Tag: BELIEVE!

Affirming Other’s Doubts, Receiving, Answering the Hard Questions About Our Lord’s Resurrection, Are All Very Necessary Steps Forward Towards Guiding Others unto Belief in Jesus. John 20:24-29

John 20:24-29 New Living Translation

Jesus Appears to Thomas

24 One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin),[a] was not with the others when Jesus came. 25 They told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.”

26 Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!”

28 “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed.

29 Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”

The Word of God for the Children of God.

Adeste Fidelis! Laeti Triumphantes! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.

Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.

Answering the Kingdom of God’s Hardest Questions

What is the hardest question we, as Christians will ever ask another person?

Reverend John Wesley, founder of Methodism gives the very simplest answer:

“How is it with your your Soul today?”

A very simple, non threatening, open ended openly friendly question to be sure.

But one that is not so frequently asked perhaps for the fear that someone might actually and truly take 20 minutes to “chew your ear off” giving their response.

Who is actually ready to suddenly separate 20 minutes, perhaps even more, for the extra donut and coffee, out of their day to truly engage this inspired soul?

Not going to risk being late for work?

Picking up one’s child from school?

Missing the wife’s best meatloaf dinner?

Being late for the opening pitch of your home teams baseball game?

Not really interested in risking that new friendship which might transpire?

Not really interested in receiving tough theological questions you are unsure you are able to give a sufficient non threatening answer for – “who is Jesus?”

Some churches don’t want you or me to ask those hard and honest questions.

Their mindset is they are reluctant or do not to respond to those questions which have no obvious and clear cut answers, which present no evidence of God, His existence, His attributes, His Miracles, His Sovereignty or Authority.

That’s sad, I think.

If we have been Christians awhile in these churches, we kind of get trained to know which questions we find easiest to ask and which ones to simply let go.

That’s where Curious Unbelievers and New Christians can be so refreshing.

They ask bold and fresh and honest and naïve, thought provoking questions.

They’re not afraid to seek for the Lord and find his answers.

Thomas is our designated doubter.

His doubts and questions enable our doubts to be expressed and to receive an answer from the Lord himself.

All A Necessary Part of God’s Plan All Along

First things first: The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is 100% central to our Beliefs.

For their is no other name under Heaven by which man is saved! (Acts 4:8-12)

and also …

Romans 10:9-13 New Living Translation

9 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. 11 As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” [a] 12 Jew and Gentile[b] are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. 13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”[c]

Jesus in The Synoptic Gospels

Though Jesus mentioned many times that He would rise from the dead, it never seemed to penetrate the minds and hearts and souls of any one of His disciples.

After all, the crucifixion would have left them completely dumbfounded.

They would not know what to respond with do or how to handle the prophecy.

They would or could never be sure where they should go or what they should do.

And when they finally heard that Jesus was alive, it came as a surprise to them.

Mark’s Gospel says,

“Then Jesus began to tell them that the Son of Man must suffer many terrible things and be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but three days later he would rise from the dead” (8:31 NLT).

The disciples couldn’t begin to wrap their minds around the idea that the ugly crucifixion was or could possibly be any part of God’s plan for their prosperity.

How could something as ugly and brutal like that be called any “good thing?”

How could all that brutal humiliation, suffering and sacrifice have any value?

But it would be through Jesus’ death that death is defeated, eternal life came.

Jesus was saying,

“I’m in control. I know it sounds radical when I say that I will suffer and die. But I’m also saying that I will rise again. This is part of the plan. I know what I’m doing.”

This is what God says to us as well.

There are times in our lives as Christians when we may not understand what God is doing.

Why did He allow this thing to happen?

How could He allow this thing to happen?

Why did He allow those problems?

How could He allow these problems?

Why did He allow that tragedy?

How could He allow to that tragedy

And why hasn’t He intervened?

Why doesn’t He intervene?

It is hard to know why sometimes.

It is hard to receive the questions that are being asked here.

Because we simply have no way of giving any reasonable or correct answer.

But Jesus is saying to all generations,

“I am in control. I know what I am doing. I always know what I am doing.” (Psalm 46:10-11 AKJV)

10 Be still, and know that I am God:
I will be exalted among the heathen,
I will be exalted in the earth.
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

The absolute truth for every Christian is whatever we give up to follow Jesus will be more than made up to us in this life and in the life to come.

It will be worth it all.

It was all a part of God’s plan all along to reveal and to affirm the pathway it is necessary for any one, whether a non-believer, new believer or mature believer, to travel first declaring their unbelief, need for miracle to believe, then believe.

This Roadmap to Belief? God’s Plan For Us All Along

Hebrews 10:12-18 New Living Translation

12 But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 13 There he waits until his enemies are humbled and made a footstool under his feet. 14  For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy.

15 And the Holy Spirit also testifies that this is so. For he says,

16 “This is the new covenant I will make
    with my people on that day,[a] says the Lord:
I will put my laws in their hearts,
    and I will write them on their minds.”[b]

17 Then he says,

“I will never again remember
    their sins and lawless deeds.”[c]

18 And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices.

It’s hard to fathom Christ’s final, agonizing hours upon a Roman cross.

The floggings, torture, and humiliation He endured were reserved for the worst of criminals.

It is no wonder, then, that with His last breath, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, Tetelestai!—“It is finished” (John 19:30).

But what was this cry?

Was Jesus simply announcing His own death?

Was it an acknowledgment that the cruelty and pain were now finished?

Was it even something of a cry of defeat?

On this point, the Bible is clear: Jesus’ final word was actually a shout of victory, of triumphant recognition (Colossians 2:15; Hebrews 10:12-14; 1 Peter 3:18).

He had fully accomplished the work He had come to earth to do.

In the realm of eternity, in perfect fellowship and harmony with one another, the Father had planned, and the Son along with the Spirit had willingly agreed, that this would be the way—and now their purpose was being accomplished.

So we must always remember that Christ’s sacrificial death was according to the Father’s plan.

Christ was chosen to bear the penalty of mankind’s sins “before the foundation of the world” (1 Peter 1:20).

Likewise, Isaiah prophesied concerning the Suffering Servant who was to come, saying, “It was the will of the LORD to crush him” (Isaiah 53:10).

From all of eternity, the Father chose the Son to be the Perfect one who would provide an “one and done for all time” atoning sacrifice for the sins of many.

The Father’s plan is paralleled by the Son’s sacrifice.

When Jesus walked onto the stage of human history, He was clear concerning His role and mission: “I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me” (John 6:38).

The sacrifice of the Lord Jesus was not coerced.

