“And (Jesus) said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and rise from the dead the third day. 47. And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And you are witnesses of these things.”
Jesus’ resurrection is not just the “happy ending” to the story about Jesus Christ. It is just the beginning of His purpose for coming to earth, dying on the cross and rising the third day. This is noted in the text above from Luke, and is attested at the end of all four of the gospels and in Acts.. Following is what Jesus’ disciples did after His resurrection, and this also gives us an idea about what we should be doing: First, Jesus' disciples did not go about their own business; rather, they went about His business. Each of His disciples, including the original disciples (excluding Judas) and the other disciples that followed Jesus by faith, went to work preaching, teaching and living by example the preaching of “repentance and remission of sins…” Some of them, like Peter, Andrew, James and John, gave up their secular work and gave full time to spreading the good news. Others did not give up their secular professions but witnessed where they were. That’s similar to how it is done today. Second, they went about His business literally. What do I mean? The answer is in the above text and is literally illustrated in Acts 1:8: “But you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the uttermost part of the earth.” They began in Jerusalem and the work spread until it reached to the “uttermost part of the earth.” This is the same pattern for our mission today. They literally did what Jesus commanded in Acts 1:8. The work still expands from where we are to the ends of the earth. Incidentally, we should not forget that we are witnesses “where we are.” Third I want to give two illustrations of this expanding ministry. After “Saul of Tarsus” was converted on the Damascus Road, he became “Paul the Apostle.” In the book of Acts, beginning in Acts 13, you can follow his expanding mission from Antioch to Rome. Do you remember “doubting Thomas”? There is good evidence that Thomas, no longer “the doubter,” traveled as far as India, where he started a work that is still remembered in India today. He was martyred in India in 72 A.D. Both of these surrendered their lives, along with many others, to carry out Jesus’ command in all four gospels to take His good news to the world. It is still our ministry today “after the resurrection.” Bro. Joe
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“He is not here, but is risen…”
The above text is the angel’s messages to the women who brought spices to Jesus’ grave. This message had a profound meaning to these women and to all of the followers of Jesus. Christ’s resurrection brought three significant gifts to those who believed in Him and followed Him. The resurrection brought a new hope to believers then and now! When Jesus died on the cross and was placed in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, the hopes of His followers were dashed. They were still afraid and were hiding out together in the upper room. His disciples doubted that He had risen, but when they saw Him their hope was renewed. This hope is a gift to all of us who believe. Because Jesus lives, we are never without hope. Like His early followers, we need to grasp this gift of hope and live our lives in that hope no matter what life brings. If you have Jesus, you have hope. Believe it and live it! The resurrection brought a new life to believers then and now. It is eternal life that begins with the moment that we believe and will end in heaven with Him. The essence of this life was caught in 1 John 5:10-11: “He that believes on the Son of God has the witness in himself: he that believes not God has made Him a liar; because he believes not the record that God gave of His Son. 11. And this is the record, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.” This is as true to those of us who believe today as it was to the women at the tomb and to Peter, James, John, Andrew, etc. The life that Christ gives us is a new quality of life. I do not like to think about what the quality of my life would have been if Christ had not come into my life. This gift of new life is available to all who believe. The resurrection brought new opportunity into the lives of believers then and now. For example, Jesus told His disciples that He would “make them fishers of men.” In Acts 1:8, just before He ascended, Jesus told His disciples what this new opportunity would entail: “But you shall receive power after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and you shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” We have the opportunity of being Christ’s witnesses wherever we are. These “gifts of the resurrection” are gifts to us. Let’s grasp them as we celebrate Christ’s resurrection. I Bro. Joe “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how Christ died for our sins, according to the scriptures; 4. And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to scripture.”
