69. Easter

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What is Easter, and why do many celebrate it?

The word Easter itself apparently comes from the name of a month during our April which was named after an Anglo-Saxon goddess. However, pagan practices were replaced by the time of the 8th century with Christian beliefs linked to the resurrection of Christ, which occurred on the first day of the week following the Passover. The word Easter does occur once in the King James version of the Bible, but it should have been translated Passover there instead.

So is it wrong for Christians to call it Easter?

I don’t think so. The word is no longer associated with a goddess, and people don’t think you are praising Ēostre or Austrō if you have an Easter egg hunt, though eggs and bunnies may have been associated with Germanic Austrō customs. Paul takes up this question in 1 Corinthians chapters 8 and 10, in relation to eating food that was offered to idols. Many Christians understood that idols were not gods, and could eat food that had been offered to idols in good conscience. But if in doing so they might stumble another Christian or non-Christian, causing them to think they were honoring a heathen god, then it would be wrong to eat the food. This is the way I understand questions of practices such as coloring Easter eggs or decorating a Christmas tree. They have nothing to do with Christianity (unless you really stretch it), but they are not viewed as pagan practices by most people today in the United States. However, I do appreciate those who choose not to follow practices that could detract from the true significance of the day being remembered. It is good to ask myself, “Why am I doing this?” because all that we do should be to the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31).

So what is the true significance of the first day of the week following the Passover?

Even though the actual term Easter is not a biblical term, the day remembered as Easter is certainly a very important day in the Bible. It is the day of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb…. And he [an angel] said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him.” (Mark 16:2, 6 ESV)

Death could not detain the body of the Author of Life (Acts 3:15). By His own power He rose out from the tomb, and appeared, alive, to over five hundred people at one time (1 Cor. 15:6). His disciples didn’t believe it until they actually saw Him. But the truth of the resurrection changed fearful, feeble followers into fearless, powerful witnesses and martyrs for Christ.

He is risen! 

Why would this be so important to believers in Christ?

Paul tells us about the significance of the Resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15. If Christ had not been raised, we would yet be lost in our sins. There would be no salvation to proclaim, no victory over death. Christ’s resurrection proves that He is conqueror over the power of death, and therefore He is able to save us out of death as well.

Again, His resurrection proves that God the Father is satisfied with the price His Son paid for our redemption, because the Father has placed Him at His right hand in glory, the place of greatest honor (Rom. 8:34). What the Father gave Him to do, He finished to perfection. We have a perfect Savior who accomplished a perfect work to God’s complete satisfaction, and all who place their faith in Him find peace with God.

 

Some information from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter, retrieved March 31, 2012

68. “Good” Friday?

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So what is “Good Friday,” and why do people call it “good”?

According to the Oxford dictionary, the word “good” is used to indicate “a day or season observed as holy by the church.” So this day marks an event that is special to Christians. There may be other reasons for the term, but its origin is uncertain.

And what makes it special?

It is the day set aside to remember when the Lord Jesus was crucified.

And why would this day be special? Wasn’t it horrible?

Certainly it was horrible– the Son of God, hanging upon a cross, dying an agonizing death at the hands of His own creation! There is nothing wonderful about that. What is special is not simply a day, nor that a man was crucified, but that through the death of this Savior a means of Redemption was brought to mankind (that’s you and me).

Redemption? What is that?

To answer this question we should really first consider another special day–a day celebrated by the Jewish people. In fact, they were observing this day at the very time the Lord Jesus was being crucified. It is called the Passover. The Passover was a special day to the Jews, because it marked the day when they were delivered from bondage and slavery in Egypt long ago. At that time, God instructed them to kill a lamb and put the blood of that lamb around the door posts of their houses. The lamb died in the place of the firstborn within that house, and shielded him from the judgment God brought because of sin. God passed-over and guarded the houses where there was blood, and didn’t bring judgment upon the inhabitants. In short, the lamb’s blood–its life–was the price that had to be paid because of sin. This is the idea of Redemption: it involves a purchase.

But there is more. God not only saved His people from death, but He also delivered them from the slavery they were experiencing in Egypt. He brought them out of Egypt and into a new land of great blessing and abundance. So Redemption (in this aspect) involves a purchase out of slavery, and a setting free.

