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Jesus is Risen – Like He Said

  Acts 10:34-43; John 20:1-18 Throughout the ministry of Jesus on earth he told his disciples that he must die but would rise again in three days. Peter in his sermon in Acts tells about how all the prophets testified about him and the salvation he would bring. Yet at the Sunday after the crucifixion his disciples and Mary seem to forget this or never really got it shown by how Mary goes to the tomb to anoint Christ’s body and is surprised to see the stone rolled away. She tells the disciples so Peter and John run to the grave and discover that Christ’s body is no longer there. Instead of this confirming Christ’s words of a resurrection after three days, Mary thinks someone has moved the body and asks, whom she thinks is the gardener, where they have laid Him. This is no gardener but the resurrected Christ – brought back to life but not quite ascended to the Father as He tells Mary not to touch Him. Mary then becomes the first witness of the resurrection and the first messenger to
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A Humble Donkey

  Mark 11:1-11, Philippians 2:5-11 In the time of Jesus the Romans ruled and when one of their emperors rode into a town there was quite a royal fanfare. They rode on golden chariots with beautiful white horses. However, when Jesus rode into Jerusalem in the Mark passage, which is now celebrated as Palm Sunday, he chose to ride on a humble donkey. Jesus who is said in the Philippians passage to exist in the form of God – the ruler of the universe did not regard this equality with God as he rode into Jerusalem on a humble donkey. Jesus’ humility is stressed in Philippians 2 which tells how Christ emptied himself taking the form of a slave and became human. This humility continues as he became obedient to the point of death. Not any old death but a humiliating one on a cross. In his entry into Jerusalem – no red carpet was laid out. The everyday people took what they had to lay a path for him – palms and their own cloaks spread out before him. They shout “hosanna” which means “God
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Reverent Submission

Hebrews 5:5-10; Jeremiah 31:31-34 The book of Hebrews talks about Jesus being appointed a high priest. In order to do so was because of his reverent submission to God and the plan for salvation which was to bring great suffering to him. It is said he learned obedience through what he suffered. Being made perfect in this way, he became the source of salvation for all who obey him. This being made perfect through persevering in obedience in the face of suffering is a theme the disciples will take up in following the example of Christ. Due to Christ’s reverent submission to his work on the cross, a new covenant has been brought in. This was predicted in Jeremiah 31 that tells how the law will be put within them and written on their hearts. They will know God due to Christ’s sacrifice. Because of it God will forgive their iniquity and remember their sin no more. The term submission indicates obeying someone and their wishes. It is defined as accepting or yielding to the will or autho
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The Foolishness of God

  Psalm 19:7-11; I Corinthians 1:18-25   Psalm 19 goes on about the characteristics of God’s wisdom shown in God’s laws, decrees, precepts, and commandments. The words perfect, reviving the soul, sure, making wise the simple, right, clear, enlightening, pure, and true are used. They are said to be more desired – wanted than fine gold and sweeter than the honeycomb. Paul on the other hand in Corinthians talks about the foolishness of the cross to those who are perishing. God in this act of love, bringing Christ on earth to die for our sins, made foolish the wisdom of the world. He calls out the scholar and the debater. He tells how the Jews looked for a sign and the Greeks – the Gentiles looked to human wisdom. But as Paul points out, God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom. The proclamation of Christ crucified is a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles. But God used this foolishness to save those who believe – those who put aside human wisdom and in fai
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Keeping the Covenant

  Genesis 9:18-17, Psalm 25:1-10   Every time we see a rainbow, we need to remember it as a sign of God’s covenant to never flood the earth again. Later in Genesis 17, God will make a covenant with Abraham promising him he would be the ancestor of a multitude of nations. A covenant is a promise, something on which we can depend. In Psalm 25 David lifts up his soul to the Lord putting his trust in God. He asks to not be put to shame in his trust for protection and not to let his enemies triumph over him. He asks that those who wait on God will not be put to shame but only those who are wantonly treacherous. In contrast to these evil folks, David seeks to learn God’s ways and what godly paths he is to take. He asks to be led in God’s truth realizing that the Lord is the God of his salvation. The patience of him awaiting deliverance is shown as he says – for you I wait all day long. He reminds the Lord of God’s mercy and steadfast love that have been since the days of Noah and Abr
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Waiting in Hope

  Psalm 147:1-11,20; Isaiah 40:28-31 Both of these passages tell of the power of God. In the Psalm it tells how great the Lord is abundant in power. He determines the number of stars, controls the weather, and gives food to the animals. It agrees with our Isaiah passage regarding God’s understanding. It is above measure in the Psalm and is unsearchable in Isaiah 40. It also tells about God being everlasting and the Creator who does not grow faint or weary. What both passages tell about is who the Lord will use God’s power for. God will build up Jerusalem, will gather the outcasts, heal the broken hearted and bind up their wounds. The Lord will also lift up the downtrodden. This goes along with Isaiah who says God will give power to the faint and will strengthen the powerless. I can imagine the Israelites shouting out, “but when will this happen?” The psalmist says the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear God, in those who hope in God’s steadfast love. Isaiah talks about God’s de
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Transfigured to Shine

Mark 9:2-9, II Corinthians 4:3-6 Our Mark passage today is read on Transfiguration Sunday which celebrates the time Jesus took three disciples up on a high mountain and his clothes become dazzling bright. He begins to talk with Elijah and Moses. These disciples are witnesses to the glory of Christ later told of in our II Corinthians’ passage, “in the face of Christ.” It also says that Christ is the image of God. These disciples are terrified, but Peter speaks out wanting to capture these transfigured people by setting up a tent for each of them. To this God speaks out from a cloud saying, “This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him.” Jesus then returns to his normal human state. Who today are privileged to see the glory of Christ? II Corinthians tells us that we who proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord. It is then that the light will shine in the darkness of our souls. God shines in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. We are tran
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