Rather, He laid down His life in full awareness of and voluntary submission to the Father’s plan.

The truth and reality of this covenant plan of redemption is applied to our lives by the Spirit’s testimony.

The Spirit of God repeatedly affirms and continually testifies through God’s Word, in no uncertain terms, reminding us all of the wonder of what God has accomplished for us through Christ Jesus’ finished work on the cross (Hebrews 10:15).

Christ’s offering means we stand perfected in God’s sight.

Our sin has been removed by His Son, and we are clothed in the righteousness of His Son.

The death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ was never Plan B.

Nothing could be further from the truth!

In eternity past, the triune God determined that the road to Calvary would be the only way of salvation.

Bow today under the simple beauty and wisdom of God’s redemption plan, asking the Holy Spirit to help you understand more fully and appreciate more deeply what it meant for the Son of God to bear and take away your sin.

Receive the doubting Thomas’ who all too often choose to remain anonymous and separate from the joy and triumph first found in that Upper Room that day.

Let’s not be so anxious asking any one of those doubting Thomas’ the question:

“How is it with your soul, today?”

Let’s be careful not to squash asking those honest and seeking questions.

Of course,

Our goal isn’t so much in asking the question, but in our and some Thomas receiving an authentic faith in the Lord, who is the answer to our questions!

“Are We Able … to Ask of the Master …

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Let us Pray,

Father, stir my heart to continue to seek after you. I want to know more about you, and I also want to be more aware of your presence in my life. I want my character to be conformed unto your will. So please know that my doubts and questions are my seeking you and not my seeking some random tidbit of knowledge. Give me the Spirit of revelation to know you more completely so that I might be transformed by your will rather than being conformed to the culture around me. In Jesus’ name, I pray.

Adeste Fidelis! Laeti Triumphantes! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.

Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.

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Will My God Ever Give Up On Me As I Have Given Up on Him? Luke 22:54-62

Luke 22:54-62 Amplified Bible

Peter’s Denials

54 Then they seized Him, and led Him away and brought Him to the [elegant] house of the [Jewish] [a]high priest. And Peter was following at a [safe] distance. 55 After they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat among them. 56 And a servant-girl, seeing him as he sat in the firelight and looking intently at him, said, “This man was with Him too.” 57 But Peter denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know Him!” 58 A little later someone else saw him and said, “You are one of them too.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!” 59 After about an hour had passed, another man began to insist, “This man was with Him, for he is a Galilean too.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. 61 The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him,  “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.” 62 And he went out and wept bitterly [deeply grieved and distressed].

The Word of God for the Children of God.

Adeste Fidelis! Laeti Triumphantes! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.

Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.

I remember a secular song popular many years ago called “River”.

To this day, lines from that rather somber Joni Mitchell song stick with me.

She sang, “I’m always hard to handle. I’m selfish and I’m sad. Now I’ve gone and lost the best baby that I ever had.”

The words came to mind again this week while reading a post from a Christian who said, “I still struggle with being angry, ungrateful, and cranky.”

I added her words to what several people have written recently about Apostle Peter in today’s discourse from Luke 22.

As much effort as Peter made to assure and then reassure Jesus and the other disciples to never give up on Jesus – no matter the circumstances – He failed.

He failed in the worst way possible.

He failed himself.

He failed his friends and fellow disciples.

He failed his mother and his father

He failed to uphold every single thing he held to about his faith in God.

He failed his sworn and covenanted oath to God.

He failed his Messiah – denying him thrice times and very publicly.

When his Messiah needed and required him to be there for Him, as Messiah had predicted, before the cock crowed three times, Peter was nowhere declaring his his utmost confidence and faith in his Messiah nor his willingness to even die.

How much worse could it possibly get in that moment?

Then that fateful glance in the courtyard where Peter’s and Jesus’ eyes met after Peter thrice times emotionally, very publicly refuted his association with Jesus.

61 The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.” 62 And he went out and wept bitterly [deeply grieved and distressed].

They have preached this passage, taken a long look at this passage, been very self-introspective of this text as it was preached to them – and they CRIED TOO!

We can probably, without much effort, safely guess what emotions were going on in Peter’s much anguished heart and soul: “Will God Now Give Up On Me?!?”

They cried, proclaimed – “I was not there when my Savior needed me most!”

They cried and declared – “I got so very tired, so very much worn out by it all!”

The cried and declared – “I feel like I have simply given up on God, My Savior!”

They have likewise asked of themselves, “Will God ever give up on me?” 

Gravely worried because they think they have already and repeatedly done the one single thing that’s “finally too much for God to take,” they are feeling fear.

Many Will Worry About Keeping God’s Love

Now, their concerns aren’t just about their repeated failures toward conquering their anger, their fears, their broken promises, their ingratitude, or crankiness.

Some are worried about other things like unrelenting unswerving doubts, their waning and waxing faith, a fresh sin committed, or a repeated sin committed.

But, this lingering question comes rushing back to many people at different times, at too many inopportune times

“Does God give up on us as we all too often give up on Him?”

A significant question with what they believe has severe eternal implications.

I can safely confess here that despite what I staunchly believe is a steadfast and immovable faith – a “Superman Faith” if you will, I’ve certainly had that fear. 

Have you?

At times, I’ve wondered if I have let God down too much or too severely or made that “one too big a mistake” with the severest of eternal implications possible.

It hurts my spirit.

It puts a giant strain, an immovable millstone upon my heart and upon my soul.

I will simply never have the necessary knowledge nor the required wisdom nor any of the maximum allowable strength to even begin to move it or remove it.

Responding to the Lord’s “Once In a Lifetime” Look

Luke 22:61-62 Amplified Bible

61 The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.” 62 And he went out and wept bitterly [deeply grieved and distressed].

Two captivating stories are happening at the same time.

Inside the high priest’s court Jesus reveals his true identity as the Messiah.

Outside near the fire in the courtyard Peter denies his Lord three times.

Then the climax brings the two story lines crashing together.

Jesus’ eyes look directly at Peter’s eyes and quite literally changes everything.

Peter surrendered to the paralyzing fear of his faith’s ability at standing alone.

But fortunately Jesus enabled Peter to break out of the cage of conformity.

The rooster’s crow activated the alarm of Peter’s conscience.

Immediately he repented.

In extreme sorrow, Peter wept bitterly.

Do We Lose God When We Are Selfish and Sad?

As in Joni Mitchell’s sobering song, do we lose the best loved one we’ve ever had – our God and our Savior – when we are selfish and/or broken or sad? 