Yet there is more. God not only saved them from death, brought them out of Egypt, and brought them into a new land, but He also made them into a nation: Israel. He made them His own people. Redemption made it possible for God to call them His own special people. (See Exodus 6:3-8, 19:4-5)

So Redemption in the Bible (in this aspect) involves a price (or ransom) that is paid to bring deliverance from bondage, resulting in blessing.

So how does the Redemption of Israel relate to Good Friday?

Well, just as Israel needed to be delivered from the bondage of Egypt, mankind needs to be delivered from the bondage of sin. The only way God could righteously deliver us from the penalty that our sins deserved (eternal separation from God), was for another to die in our place. Another person had to purchase our freedom. That person is the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the only one who could do it–He is perfect. He is divine. But He had to become a man to do it. And He had to go to a place called Calvary to fulfill it. He was God’s Lamb for our Redemption, and when He hung on that cross, He was enduring the anger that a holy God poured out on Him as our substitute– taking the place of the sinner. “Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed” (1 Cor. 5:7 ESV). When we accept what God says, that this all was “for me–for my sin!” receiving Christ as Lord and Savior, we become His own–purchased and redeemed by His blood. No longer are we enslaved to sin, but God puts a new heart within, and His Holy Spirit takes up residence within us. He gives us a new song, a new life, a new destiny. The sinful world, typified by Egypt, is now behind us, and heaven’s joys are before us. We are God’s special people, and Christ’s purchased bride. Israel was under a covenant of works, but Christians are freed from the bondage of the law and brought into fellowship with God by grace. How much transpires in that moment of faith!

So now do you understand why that day is special to Christians? But more importantly, is the Redeemer, the Lord Jesus, special to you?

67. Why?

gospelriver Practical 1 Comment

When loved ones die

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For ‘WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR?’ Or ‘WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN?’ For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen. (Romans 11:33-36 NASB)

Sometimes when God allows into our path something that is difficult to bear, we ask the question, “Why?” Why do I have to go through this? Why did he have to die so young? Why did it have to happen that way?

The verses above remind us that God’s ways are higher than our ways, and there is “no bottom” to His intelligence. We have an all-powerful, all-knowing God “who works all things after the counsel of His will” (Ephesians 1:11). That will is “good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2). God is not the author of evil, nor does He delight in bringing calamity into our lives. He says “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked” and asks them “why will ye die?” (Ezek 33:11), but in contrast, “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints” – they are precious to Him, and they go to be with Him (Psalm 116:15).

God allows difficulties to come our way for reasons which many times He alone knows. God may bring death to preserve someone from something in the future. King Hezekiah likely would have been better off had he accepted death rather than receiving additional years (2Kings 20:5-6). Difficulties come sometimes for the furtherance of the gospel, or they can be for judgment or chastening, among other reasons. Job didn’t understand why God allowed Satan to bring trials into his life, but we understand that it was for Job’s good, developing his character, and ultimately resulted in blessing. In his trial, Job honored God and proved Satan, the accuser, wrong. Job had a right attitude when he went through his trial. He said, “The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD” (Job 1:21 NASB). He came out of that trial as purified gold, more brilliant and blessed than before (Job 23:10).

God isn’t required to tell us why, but sometimes He does. He often has revealed His secrets to those closest to Him (Gen. 18:17, Ex 5:22-6:1, Daniel 2:19, John 15:15). Joseph didn’t find out the reason for his trial until some time later (Genesis 50:20). We can go into the sanctuary with Asaph for either God’s guidance or His enabling grace (Psalm 73:17). We can say respectfully with Samuel, “Speak, LORD, for Thy servant heareth” (1 Samuel 3:9).

I have been considering Romans 11:35 (above) in light of a recent funeral of a young man who had a wife and small child. God is the first Giver, and all we have comes from Him.  We cannot give anything to Him that He has not first given to us. If we have children, they are a gift from Him, given to us as a stewardship to bring up for Him. Ultimately, they still are God’s, and He has the right as Creator and Sustainer to do with them as seems best to Him. The Bible says that Christ “upholds all things by the word of His power” (Heb. 1:3 NASB). Colossians 1:17 NASB states, “He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” Daniel 5:23 tells us that our life-breath and all our ways are held in God’s hand, and thus we have an obligation to bring glory to Him.  Again, Acts 17:25 NASB tells us, “nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things.” One day each one of us must return unto God who gave us life (Eccl 12:7), whether sooner or later. So if each moment on earth is graciously given to us from God, and if he constantly maintains and sustains our lives, surely God is not unrighteous to allow that soul to return to his/her Maker. Whether short or long, our life is only a vapor in comparison to eternity (James 4:14). For the lost that perish, God gave them ample opportunity, and they despised it. For the saved, God says that for them, it is “far better” (Phil. 1:23).