I am really not trying to be an old “killjoy” when I tell you that I think that we put too much emphasis on eggs and bunnies during this season of the year. We celebrate a miracle, but the miracle is not that rabbits somehow lay eggs at Easter time. (Try to see the humor here.) The miracle is that Jesus was crucified and that three days later He arose. Paul wrote about Christ’s resurrection as a historical fact: “He was dead and He arose again the third day." We have good reason to celebrate,, for His resurrection brought/brings good news. What is the good news that we celebrate? We celebrate that Christ is still alive. Christ really died on the cross. Some scholars, who had nothing better to do I guess, came up with the idea that Jesus only “swooned” and did not really die. (Ironically, it is called the “swoon theory.”) The fact is that Christ really died on the cross and was buried in a borrowed tomb. Christ’s resurrection is not a myth, and He did not merely “swoon” – Christ died. The miracle is that Jesus broke the bonds of death and came forth from the grave. Christ was not the first person to be raised from death in the Bible, but He was the first to be raised without outside intervention. Christ Himself defeated death on the cross. This is important, for if this didn’t happen, Christ is still dead. If this is true, “We are of all men most miserable.” (1 Corinthians 15:19b) Furthermore, Christ is still alive today. In Matthew 28, just before Christ ascended, He told His disciples that He would be with them to the end of the ages. The Bible teaches that Christ ascended to the right hand of the throne of the Father and is there making intercession for us. Jesus Christ is alive! We celebrate that we are alive in Christ. The Bible teaches that before Christ saved us, we were "dead in trespasses and sins." (Ephesians 2:1) We were not physically dead, of course, but we were spiritually dead. Christ’s entrance into our lives brought us to new life in Him. People who do not have a saving relationship with Jesus Christ are still dead in trespasses and sins. Those who are not alive in Christ have nothing to celebrate, for the resurrection has no personal meaning to them. But we who are no longer dead in trespasses and sins have every reason to celebrate. Christ is alive in us!!! I’m sure that you have heard the line from the hymn He Lives: “You ask me how I know He lives, He lives within my heart…” We celebrate the fact that Christ is alive in us. If Christ is alive in us, we are aware of it as much as we are aware that we are still alive in 2017. It doesn’t end there, for the Bible teaches that we will live with Christ throughout eternity. Eternal life is the ultimate benefit of having Christ alive in us. Let the celebration begin!!!!! Bro. Joe "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world."
Paul wrote that he would glory only in the cross of Christ. Why? Was it because he didn't have anything else worth bragging about? He gloried in the cross, because it was Christ's death on the cross that made it possible for Paul to be saved and to live the victorious Christian life that he wrote about so eloquently. We need to glory in the cross, for we are in the same position. There is nothing in our lives that we have, or that we have done, that we can brag about. If you have taught Sunday School for years and years and are considered your church's "Bible scholar," you still have nothing to brag about, for that did not save you. If you are the head deacon of your church, and have a part of every decision that it is made at your church, that did not save you. If you read the Bible through every year, word for word, I commend you, but that did not save you. If you have memorized whole books of the Bible, that is a good thing, but it is nothing for you to boast about, because that did not save you. I do not mean to demean all of the good things that you might have done, but all of that comes after you have received Jesus into your life. We are saved, then we serve! It was only when Jesus died on the cross for our sins and announced from that cross: "It is finished," that we were able to be forgiven for our sins and be saved. Everything depended on the cross and that was why Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane was so important: "Nevertheless, not my will but thine be done." We needed for Jesus to die on the cross and if He hadn't we couldn't be saved. Consequently, let us join Paul and say, "God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ." During this season of the year let's be especially thankful for the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Bro. Joe “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister and to give His life a ransom for many.”
In Mark 10, James and John asked for the honor of sitting on the right and left hand of Jesus in His kingdom. Jesus used the Occasion to teach His disciples about the true measure of greatness in His kingdom. Jesus pointed out that in the Gentile world, the world at large, those who were rulers lorded it over the People and the “great ones exercise authority upon them.” In verse 43, Jesus said: “But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister (servant).” Kingdom greatness is not measured by others serving us; rather, it is measured by our serving others. A truly great Christian will have a servant’s heart. According to Jesus, we should not want to be served but to serve. We should not want to be great by the world’s standards but by God’s standards. William Barclay wrote: “The basic trouble in the human situation is that men wish to do as little as possible to get as much as possible. It is only when men are filled with the desire to put into life more than they take out, that is, to serve others, that life for themselves, and for others, can be happy and prosperous.” A truly great Christian will also have serving hands. We should not just talk about service to others; we should actually serve them. Jesus demonstrated this when He washed His disciple’s feet. We should never be afraid that we are doing too much for others, but that we are doing too little. What kind of service should we render? Our Christian service can take as many forms as the needs around us. There are plenty of needs in the world that need the serving hearts and hands of Christian people. In verse 44, Jesus told His disciples, and us, about the measure of a real Christian leader: “And whosoever of you will be chiefest (first) shall be servant of all." Leadership in God’s kingdom is not as much sought as it is given by God. God’s choice for leadership is based on service, not the ability to lord it over others. If we are dedicated servants of Jesus, it will not matter to us who are considered leaders. In verse 45 Jesus gave the measure of His leadership and His greatness: “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Jesus used Himself as an example for His disciples and for us. If Jesus came to serve, how much more should we seek to serve, for “a servant is not greater than his master?” Jesus literally gave His life as “a ransom for many.” We need to look into our own hearts and determine whether we want to serve rather than be served. Bro. Joe “And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on Him, saying, ‘If you are Christ, save yourself and us.’ 40. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not fear God, seeing you are in the same condemnation. 41. And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward for our deeds, but this man has done nothing amiss.’ 42. And he said unto Jesus, ‘Lord remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ 43. And Jesus said unto him, ‘Verily, I say unto you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
