Tag: Resurrection

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Two Resurrections

Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.  (John 5:25-29, NASB)

The Bible passage above is part of the Apostle John’s account.  Jesus had gone to Jerusalem to celebrate one of God’s feasts.  He healed a man who had been paralyzed for many years at the pool called Bethesda.  This happened on the Sabbath, which made the Jewish authorities very angry.  Jesus got into heated discussions with them in which He equated Himself with His Father, which made them even madder.  “For this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.”  (John 5:18)  

Further, the words of Jesus: “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.”  (John 5:24)  So Jesus tells the Temple leadership that if they would believe His word, and believe in the Father, they would not only have everlasting life, but would escape eternal judgment and damnation.  That would’ve made the authorities even madder, being lectured by this carpenter from Nazareth.  But Jesus had more for them, from the passage above. 

John 5:25 All Who Hear The Son Of God Will Hear And Life (black)

John 5:25 image.  Found at Knowing Jesus, https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/John/5/25

He tells them that sometime after death, He will come back (!), and He will call, and whoever hears His voice “will live.”  He further explains, “Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, 29 and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.”  While “good deeds” do not save someone, in the words of Jesus “This is the work of God, that you believe in He whom He sent.”  (John 6:29)  So the only good “work” we can do that is acceptable to God is to believe in His Son, Jesus.  Those that do, will be raised to “a resurrection of life,” an eternity with God in heaven; those who don’t, “to a resurrection of judgment.”  

There are, then, two resurrections:  One for those who believe in Jesus, and who will spend eternity with God in heaven; and one for unbelievers, who will spend eternity totally separated from God.  The choice is clear to me.  In the words of my late mentor, Brigadier General Dick Abel:  “Do you want smoking or non-smoking?”  It’s up to us!  My hope is in Jesus! 

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Risen

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men suddenly stood near them in dazzling clothing; and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living One among the dead? He is not here, but He has risen.”  (Luke 24:1-6, NASB)

In the narrative above from Luke the beloved physician, it’s now Sunday morning, the day after the Sabbath.  The disciples are still in shock after witnessing their Teacher brutally tortured and executed.  They’re behind locked doors for fear of the Temple leadership coming after them next.  The two Marys (Jesus’ mother, and Mary Magdalene) have prepared spices for a proper burial, and now that the Sabbath is past, are going to the cave where Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus had put Jesus’ body late Friday afternoon. 

According to Luke, they find the stone rolled away from the tomb’s opening, and Jesus’ body is not there!  Two angels appear, and they utter a statement that is arguably the most important of all Christendom:  “He is not here, but He has risen.”  

The fact of the resurrection is crucial to our faith.  Jesus said He would be crucified, and the third day would rise again.  The disciples and the two Marys watched Him die and didn’t remember what He told them.  After all, they weren’t used to seeing people come back from the dead, even though just weeks before they had seen Jesus call Lazarus from out of his tomb.  If Jesus was Who He claimed to be (God), then if He had not come back from the dead our faith would be useless.  There would be no hope of everlasting life.  No hope. 

He Is not Here! He Has Risen!
He is not Here!  He has Risen!  Found at Good Salt, https://www.goodsalt.com/details/lfwas1654.html

The angels also ask the question:  “Why do you seek the living One among the dead?”  They wanted to emphasize that not only had Jesus been risen, but He was alive.  There was hope in their question and statement.  Jesus would seem to emphasize His being alive when He appeared to the disciples several times before His ascension.  What’s important is that to followers of Jesus, Christ’s death and resurrection means that sin and death are defeated.  Because He’s alive, we can also have life everlasting. 