No!

Absolutely Not!

It’s a guarantee that after we receive Jesus Christ as Savior, we still won’t be perfect! 

And God knows that! 

Instead, we all have a lot of “cleaning up” to do even at that point. 

But, that is something only God can do in your life.

Yes, you and I must cooperate, we must be and remain willing participants.

The way we do that is to believe Him that He loves us and has changed us.

That He IS always and forever changing us.

And, in addition, you and I must learn, and re-learn, how to receive His love.

With regards to Peter and His coming to terms with his catastrophic failures;

Later in the Upper Room he reaffirmed his love for Jesus by being there and not running away, fleeing from His presence, when Jesus appeared to the disciples.

Still later, doubts intact, Peter is recommissioned as the Lord’s representative.

John 21:15-17 Amplified Bible

The Love Motivation

15 So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these [others do—with total commitment and devotion]?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I [a]love You [with a deep, personal affection, as for a close friend].” Jesus said to him, “Feed My lambs.” 16  Again He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me [with total commitment and devotion]?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You [with a deep, personal affection, as for a close friend].” Jesus said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me [with a deep, personal affection for Me, as for a close friend]?” Peter was grieved that He asked him the third time, “Do you [really] [b]love Me [with a deep, personal affection, as for a close friend]?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know everything; You know that I love You [with a deep, personal affection, as for a close friend].” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.

In John 21 we find that Jesus refused to let Peter cover up his unresolved past.

Three times the Resurrected Jesus asked Peter how much he loved his Lord.

And Peter asserted repeatedly, “Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus then empowered Peter, gave divine approval and permission, God’s own blessings, to just put his past behind him and walk confidently into his future.

Jesus’ aim is to come to us, bless us, reassure us, reconcile with and rehabilitate us whenever we feel the full weight of our millstones, when we fall from grace.

And our conscience can halt us before we yield to temptation.

But even when if we inevitably slip back into sin, God wants to restore us.

God does not stand behind home plate like an umpire at a baseball game with a great cloud of witnesses present waiting to signal and then shout, “You’re out!”

Instead, He comes to us on our lakeshores, draws us to Himself with kindness.

For us this means responding to the raucous alarm of our conscience, removing ourselves from the moment and place of temptation, repenting of our sin, give God permission to take our millstone, to reaffirming our loyalty to Jesus Christ.

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Let us Pray,

Psalm 13 The Message

13 1-2 Long enough, God—
    you’ve ignored me long enough.
I’ve looked at the back of your head
    long enough. Long enough
I’ve carried this ton of trouble,
    lived with a stomach full of pain.
Long enough my arrogant enemies
    have looked down their noses at me.

3-4 Take a good look at me, God, my God;
    I want to look life in the eye,
So no enemy can get the best of me
    or laugh when I fall on my face.

5-6 I’ve thrown myself headlong into your arms—
    I’m celebrating your rescue.
I’m singing at the top of my lungs,
    I’m so full of answered prayers.

Psalm 139:23-24 The Message

23-24 Investigate my life, O God,
    find out everything about me;
Cross-examine and test me,
    get a clear picture of what I’m about;
See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong—
    then guide me on the road to eternal life.

Lord, we read Your text from Luke’s Gospel and we know that your convicting look is filled with thy convincing, affirming grace. Thank you for your transforming power!

Adeste Fidelis! Laeti Triumphantes! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.

Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.

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Come! Please Look For Yourselves! To Witness The Stone is Now Rolled Away, Testify Death Is Now Utterly Defeated! Luke 24:1-8

Luke 24:1-8 New King James Version

He Is Risen

24 Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, [a]and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. 2 But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 3 Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it happened, as they were [b]greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. 5 Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen!  Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, 7 saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’ ” 8 And they remembered His words.

The Word of God for the Children of God.

Adeste Fidelis! Laeti Triumphantes! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.

Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.

There is a new song of Triumph coming forth from the Heavens above.

Psalm 19 The Message

19 1-2 God’s glory is on tour in the skies,
    God-craft on exhibit across the horizon.
Madame Day holds classes every morning,
    Professor Night lectures each evening.

3-4 Their words aren’t heard,
    their voices aren’t recorded,
But their silence fills the earth:
    unspoken truth is spoken everywhere.

4-5 God makes a huge dome
    for the sun—a superdome!
The morning sun’s a new husband
    leaping from his honeymoon bed,
The daybreaking sun an athlete
    racing to the tape.

6 That’s how God’s Word vaults across the skies
    from sunrise to sunset,
Melting ice, scorching deserts,
    warming hearts to faith.

7-9 The revelation of God is whole
    and pulls our lives together.
The signposts of God are clear
    and point out the right road.
The life-maps of God are right,
    showing the way to joy.
The directions of God are plain
    and easy on the eyes.
God’s reputation is twenty-four-carat gold,
    with a lifetime guarantee.
The decisions of God are accurate
    down to the nth degree.

10 God’s Word is better than a diamond,
    better than a diamond set between emeralds.
You’ll like it better than strawberries in spring,
    better than red, ripe strawberries.

11-14 There’s more: God’s Word warns us of danger
    and directs us to hidden treasure.
Otherwise how will we find our way?
    Or know when we play the fool?
Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh!
    Keep me from stupid sins,
    from thinking I can take over your work;
Then I can start this day sun-washed,
    scrubbed clean of the grime of sin.
These are the words in my mouth;
    these are what I chew on and pray.
Accept them when I place them
    on the morning altar,
O God, my Altar-Rock,
    God, Priest-of-My-Altar.

Except, who is listening to these raucous words of song and triumph?

The heavens sing their words of the Glory and Triumph of God!

They emanate from the deepest reaches of heaven down to the earth below.

They begin echoing outward unto a sleeping humanity from a place of death.

Hushed and Quiet though they may be in this moment at that place of death, they are none the less quite real and quite audible to those who will come to it.

The song will come unexpectedly to those whose hearts and whose souls were prepared to be curious about it, receive it and see it and then utterly believe it!

In this place of uncleanness and death, there is a sure and certain witness here!

In this place of darkness and stench, there is a sure and certain testimony here!

Let us now lend our eyes and ears to what this witness and testimony might be.

“Welcome to this Happy morning!”

“Welcome all ye curious ones!”  

“Welcome all ye despondent ones!”

“Welcome all ye silent and tearful and mournful ones!”

“Welcome all ye defeated, downtrodden and broken ones!”

“Welcome all ye faith-filled and faithful and hope-filled hopeful ones!”