There are two reactions shared in the text above that show us possible reactions to the Christ’s crucifixion. Which has been your reaction? It’s worth thinking about. One reaction is that the crucifixion means absolutely nothing. This is the reaction of the first thief. If Jesus wouldn’t act in the way he wanted Him to react, that is, to save his life, he had no interest in Jesus’ crucifixion. This is an attitude of , “What’s in it for me?” He was not thinking above his own self-interest. This is the attitude of a lot of people today. The death of Jesus means nothing to them, because it doesn’t promote their own interests. They are afraid about what they might lose if they follow Jesus. Another reaction is that the crucifixion means something beyond this earthly life. That is the reaction of the second thief. He evidently heard the voice of the Spirit and saw in Jesus the Savior that He is. He had recognized his own sins and knew that he deserved punishment for his crime, but he saw the innocence of Jesus. He wanted to go with Jesus into His kingdom. Jesus accepted this thief’s profession of faith and said, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” I have read all sorts of ideas about what “paradise” means. My conclusion is that it is the place where we will be with Jesus, and that is enough for me. (We also call it “heaven.”) I just want to leave the details up to God. There are millions of people who have the reaction of the first thief: Jesus’ crucifixion means nothing to them. They do not want Jesus to interfere with their lives and certainly not with their lifestyles. It would take an admission of sin and a need for forgiveness. Let us pray that many people will have the reaction of the second thief during this season of the emphasis on the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. I pray that your reaction is that of the second thief (or ex-thief). Bro. Joe “And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said unto him, Before the cock crow, you shall deny me three times.”
I’m assuming that you know the story surrounding the text verse. What Jesus told Peter proved to be true, that is, that he denied the Lord three times before the cock crowed. Luke tells us that at that moment, the Lord “looked upon Peter.” I want to think about how this look of the Lord affected Peter so that he “went out and wept bitterly.” I think that it was a look of disappointment. Jesus knew what Peter would do, but this does not mean that he was not disappointed. No doubt Peter felt that he had let the Lord down, and that his boast had been empty and meaningless. Imagine how it would be to have Jesus look at you in disappointment. Perhaps you, like me, know how it feels when we know that we have let Jesus down when we could have done better. Perhaps we need to think about this look of disappointment when we face temptations to let Jesus down. I think that it was a look of undying love. Although Peter had let Jesus down, Jesus did not stop loving him. This might have been the most agonizing aspect of the look of Jesus. Peter had deserted the man who loved him in spite of his failure. When we face the inevitable temptations to desert Jesus in decisions that we make, we need to remember the look of undying love, for Jesus truly loves us in spite of our failures. I think that just the knowledge that we have ignored Jesus’ love for us is itself punishment. This is, perhaps one reason that Peter “went out and wept bitterly.” I think that it was a look of forgiveness. In His disappointment and love for Peter, I think that His look said to Peter “I will forgive you.” Peter’s reaction of weeping bitterly is an indication of his repentance and his seeking forgiveness. The actions of Peter after Jesus’ resurrection show us that he had been forgiven and was now openly serving the Lord. For years after this moment, Peter bravely served the Lord until, according to tradition, he was crucified. Peter could have left this moment in self-pity and self-loathing instead of going on in selfless serving for the Lord. We would do well to remember that Jesus is looking at us. If we disappoint Him, we should remember that He loves us, will forgive us, and will use us in His mission to the world. Bro. Joe “Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve Him in sincerity and truth: and put away the gods which your father’s served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord. 15. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your father’s served on the other side of the flood, or gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
What building blocks are you using to build your life? Is it success in your chosen field? This is not a bad thing, but it is not enough to build your life on. Is it your appearance? A lot of money is spent each year keeping up our appearance. This is not a bad thing, but it is not enough to build your life upon. Is it your popularity with other people? I guess that most of us want to be loved and accepted by other people, but that is not enough to build your life upon. Is it to make a lot of money? What is wrong with that? Nothing if you are not building your life upon it. The text from Joshua gives us some good building blocks. First, he said to “put away” the past things that have stolen your victory. He mentioned the other “gods” they had served. These gods were not sufficient for God’s people. We will also need to “put away” some things from our pasts as well, if we are to really have victory in the Lord. Get rid of the “blocks” that have robbed you of victory. Second, he said “choose you this day whom you will serve.” We cannot live victoriously for the Lord if we continue to choose the things that defeated us in the past. We need to look within our hearts and minds and see who, or what, we are really serving and determine that we will serve the Lord. Nothing else that we will choose will give us the spiritual victory that we need. Third, he said: “As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.” Joshua decided that if all others chose to serve someone, or something, besides the Lord, he and his house/family would serve the Lord. It is easy to follow the line of least resistance and to just do what everyone else is doing, but that is certainly not the best way. Go it alone if you have to in order to live victoriously for the Lord. Think about what you are building your life upon. Are there some things that you need to “put away”? Are you choosing to put the Lord first and serve Him above all else? Are you willing to serve the Lord if no one else seems to be serving Him? At least, these are some things to think about. Bro. Joe “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.”