We have seen despair and hopelessness on Friday turn to joy and hope on Sunday morning.  It took awhile for reality to catch up to some of the disciples (Thomas the Doubter, for one), but over time they understood Who Jesus really is, and His words of salvation.  Jesus told His disciples what would take place, and it did.  He came to earth to die as a substitute to take the punishment we all deserve as sinners.  God’s most precious gift that we celebrate at Christmas fulfilled His mission on Good Friday.  He completed the promise of eternal life on Resurrection Sunday.  Because He lives, we have hope for eternal life.  Do you believe in Him?
When Christianity was in its infancy, in the middle east and southern Europe, it was dangerous to be a follower of Jesus.  The Christians used a greeting that only they were familiar with, used to find out if a stranger was a brother or sister in Christ.  The first person would use the greeting, “He is risen!”  The second would reply, “He is risen indeed!”  He is risen! 

For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.  (1 Peter 2:21-24, NASB)

Worship:  “Evidence,” by Josh Baldwin 

On Good Friday night, Sue and I watched Mel Gibson’s 2004 movie “The Passion of the Christ.”  We saw it in the movie theater when it first came out.  Powerful.  Gibson captured the last 18 hours or so of Jesus’ life as authentically and true to the Bible as possible.  What also struck me was how quiet it was afterward.  I don’t think anyone said a word filing out of the theater.  I remember a column written by Charles Colson at the time.  He said that Mel Gibson had a cameo appearance of sorts in the movie.  During the film when Jesus is being nailed to the cross, Gibson’s hand is wielding one of the mallets.  We’re quick to judge the people who had a part in Jesus’ crucifixion.  Truth be told, if any of us had been there, we would have done the same.  This was Gibson’s way of acknowledging his guilt and his sins.  Colson explained that years ago one of the masters (I think it was van Gogh) painted himself into the crucifixion as a Roman soldier and an active participant.  Interesting! 

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Prophecy XI

And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed—and a sword will pierce even your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”  (Luke 2:33-35, NASB)

The text is a portion of Dr. Luke’s account of Simeon’s encounter with the Holy Family just days after Jesus’ arrival on the earth He created.  The second chapter of Luke documents that after eight days (the Law of Moses required eight days for the mother’s purification), Joseph and Mary took their Baby to the Temple to present Jesus to the priests for circumcision and dedication, and to offer a sacrifice.  (vv. 21-24)  
They met Simeon, “righteous and devout,” who was “looking for the consolation of Israel.”  Luke says that the Holy Spirit told Simeon he wouldn’t die before he would meet the Messiah.  (vv. 25-26)  The Holy Spirit told Simeon just Who this Baby was.  Simeon took Him in his arms, and thanked the Lord in what is known as “The Song of Simeon.”  (vv. 27-32)  That’s where we pick up the text above. 

In a story normally told during Advent, Simeon’s prophecy is important for Lent, as he foretold the anguish Mary would experience in the future.  But first, Simeon predicts that Jesus “is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel.”  Jesus Himself would say that He came to save sinners, not the self-righteous, which was a criticism at the Pharisees.  He says that Jesus would be opposed, such that “thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”  Jesus was opposed by the Temple elites, who ironically claimed to be looking for the Messiah–just not this One.  Especially during the critical last week of Jesus’ life on His earth, we see revealed the thoughts from many hearts. 

Screen Shot 2017-02-02 at 2.46.18 PMThe Sword that Pierced Mary’s Soul.  Found at https://taylormarshall.com/2017/02/sword-pierced-marys-soul.html

Simeon tells Mary that “a sword will pierce even your own soul.”  I’m sure Mary didn’t understand.  She had just given birth to the Savior of the world, HER Savior, HER Lord.  What could possibly go wrong?  Yet “the sword” would be seeing her son after being tortured beyond recognition; watching as He tried to haul the cross to His place of execution; watching as they nailed her boy’s hands and feet to the wooden cross; and finally, watching as He hung dying, while the people and the priests mocked and insulted Him. 

The prophecy of the “sword” which would pierce Mary’s heart is part of the Christmas story, and an integral part of the story of Resurrection Sunday.  The encounter with Simeon at the Temple left Joseph and Mary “amazed at the things which were being said about Him.”  It had been quite a week.  Simeon’s prophecy must have left Mary wondering . . . 

Worship:  “Mary Did You Know?” by Mark Lowry