“It is wonderful to gather in our beautiful Kingdom of God to celebrate the glory and triumph of God and the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Yes! there is, emanating from here a new, fresh song of witness and testimony.  

Except, no one in particular is hearing, even listening to the words of welcome.

In fact, if we were to look at this place in that moment, we would see nobody.

Perhaps because the deafening silence of the glorious words “He is not here!” “praise God” are coming from an empty tomb which has been beckoning others where no others are paying attention, in close proximity or listening distance.

The expectancy of the glorious and triumphant message found from within the empty tomb is not one that is even the least bit anticipated, shared nor shouted.

The “Behold, Our God Wins!” witness and the living breathing testimony of the empty tomb sits all alone in a darkened silence in a place of the unclean dead.

Now, finally – a group of women come over the hill and down a path leading to the tomb of the one whom in life had been believed to be their “Messiah King.”

Three days ago, he had been brutally killed, humiliated as the ultimate criminal.

Because of Sabbath rules, he had been hastily buried and sealed behind a rock.

The women came bearing spices which they had prepared to finish preparing the not so pleasant smelling body of their dead best friend and their king.

But instead of finding a sealed tomb they came upon an open one.

Amazingly, unexpectedly, the stone had somehow been rolled off to the side.

Curious and probably just a wee bit afraid of what they would or would not find, they enter the tomb of their Rabbi and find it empty – there was just no corpse.

The women had come to anoint his body for the burial when they suddenly encountered a pair of angels asking this question – “so, why are you here?”

Followed up by the good news, “He is not here; he has risen!”

What a great and wholly unexpected sequence of “GOD” events for their souls.

Such wonderful good news.

The faith-filled faithful of God went to the tomb before all others were awake.

With their whole selves, in the darkness, their eyes beheld an open tomb and a rock much too heavy for them to remove by themselves rolled off to the side.

Instead of running away and screaming into the night to tell somebody else, the curiosity of the words to a new song reached their souls, so they all went inside.

They lingered inside and witnessed to an unanticipated, unexpected, emptiness inside the tomb of their fallen Rabbi they could not understand nor easily grasp.

As they were all greatly perplexed by this sequence of events, they clearly see the two men in shiny garments standing there, they clearly hear their words:

5 Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen!  Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, 7 saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’ ”

“He is NOT here!”

“But, IS Risen!”

Jesus is alive!

Death is defeated!

Witness to, Testify that, The Stone Was Rolled Away

Luke 24:5-8 The Message

4-8 They were puzzled, wondering what to make of this. Then, out of nowhere it seemed, two men, light cascading over them, stood there. The women were awestruck and bowed down in worship. The men said, “Why are you looking for the Living One in a cemetery? He is not here, but raised up. Remember how he told you when you were still back in Galilee that he had to be handed over to sinners, be killed on a cross, and in three days rise up?” Then they remembered Jesus’ words.

The gospel of Luke opened with angels delivering messages to Zacharias, Mary, some shepherds quietly going about their everyday duties protecting the sheep.

And to the shepherds, it was a melodious message of great joy for all people.

The message delivered here was also a message of great joy to all people.

Death had been conquered.

Jesus had defeated the power of death.

No longer do we have to fear death.

“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” (1 Corinthians. 15:55).

Implications: the Witness and Testimony of a Rock Rolled Away

When we consider Jesus as Messiah, most of us think immediately in personal terms: Jesus is my Messiah. He forgives my sins. He lives in me. 

All of which, of course, is true.

But 1st-century Jewish expectations concerning the messiahship of Jesus were far broader than that.

If we had talked with a 1st-century Jew about his or her messianic expectations, we would have discovered hopes that were, in a sense far grander in their scope.

The Jews anticipated that their long-awaited Messiah would come to defeat the pagans who held sway over them, to decisively conquer their enemies, then to rebuild the temple, and to once again establish God’s just rule upon the earth.

Theirs was a nationalistic hope—a hope that the Messiah would come and vindicate the nation of Israel.

Jesus’ arrival, together with the miracles He performed, stories He told, and the prophecies He fulfilled, built to a great crescendo of high expectation among His followers, that Jesus was in fact sent of God as their true conquering king.

But just when they began to think that He really would be the one to politically redeem the people of Israel, at Calvary they saw all of their messianic hopes hanging up on a Roman gibbet, a gallows, an ugly instrument of pain and death.

And when Jesus cried out, “It is finished” (John 19:30), many of them must have quite literally agreed – any hope for their future of prosperity – was “finished.”

Now the question beckons us: How, then, did this group of believers, whose messianic hopes had been buried in a Palestinian tomb, not only continue to believe that Jesus was the Messiah but stand in the streets near where He had been executed and make an unashamed declaration of His messiahship?

The answer comes reverberating through the pages of the New Testament is found in the witness of an immovable rock having been summarily removed, somebody physically entering an empty tomb: the bodily resurrection of Jesus!

The angelic announcement to the women who had brought spices to embalm a corpse provoked a radical reassessment of what the believers had witnessed on the past Friday and a complete change in their view of their lives and futures.

When the Messiah reappeared among them, as alive as ever, these previously sad, sorrowful, defeated, brokenhearted disciples were radically transformed into bold, joyful witnesses with the loudest heartfelt songs of God’s triumph.

They now have a sure and certain witness, bearing testimony to the reality of Christ resurrected with a body that could be seen, handled, and touched, and yet also possessing capacities to do what His pre-resurrection body had not done.

His earthly work of salvation was finished;

His life and His reign were most certainly not!

By His Resurrection,

By God’s own Authority and only through God’s power,

His life and His reign were most certainly never going to end

Only in the disciples’ actions that night, seeing the rock moved away, their display of courage and not fear, to physically enter the tomb, enter, witness its emptiness, exit the tomb, hear the words of the two white clad angels, their recognition of His risen presence did Christ’s messiahship finally make sense.

Indeed, what the early Jewish believers discovered when they “found the stone rolled away from the tomb” (Luke 24:2) and saw “Jesus himself stood among them” entering through a locked and sealed door and into the Upper Room (v 36) was that an eternal hope, joy, and triumphant power ignited within their hearts.

And these remain available to all who put their trust in Jesus, the resurrected Messiah.

It is the triumph of the resurrection, and only the triumph of the resurrection, changes our witness of sadness, sorrow, and defeat into hope, joy, and power.

It is the resurrection, and only the resurrection, that declares that our Messiah will defeat His enemies, will restore His people, and will rule from sea to sea.

The Glory of God, The Triumph of God that morning, The resurrection of Jesus our Lord, Savior will change everything about how you go about your day today.