When we are under the load of our trials, it is helpful to think upon the sacrifice that God the Father made on our behalf. He sent His Son into a sinful world that He knew would despise and reject Him, and finally nail Him to a cross to die. Yet in doing so He brought infinite glory to His Son, and infinite blessing to His people. Out of darkness, there came light. Out of poverty, there came riches. Out of sorrow, there came joy. Out of curse, there came blessing. Out of suffering, there came victory. Out of death, there came life. And God is able to bring the same out of our circumstances, to His glory and our blessing.

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him (Psalm 42:5,11).

Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. (Psalm 55:22)

Be Thou My Vision (Youtube)

66. “Like unto me”

gospelriver Devotional 1 Comment

I thought I would share a little study on the life of Moses and how he was like Christ. I began the study after reading Acts 3:22:

“A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; Him shall ye hear…”

This would be much too long if I were to write it out, so I have just given it to you in outline form, for your meditation and amplification. For those reading via email, you may visit the website to easily read the cited verses.

Acts 7:17-44

Acts 7:19  Both born with the expectation of death
Acts 7:20  NASB “lovely in the sight of God” — Beautiful, beloved

  • Christ: Men saw no beauty in Him, but God had infinite delight in Him.
  • Their character:
    • Meekness
      • Moses: Num 12:3 “above all” on the earth
      • Christ: Matt 11:29 “I am meek and lowly”; Matt 21:5 NASB
    • Servant
      • Moses: “Servant of the LORD” Josh. 8:31
      • Christ: “Behold My servant” Isa. 42:1

Acts 7:21 Brought up in a foreign environment

  • Moses was laid in an ark,
    • but Christ came voluntarily from heaven, laid in a manger.
  • Moses was brought up in the palace of the king,
    • Christ WAS a king, but brought up in a carpenter’s home in despised Nazareth.

Acts 7:22

  • Moses was wise and “mighty in words and deeds”
    • Christ: Unlimited wisdom (John 21:17)
    • Christ: “mighty in word and deed” (Luke 24:19)
    • Christ greater than Moses: “upholding all things by the word of His power” Heb. 1:3

Acts 7:23-28

  • when they began their public ministry they were rejected while seeking to bring deliverance; unrecognized
  • Moses ran
    • Christ died

Acts 7:29

  • A stranger
    • Christ was also a stranger (Ps 69:8)
  • A bride
    • Moses: received a Gentile bride in his rejection
    • Christ: purchased a Gentile bride in His rejection
  • A shepherd
    • Moses: shepherd of his father-in-law’s sheep (Ex 3:1)
      • Christ: the Good Shepherd of His Father’s sheep
    • Moses: Faithful over God’s house (flock) as a servant (Heb 3:5)
      • Christ: Faithful as a Son (Heb 3:6)

Acts 7:34  Sent by God to relieve the afflicted
Acts 7:35  Ruler, judge, deliverer (or redeemer, ESV)

  • Ruler rejected: Luke 19:14 “we will not have this man to reign over us”
  • Judge: John 5:22, Acts 10:42 (Judge of living & dead)
    • The work became too much for Moses alone, Ex 18:18 (but not for Christ)
  • A deliverer: Deliverance from slavery & redemption by blood
    • Moses: lamb for a HOUSE
    • Christ: HIMSELF a lamb for the WORLD (John 1:29)

Acts 7:36  Worker of Miracles

  • “Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind.” (John 9:32 NASB)
  • “if I had not done the works which none other man did” (John 15:24)

Acts 7:36  “brought them out” = “led them forth”

  • Leader
    • Moses led by experience: learned leadership through experience in the wilderness
      • Lord: didn’t need experience, but did learn by experience what it was to obey, Heb. 5:8
    • Led by example
      • Christ an example in service & humility: “I have given you an example” John 13:13-15
      • Christ an example in love (John 13:34)
      • Christ an example in suffering & death (John 13:36)
    • Led by encouragement: reminding of past (Egypt), of the future (land of milk & honey)
      • Christ: John 14:3, 16:33
    • Led by expressing God’s word
      • Christ WAS the living Word (John 1:1)
      • “No one ever spoke like this man!” (John 7:46 ESV)
  • Moses couldn’t bring them into the blessing
    • Christ: “I will come again, and receive you unto Myself” John 14:3