This is one of those verses in the Bible that can easily be overlooked. “Let the peace of God rule in your hearts.” Interesting! What does it mean? We will ask and answer two questions in trying to discover the meaning: (1) Why should we let the peace of God rule in our hearts? (2) What does it mean to be ruled by the peace of God in our hearts? Why should we let the peace of God rule in our hearts? First, we should let God’s peace in our hearts because it is, after all, the peace of God. It is a grace gift of God, which entered our hearts when with His Spirit when we became Christians. If it is of God, let it rule! Second, we should let God’s peace rule because we are “called” to God’s peace. God wants us to consciously have peace in our hearts; therefore, we should have it. God has placed His peace in our hearts, but like all other gifts, we need to claim it. What does it mean to be ruled by the peace of God? First, it means that life’s circumstances cannot steal our peace. The devil will certainly cause negative circumstances to steal our peace. There are, however, circumstances in the normal course of life that can steal our peace. A good case of the flu can do it. Illness of a member of the family can do it. Trouble in our church can do it. World affairs can do it. There are all kinds of circumstances that can make us forget about the peace of God in our hearts. However, if the peace of God is ruling in our hearts, this is not as likely to happen. Second, it means that we will keep peace within ourselves, and with others, no matter happens in this life. It is easy for us to get “our noses out of joint” so to speak. I’ve known people to get their “noses out of joint” over the most trivial of matters. If God’s peace is ruling in our hearts, we will not want to get out of sorts with fellow Christians over any matter. In fact, we will not let it happen – period.(It's called "disagreeing like Christians.") Incidentally, we will also not get out of sorts with ourselves as easily. The logical question for you now is to simply ask yourself if the peace of God is really and truly ruling in your heart? You answer is between God and you. If God’s peace is not ruling in your heart, you will already know, because you will not be at peace within your heart, and you are probably not at peace with other people. “Let the peace of God rule in your heart!” Bro. Joe “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out.”
This verse does not mean that there is nothing that we can know about God. It means that we cannot capture the nature and wisdom of God by human reason alone. The Bible reveals some things that I want to remind you of that we need to remember about God. We need to remember that God loves us. This does not mean that God is enamored by our righteousness. In fact He reminds us that “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” The Bible reminds us that God loves us enough that He gave His Son to redeem us from sin. We need to grasp the biblical fact that God loves us, and that He wants us to love Him. Jesus said that the greatest commandment is “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, and with all they mind. This is the first and great commandment.” (Matthew 22:37-38) Without question the Lord loves you, but do you love Him? Have you accepted His love for you by inviting Jesus into your life? We need to remember that God wants the best for us. This is not “pie in the sky” gospel; it is based on biblical truth. But He also wants us to want the best for ourselves. The best thing that we can do is to endeavor to live for Him, and to give Him the best of whom and what we are. There is not enough space in this article to explain all that this means; we just need to accept this as truth and “give of the best to (our) Master.” None of us will do this perfectly, but we need to prayerfully and carefully obey the leadership of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We need to claim God’s best for us. I know that when I have sought His best for me, my life has been better than when I have gone my own way. We need to remember that God will forgive us when we sincerely seek His forgiveness. I want to share with you a passage that I have quoted many times in Couch Potato articles that we need to remember: 1 John 1:8-10: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.” Jesus is longing to forgive you. He died on the cross in order to forgive you. Accept His forgiveness today! These are three things that we need to remember about God and accept them as reality in our own lives. Do it! Bro. Joe |
AuthorDr. Joe Beauchamp is the author of this blog and website. Categories
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