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Let us Pray,

We Are One with the Risen Christ

Lord of life, we lift our hearts to you. As the dawn breaks, may we carry the unity we share into every moment knowing that we are one with the risen Christ. Lord, we lift our eyes to you. As the sunrises, may this moment stay with us, reminding us to look for the beautiful colors of promise in your word. Lord, we lift our prayers to you. As the dew air falls, may we breathe this morning in and know that like the earth, you sustain us, keep us and work within us always. And so, we lift our voices to you. We celebrate the greatest day in history, when Jesus rose from death, defeated darkness and bathed the world in stunning resurrection light. May we ever live to praise you! Thank you Lord of my my life and my Salvation that, in you, I no longer need to fear death and its great unknown. Instead, I can face it with confidence, knowing that you have truly defeated it. And, that on the other side of death, I will be with you forever.

Adeste Fidelis! Laeti Triumphantes! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.

Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.

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What is Redemption? Important Meaning for Christians from the Bible. Romans 8:18 (22-23)-25

Romans 8:18-25 Amplified Bible

18 For I consider [from the standpoint of faith] that the sufferings of the present life are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us! 19 For [even the whole] creation [all nature] waits eagerly for the children of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration and futility, not willingly [because of some intentional fault on its part], but by the will of Him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will also be freed from its bondage to decay [and gain entrance] into the glorious freedom of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been moaning together as in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only this, but we too, who have the first fruits of the Spirit [a joyful indication of the blessings to come], even we groan inwardly, as we wait eagerly for [the sign of] our adoption as sons—the redemption and transformation of our body [at the resurrection]. 24 For in this hope we were saved [by faith]. But hope [the object of] which is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait eagerly for it with patience and composure.

The Word of God for the Children of God.

Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.

Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.

So, how is your day so far today?

Did you dread getting out of bed this morning?

Will you be irritated by traffic on the way to work?

Are you facing unreasonable demands from your employer?

Is there ongoing tension in your marriage?

Do you find that your children are ever more appreciative of what you do on their behalf?

Did the evening news cheer you at the end of the day?

Are you simply tired of the same old routine, and longing for something new?

Chances are you feel burdened about one or more issues above.

You are certainly not alone.

In fact, the Bible states,

“For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now. Not only that but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the first fruits – we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies” (Romans 8:22-23).

All of creation groans, longing for redemption. 

The Definition of Redemption

The dictionary defines redemption as:

1. the action of saving or being saved from sin, error, or evil.

2. the action of regaining or gaining possession of something in exchange for payment, or clearing a debt.

Romans 5:8-11 specifies,

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”

Redemption is used in both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible.

The Old Testament.

In the Old Testament, redemption involves deliverance from bondage based on the payment of a price by a redeemer.

The Hebrew root words used most often for the concept of redemption are pada, gaal, and kapar.

The verb pada is a legal term concerning the substitution required for the person or animal delivered.

The verb gaal is a legal term for the deliverance of some person, property, or right to which one had a previous claim through family relation or possession.

The meaning of the third verb, kapar, is to cover.

Fundamental to the message of the New Testament is the announcement that Jesus of Nazareth is the fulfillment of Israel’s messianic hope and that, in him, the long-awaited redemption has arrived.

Deliverance of humankind from its state of alienation from God has been accomplished through the death and resurrection of Christ (Romans 4:25; 2 Corinthians 5:18-19).

In the New Testament, redemption requires the payment of a price, but the plight that requires such a ransom is moral, not material.

Humankind is held in the captivity of sin from which only the atoning death of Jesus Christ can liberate. (“Entry for ‘Redeem, Redemption'”. “Evangelical Dictionary of Theology”)

Redemption is Necessary

When life gets hard we tend to say that we need a break.

What we really need, however, is redemption.

Instead of gaining a momentary respite from the madness that surrounds us, redemption is the promise of God to deliver us from the power and presence of sin.

If this promise sounds too good to be true, consider the fact that the world used to work this way.

Prior to their rebellion, Adam and Eve had unbroken fellowship with God, unparalleled intimacy with each other and undisturbed enjoyment in their Edenic environment.

There has never been a time such as theirs when humans exercised biblical dominion over creation, complemented each other so completely and joyously lived every moment of every day under the rule of God.

But there will be again.

The Bible envisions a day when these broken relationships will be forever restored.

God’s people will inherit a new earth that bears abundant food apart from the sweat of their brow and without the threat of thorns (Revelation 22:2).

They will never feel pain or cause others to experience hurt of any kind as their tears have been eternally wiped away (Revelation 21:4).

Death will no longer haunt the living as gentle lambs will rest side by side with formerly carnivorous wolves (Isaiah 11:6).

Best of all, God will dwell with his people (Revelation 22:3).

Nothing unclean will be allowed to enter the new creation.

There will be no trees that trick or serpents that tempt.

Worship, not worry, will characterize the family of God in a world without end.

In a word, this fallen world will be redeemed.

Thus, the Christian worldview is premised on two realities:

God’s good world spoiled by human sin (fall) and sinful humans made fit to enjoy God forever (redemption).

In spite of the fall, the world continues to work – sort of.

After the fall, Adam and Eve’s oldest son proved remarkably adept at navigating through life.

Cain married a woman and loved their son (Genesis 4:17).

The curse of the ground notwithstanding, Cain became a farmer and then a city builder (Genesis 4:3, 17).

Even Cain’s descendants were known for their creative prowess, including advancements in shepherding livestock, playing musical instruments and developing sturdy weaponry (Genesis 4:20-22).

Put simply, even fallen people in a fallen world somehow manage to contribute to human progress.

On the other hand, even morally upright people manage to confirm the human predicament.

Noah is such a man who, in the midst of a moral sewer, managed to find favor in God’s eyes (Genesis 6:8).

His craftsmanship is demonstrated through his ability to build an ark that withstood the most destructive storm ever.

His attention to detail spared not only his life but that of his family and the entire animal kingdom (Genesis 6:14-22).

Nevertheless, in spite of God’s grace towards him, Noah later became drunk and passed out naked in his tent (Genesis 9:20-21).

When he awoke he cursed generations yet to be born (Genesis 9:24).

This is hardly the behavior one would expect from the man God used to rescue the world but Noah’s life confirms that “there is no one righteous, not even one” (Romans 3:10).

Redemption is Already Accomplished but Not Yet Complete

Humans still retain the image of God, which accounts for any semblance of goodness and enables any sense of progress (Genesis 1:26-27; 9:6).