Acts 7:37  a Prophet

  • Moses: spoke face to face (Ex 33:9-11, Deut 34:10)
  • Christ: perfect communion with the Father

Acts 7:38  a Teacher, Instructor

  • Moses brought the law on tables of stone
  • Jesus Christ brought grace and truth and puts it on the heart (2 Cor. 3, Heb. 10:16)

Acts 7:40

  • On the mountain: All Moses could do was break the tables
    • Heb 12 — a physical mount connected with fear and death
  • On the mountain: Christ kept the law and made provision for rebellious mankind
    • Heb. 12 — Mount Zion, a heavenly Jerusalem, connected with joy; Jesus mediator of new covenant

Acts 7:44  a Priest

  • Mediator, Intercessor
    • Moses: “Blot me out of Thy book” Ex 32:32
    • Christ: 1 Tim 2:5 one mediator; Is 53:12 “bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors”
      • Helper, Heb. 2:18, “merciful & faithful high priest”
      • He is the reason we can be in God’s book (Rev. 21:27)

Both died on a mountain, and their body was not found

Both seen on the mountain of transfiguration

  • Christ has the preeminence: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him.” Matt. 17:5

 

So… How Christ-like am I?

 

******************
There was none like

Moses & his connection with God; his meekness (Deut. 34:10, Num. 12:3)
Solomon & his wisdom (1Kings 3:12)
Hezekiah & his faith (2Kings 18:5)
Job & his righteousness (Job 1:8, 2:3)
(contrast) Ahab & his wickedness (1Kings 21:25)
Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, Azariah (Daniel 1:19)

But truly above all others, there is none like

the LORD (Ex. 8:10, 9:14; Ps. 86:8…)
the Lord Jesus (John 7:46, John 9:32, John 15:24, Acts 4:12)

65. Irony of Insults

gospelriver Devotional, Good news 1 Comment

from Mark 15:29-32 NASB

Those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads, and saying, “Ha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days,  save Yourself, and come down from the cross!

What these cruel men didn’t realize was that they were destroying the temple and He would indeed raise it up in three days!

In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes, were mocking Him among themselves and saying, “He saved others; He cannot save Himself.”

Oh how the Lord Jesus would have loved to save them. And He was dying in order to be able to save others. Myriads of angels were at His command, but nothing could deter Him from His purpose to provide means of salvation for a world (yes, you and me) at enmity with God.

“Let this Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, so that we may see and believe!”

If He would have come down from the cross, that would have been reason to not believe in Him. It would have been contrary to the Scriptures that most accurately and graphically foretold His sufferings and death. “Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed” (John 20:29).

Those who were crucified with Him were also insulting Him.

He was numbered with the transgressors. His friends forsook Him. His enemies insulted Him. Even those who were enduring physical sufferings like His would not sympathize with Him. Finally, even His God forsook Him (but in no way insulted Him).

Behold, what manner of Love, that He would stoop down so low to bring His enemies into the fold of God’s family — and so near to His heart. Respond to His love today.

 

64. Carpenter – King

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Carpenter – King

Inspired by “My boss is a Jewish carpenter”

My Lord was a Jewish carpenter,
But now He is the King.
Provider for a family here,
Yet He made everything.

Yes, King He is, with right to reign,
For He became so poor,
And Priest He is, always the same,
His grace and love is sure.

He’s building now the church, His bride.
Soon she will be complete;
We’ll worship Him who lives, who died,
Our crowns lay at His feet.

— NEB

Mark 6:3; 1Tim. 6:15; Heb. 1:10; 2Cor 8:9; Heb 2:17 NASB, Heb. 13:8; Matt. 16:18; Eph. 2:21; 1Peter 2:5 NASB; Rev. 4:10-11

63. Unpopular

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Unpopular? Jesus?

The one who healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, gave hearing to the deaf, and even raised the dead? Really? How could He be unpopular?

Today I was reading Mark 10:1-12 and Jesus’ teaching on divorce. It reminded me that the teachings of the Lord Jesus were not popular with everyone in His day, nor are they appreciated by many in ours. So what are some of the reasons why Jesus and His teachings were not popular– so much so, that the “good” and most respected people of His day cried out for His crucifixion?

