easter for those who bow down to the LORD.

    “He IS the Lord of love. Jesus IS. Worship the Lord our God, who loves you so much as to endure the Cross.” tweet=”Amen. Happy Easter. Joy and eternal life is ours in Christ Jesus.