However, life is not as it should be in this fallen world.

Theologians have differed over the means by which Adam’s sin has been passed down to every person but the reality of death provides sufficient confirmation that no one is exempt (Romans 5:12).

Though Charles Manson and Billy Graham took completely different paths with their lives, both are subject to the death sentence as are you and I.

The Bible thus describes our common plight: we are “dead” in our “trespasses and sins” and we are “by nature children under wrath” (Ephesians 2:1,3).

Redemption is the reversal of the fall.

In part, this reversal means that those who were spiritually dead are made alive (Ephesians 2:4) and those who were children of wrath are now children of God (1 John 3:1).

Though the Bible recognizes fallen people may make positive contributions to the world as a whole, the Bible is quite clear that no one can contribute anything positive to their own redemption (Romans 3:23-28).

The only person qualified to undo the effects of the fall is Jesus Christ who, as the eternal Son of God incarnated through the Virgin Mary. by the Holy Spirit.

This is not to say that he was not tempted as he lived in a fallen world and experienced genuine struggles that all humans face (Hebrews 2:14-18).

However, the Bible unflinchingly states that Jesus never sinned (2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:22) and thus focuses on him alone as the one who can make sinful humans fit to worship a holy God (Acts 4:12).

Even the death of Jesus was not the result of any sin he committed but rather the most gracious act of love ever displayed, where he took upon himself the sins of the world so that all who believe in him will be saved (Romans 5:6-11).

The Big Picture of Redemption in the Bible

The doctrine of redemption extends even beyond the matter of individual salvation.

During his lifetime, Jesus provided abundant proof of his ability to completely restore a fallen world.

He demonstrated his lordship over heaven when he calmed the storms on the sea (Mark 4:35-41);

he demonstrated his lordship over hell when he exorcised demons from a troubled man (Mark 5:1-20);

he demonstrated his lordship over life when he healed a woman of her incurable disease (Mark 5:24-34);

and he demonstrated his lordship over death when he raised a young girl from the dead (Mark 5:35-43).

With these and countless other unwritten miracles (John 20:30-31; 21:25), Jesus provided ample reason for us all to conclude that this troubled world is not our home – in the end, He himself will make all things new (Revelation 21:5).

The final book of the Bible is, therefore, a fitting end to the story of the fall with its triumphant declaration of full redemption:

“Then he showed me the river of living water, sparkling like crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the broad street of the city. The tree of life was on both sides of the river, bearing 12 kinds of fruit, producing its fruit every month. The leaves of the trees are for healing the nations, and there will no longer be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and His slaves will serve Him. They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. Night will no longer exist, and people will not need lamplight or sunlight, because the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign forever and ever” (Revelation 22:1-5).

Living in Light of Redemption

Living in a fallen world as Christians means we will experience trials and tribulations and will continue to struggle with our own temptations.

We are forgiven, but God is not finished with us yet (Philippians 1:6).

Consequently, longing for a better world, even a perfect world, is not a form of escapism.

Rather, it is the Christian’s rightful anticipation of a promise made by the One who justly pronounced a curse on this world and then lovingly took that curse upon Himself in order to, for once and all time, redeem people for His glory.

What are some practical steps that you can use to share the story of redemption with others? 

Recognize that we are all products of the fall and in need of redemption.

It’s easy to forget that people who bother us are often people just like us.

We are all affected and afflicted by the fall.

When we view people through the lens of being fallen (instead of expecting them to live as if they were fully redeemed), we can be more sympathetic.

Thus, instead of bearing a grudge against them we should recognize the need to point them to their Redeemer.

Jesus stated it this way: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:35-40).

Realize that the sufferings of this world are temporary.

This is not to diminish the pain we feel when our bodies fail or when friends betray us.

Pain is hurtful and we will feel it.

Yet, the promise of redemption is that our pain and hurt are not final.

We have hope because God Himself has promised to redeem all of creation.

If we want others to share in our story of redemption, we do this best when we live in light our future redemption. 

1 Corinthians 2:9 states,

“But as it is written, ‘What no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has conceived’ – God has prepared these things for those who love him.”

Respond to God’s grace in your life by offering grace to others.

One of the joys we will experience in the new heavens and new earth is knowing that we are there because someone shared the good news of the gospel with us.

How much more will our joy be to know that someone has been redeemed because we shared the story of redemption with them!

We can do this with gentleness and kindness: “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15).

Creation is Groaning as in the Pains of Childbirth.

Romans 8:22 Amplified Bible

22 For we know that the whole creation has been moaning together as in the pains of childbirth until now.

God created a paradise and sin ruined it.

Fortunately for us that is not the end of the story, creation is longing to be restored to the state it was created to be in, based on the promise of God.

This promise was fulfilled in Jesus and now Paul describes the physical fulfillment of this promise as something creation is in anticipation for.

He likens this waiting period to the labor pains of childbirth.

The process might be hard and might take awhile but once started there is no way to stop it.

And the end result makes the whole thing worth it.

Many people look around and make a judgment call based on what they see.

They look at the state of our natural realm and see death and decay.

Our news channels are filled with warnings of global warming ruining our environment.

Many organizations rally the governments and it’s citizens to save the planet.

However, the Bible says that creation as already been saved.

After taking all of this in it would be easy to say that God hasn’t fulfilled his promise to creation yet based on the natural evidence of this.

However, when Jesus came, I John says, that he came to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8).

Since he has already come, Satan’s power over creation has been destroyed.

We know this because Jesus came the first time to reconcile us to the Father and he will come the second time to redeem us and take us home.

Based on this we understand that creation has already received the first fruits of it’s redemption because Jesus has sent to us the Holy Spirit to testify that we are his children.

Paul said earlier in this chapter that this revelation of the sons of God is what creation has been waiting for (Romans 8:19).

Paul uses the illustration of childbirth to illuminate this very truth and to help us understand that just because we cannot see it, does not mean it has not happened yet.

Pregnancy is a sign that new life is something which is already taking place, awaiting the moment when God and God alone calls the new life into being.

Psalm 29:8-10 Amplified Bible

8 
The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;
The Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
9 
The voice of the Lord [a]makes the doe labor and give birth
And strips the forests bare;
And in His temple all are saying, “Glory!”

10 
The Lord sat as King at the flood;
Yes, the Lord sits as King forever.

When a child is conceived within the womb of the mother, the evidence of this isn’t apparent for a time, even to the women – but changes are already starting.