Reasons for Rejection

He exposed Darkness

Jesus came as a light in a dark world, exposing the sin and evil around Him (John 3:19). Those who didn’t want to face their sinful nature and repent of their wrong rejected Him. Those who in their need were willing to say “cleanse and forgive me, Lord” found Him to be a Friend indeed.  The Pharisees and Sadducees were the religious, pious-looking people of the day. They were too “good” to accept their need of forgiveness, and paraded their good works before others while at the same time committing evil deeds in secret. Thus the Lord Jesus often exposed their sin, expressing grief and giving warning (e.g. Matthew 23:13, Luke 11:35-39 ESV).

He expressed Doctrine

The Lord’s teachings were not accepted by all. He taught that people should not get a divorce (Mark 10:9-12) and that those who divorce one partner and marry another are committing adultery. Yet He went further and said that even to look at a woman lustfully was to commit adultery, bringing eternal judgment (Matthew 5:27-29 ESV).  (Note that the act is a separate sin, and not the same thing.)

Again, the Lord foretold the judgement that was coming on the religious rulers of His day because they had rejected God’s Son, and this led them to seek His arrest (Matt 21:43-46 ESV). Instead of receiving His teaching as the truth, they tried to tempt Him into saying something wrong, and even sent spies to try to get Him in trouble with the law (Luke 20:20-23).

The Lord Jesus spoke more of hell than of heaven. He passionately warned of coming wrath for those who did not take refuge in Him and believe His words.

The Lord spoke against religious traditions, offending the religious rulers (Matthew 15:12). The religious people of that day were consumed with keeping the Sabbath, following made-up rules not found in the Bible (Matt. 15:9), ceremonial washing (Matt. 15:2), and eating the proper foods. Yet they turned the Sabbath into something God never intended it to be, failed to care for their parents out of greed (Matthew 15:5 ESV), and were all taken up with outward show instead of inward righteousness (Matthew 15:8). They even tried to accuse the Lord for healing people on the Sabbath day (the day God set aside for rest). On one occasion, He explained how healing a man was not breaking God’s law, and proceeded graciously to heal a man (Matthew 12:1-14). Their response: they conspired together how to destroy Him.

He assumed Deity

The Lord Jesus was unpopular because He claimed to be the Son of God. The Jews took this as blasphemy of the deepest sort, and eventually used this as the principle reason to justify His crucifixion (John 5:18, Matthew 26:63-66, John 19:7). They ignored the proofs He gave that He was who He said He was, including the plain teaching of the Old Testament.

He endangered their Desires

The Jews were afraid that if Jesus received widespread acceptance, their place of authority and prestige would be taken away (John 11:47-48). In short, they were envious and self-centered, causing their minds to be distorted and closed to truth.

 

Received by Some

I should mention that the Lord Jesus was not unpopular across the board. The religious people of His day said of Him, “He is a friend of tax-gatherers (thieves) and sinners” (Matt. 11:19). They couldn’t understand how a good man could associate Himself with ungodly people, even to eat with them! We read, “the common people heard Him gladly” (Mark 12:37). The Lord Jesus was willing to associate Himself with those who were willing to receive His word.

Crowds followed Him pretty much wherever He went, but most were only interested in what He could do for them rather than recognizing His true worth (John 6:26-27). Yet, though they were not large in number, there were those who recognized who He truly was and believed in Him. It was to these faithful few that the Lord Jesus revealed the truth of God, and it was to these He appeared after His resurrection.

 

Lessons for Believers

The Lord Jesus Himself gave us a lesson from this. “Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you…” (John 15:20). Those who are true Christians can expect to be shunned and looked down upon, even hated. The Lord Jesus was “hated without a cause” — for doing good (John 15:25). So we should be ready to do good, even if it means we must suffer for it.

People tried to find a reason to accuse the Lord Jesus, but could find none. So may our manner of life be “worthy of the gospel of Christ” (Phil. 1:27 ESV). May we not be found using the name of the Lord as an empty word, or bringing dishonor to the name of Christ. May we not turn the Bible into a means for personal gain (2 Corinthians 2:17 ESV), but  instead, let us speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15).

I am challenged by the words of the book of Acts to be bold for the cause of Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit, that those who hear may readily acknowledge: “he has been with Jesus!” (Acts 4:13 ESV).