Psalm 139:13-18 Amplified Bible

13 
For You formed my innermost parts;
You knit me [together] in my mother’s womb.
14 
I will give thanks and praise to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well.
15 
My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was being formed in secret,
And intricately and skillfully formed [as if embroidered with many colors] in the depths of the earth.
16 
Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;
And in Your book were all written
The days that were appointed for me,
When as yet there was not one of them [even taking shape].

17 
How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 
If I could count them, they would outnumber the sand.
When I awake, I am still with You.

The body of the mother is already beginning to adjust itself to receive the new life and attach it to the walls of the uterus where it may be nourished by mom as it steadily comes together and grows and grows as God has ordained it to be so.

A women doesn’t become pregnant when there is evidence to support that she is bearing a child, a women becomes pregnant at the conception of this child.

This illustration helps us to understand that the physical evidence always follows the act.

The spiritual always births the physical.

Creations’ redemption is already complete in the spiritual realm and now it is experiencing the labor pains which have started announcing to the reader the physical manifestation of this.

The amazing thing about labor and childbirth is that afterward comes fullness of joy.

The pains and hardship experienced are quickly forgotten once a baby is held in arms.

Countless women cannot recall any details of their labor because the joy of motherhood is so great.

Knowing what this type of suffering produces gives courage to all to endure it.

The same is true with creation.

Expectation of being restored to a perfect sinless existence is enough to endure hardship right now.

Creation is waiting in anticipation for it’s final redemption because it knows the One who promised is faithful.

Today, I join with creation in praising our God, looking forward to that day when I will see him face to face.

May you also join with us in celebration our full redemption through Christ Jesus, Amen!

The First Fruits of the Spirit

Romans 8:23 Amplified Bible

23 And not only this, but we too, who have the first fruits of the Spirit [a joyful indication of the blessings to come], even we groan inwardly, as we wait eagerly for [the sign of] our adoption as sons—the redemption and transformation of our body [at the resurrection].

Heart change comes quickly on the heels of Salvation.

This is because at Salvation our entire being and nature is completely changed when we get the Holy Spirit deposited inside of us testifying to the fact that we now belong to the family of God.

The Holy Spirit is given to us as the first fruits of our eternal redemption through Christ Jesus.

This is a foretaste of the blissful things that are to come.

Our bodies long to be clothed with Christ and like creation, we groan inwardly a waiting for this adoption to take place.

If the world and it’s desires held anything over you, once you are born again, the illusions of this world seem to fade away.

Replacing them comes a longing to be reunited with Christ.

Paul talks in detail about this desire.

In 2 Corinthians 5 Paul talks about a inward groaning in which we long to be further clothed and fitted with our heavenly dwelling.

On this earth we long and groan under the burden of this body because we are being fitted with a heavenly body fashioned after Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:2-5).

But in the same way that he is preparing us and making us fit for this heavenly body, the Holy Spirit is given to us as a guarantee of the fulfillment of this promise while on this earth (2 Corinthians 5:5 Amp).

So in this we can rejoice knowing that we have already received the first fruits of our redemption.

The amazing thing about knowing this promise is that we can rest assured of our future with God.

He left nothing up to chance but has done everything to bring restoration to us through his son Jesus.

Today I am so blessed to be called a child of God.

I am so blessed to have the Holy Spirit inside of me to testify to this wonderful truth every moment of the day.

I pray that this scripture based truth will come to bless you mightily today!

Amen!

In the name of God the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Let us Pray,

Everlasting God, as our hearts yearn and groan within us waiting for the fullness of your kingdom, help us to pray, help us to wait, help us to not be misled by deception, but with undivided hearts look for the true light of your coming. Heavenly Father, thank You that in Christ I have been made a new creation. Thank You that the day is coming when the curse on the whole of Your groaning creation will be lifted. Until that time I pray I may live and work to Your praise and glory in Jesus name I pray,

Dear Father, you have blessed me with so many wonderful blessings. I thank you for each and every one of them. At the same time, dear Father, I do long to be brought into your presence in glory as your child. The pain and heartache of the world, the fragility of my body, and my frustration with my own vulnerability to sin keeps me longing for the day that your Son returns in glory. Until that day, help me as I try to be your holy child, let the Body of Christ be Your Church. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.

Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.

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Jesus’ Triumphal Entry! Our Great Expectations? What About A King Paraded on the back of a Donkey? Matthew 21:1-11

Matthew 21:1-11 Amplified Bible

The Triumphal Entry

21 When they approached Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples [ahead], 2 saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and at once you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to Me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, you should say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and without delay the owner will send them [with you].” 4 This happened so that what was spoken by the prophet would be fulfilled, saying:

5 
“Tell the daughter of Zion (the people of Jerusalem),
‘Behold, your King is coming to you,
Gentle and mounted on a donkey,
Even on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’”

6 Then the disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them, 7 and they brought the donkey and [a]the colt, and [b]placed their coats on them; and Jesus sat on the coats. 8 Most of the crowd spread their coats on the road [as before a king], while others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of Him, and those that followed Him, were shouting [in praise and adoration],

“[c]Hosanna to the Son of David (Messiah);
Blessed [praised, glorified] is He who comes in the name of the Lord;
Hosanna in the highest [heaven]!”

10 When He entered Jerusalem, all the city was trembling [with excitement], saying, “Who is this?” 11 And the crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.”

The Word of God for the Children of God.

Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.

Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.

Triumphal Entry? Great Expectations? A King on His Donkey?

At first observation after a few readings of this narrative account of the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, I realized something about the two images disconnected.

The picture would have been perfect if Jesus had been riding a white horse, used in those days by warrior kings to symbolize conquering power, decisive victory.

But the narrator Matthew specifically highlighted: Jesus rode on the back of a donkey – the disciples celebrated and paraded their Messiah King on a donkey.

Why?

What image were they hoping, planning to project to the gathered crowds?

What were they expecting the gathering crowds to see and understand of this?

What of the gathering crowds at the gates of the city of Jerusalem?

What were their expectations of the coming of their “Messiah King?”

What were we expecting to see?

What “coming new thing” were we expecting to learn about or be reminded of?

An unarmed conquering warrior Itinerant Master Rabbi?

Long ago, prophet Zechariah said the Messiah would come in righteousness, riding on a donkey, a symbol of humility and peace (Zechariah 9:9 Amplified).

Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion!
Shout aloud, O Daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your King (Messianic King) is coming to you;
He is righteous and endowed with salvation,
[a]Humble and unassuming [in submission to the will of the Father] and riding on a [b]donkey,
Upon a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Though most of the people would have probably seen Jesus fulfilling this prophecy as their Messiah (see also Psalm 118:25-26 Amplified),

25 
O Lord, save now, we beseech You;
O Lord, we beseech You, send now prosperity and give us success!
26 
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord;
We have blessed you from the house of the Lord [you who come into His sanctuary under His guardianship].

Jesus came in triumph into His city under God’s guardianship, they expected him to announce the arrival of a war of rebellion against Roman oppressors.

But he didn’t.

Instead he had no army behind him, nobody is waving any swords or spears.

He was not even armed with a spear or a sword nor did anyone hand him one!

Perhaps with expectations crushed that’s why the chanting crowds changed their tune from “Hosanna” to “Crucify him!” 5 days later (Matthew 27:22-23).

Matthew 27:22-23 Amplified Bible

22 Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all replied, “Let Him be crucified!” 23 And he said, “Why, what has He done that is evil?” But they continued shouting all the louder, “Let Him be crucified!”

Considering our state of current events, I don’t guess, and I wont prophesize that things will have actually changed much from then until now, have they?

People are still willing to rally around the banner of Christ if it goes along with their own interests, if their expected understanding of Christ comes to them as they always expected, approved because their expectations have been fully met.

We also desire, even to go so far as to expect we can maintain a good Christian confession while trying to avoid standing too close to the lingering shadows of the cross, or getting too close to actually running to the tomb to see emptiness.

But Jesus, the King who actually rode on an actual donkey, calls us to actually examine our much paraded walk with him as we come to the cross this Friday.

Center yourselves and dig deep and CRY,

“Am I just here for the Parade?“

Am I just coming along side of everyone else, because everyone else is here right now or everyone else is going along for the ride because it all looks so very interesting and might even be a measure of fun or something I and my business might profit from?

If I have to actually get serious about all this, to decide between God and my job, my reputation, something else in my life—will I also change my expectations?”

The celebration of Palm Sunday is about King Jesus riding to the cross in total obedience to his Father – about His grace and peace come by way of the cross.

Will we with our packed luggage of preconceived expectations receive him in the same way he was presented by the Gospel narrator Matthew in chapter 21?

Our Expectations – A Humble, Triumphant King?

Matthew 21:5-11 Amplified Bible

5 
“Tell the daughter of Zion (the people of Jerusalem),
‘Behold, your King is coming to you,
Gentle and mounted on a donkey,
Even on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’”

6 Then the disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them, 7 and they brought the donkey and [a]the colt, and [b]placed their coats on them; and Jesus sat on the coats. 8 Most of the crowd spread their coats on the road [as before a king], while others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of Him, and those that followed Him, were shouting [in praise and adoration],

“[c]Hosanna to the Son of David (Messiah);
Blessed [praised, glorified] is He who comes in the name of the Lord;
Hosanna in the highest [heaven]!”

10 When He entered Jerusalem, all the city was trembling [with excitement], saying, “Who is this?” 11 And the crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Jesus was getting near the end of His ministry.

He had been telling the disciples that He would be killed.

Now He comes riding into the city, sitting on donkey’s foal.

This was to fulfill a prophecy made by Zechariah.

Kings, leaders, presidents and others in high authority are known for arriving with a lot of pomp and circumstance – it is expected to show them great respect.

There is always a lot of fanfare going on to bring in someone of high leadership.

Whenever the President of the United States arrives at a building where he is going to speak, he arrives with a great fanfare and a great entourage of people.

There are multiple vehicles in front and behind him.

When he walks out into a room, there is always some music playing, people rise up for him, and He is announced.

The same goes for famous celebrities.

Standing room only crowds

There is a lot of pictures and videos being taken.

All kinds of busyness, posting and sharing activity across social media outlets.

Celebrities arrive in a large limousine.

There is flashing of jewelry and expensive clothing.

There are red carpets.

There are lots and lots of television and journalists, and paparazzi’s.

It is a show of pride and luxury, with no sign of humility.

In many countries, when their leader arrives, there is also a great show of their military power.

Soldiers, weapons, and military equipment tour d’ force go paraded before the visiting leader to show who is in control and who exactly has all the power .

Jesus did not do any of this.

He came in riding on a baby donkey.

In the biblical times, a king would arrive on a horse showing great power.

Jesus did not show any of that, even though He had more power than all the kings on the earth combined.

He created the earth and all who are in it (John 1:1-5).

John 1:1-5 Amplified Bible

The Deity of Jesus Christ

1 In the beginning [before all time] was the Word ([a]Christ), and the Word was with God, and [b]the Word was God Himself. 2 He was [continually existing] in the beginning [co-eternally] with God. 3 All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him not even one thing was made that has come into being. 4 In Him was life [and the power to bestow life], and the life was the Light of men. 5 The Light shines on in the [c]darkness, and the darkness did not understand it or overpower it or appropriate it or absorb it [and is unreceptive to it].

The purpose of His arriving in that way, was to show love and compassion.

He is a king who can understand where people are, so He comes in humility.

Most people do not have the grand horse to ride on, but just have the donkey.

Even today, our Savior, our King Jesus comes to you in love and compassion.

He does have the power, but will not show a force of threat to get you to follow.

Jesus wants you and me to want to follow Him.

He understands where we and our “great expectations” are and is there for you.

As we proceed through this Holy Week,

Let’s take a slightly longer look at our “great expectations,”

our Godly versus Worldly priorities;

Matthew 6:33Amplified Bible

33 But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.

He is not unapproachable.

He is not unknowable.

He is not unreachable.

He is not untouchable.

Do not fear your king.

Do not fear your Savior.

He is gentle.

He is always and forever in and within our very midst …

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Let us Pray,

1. Come, thou long expected Jesus,
born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us,
let us find our rest in thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation,
hope of all the earth thou art;
dear desire of every nation,
joy of every longing heart.

2. Born thy people to deliver,
born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever,
now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal spirit
rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all sufficient merit,
raise us to thy glorious throne.

___Charles Wesley___ 1707-1788

I pray today that you will know this Jesus riding on the donkey’s back as your king; you will know Jesus is gentle and loving; that you and I will seek him as he seeks you and me to find Jesus in our life; that we will show His love and humility in your life. Lord Jesus, may we ever so lovingly and willingly obey you and joyfully follow you, the King of kings, the Lord of lords, Savior of us all, in whose name we pray. Amen.

Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.

Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.

 

O’ My Soul, Never Give Up! ALWAYS BELIEVE! There is always hope! God is always there to uphold Us! Psalm 22:1-2

 I wonder how many times you and I have been let down by someone we know.

People understand well the term and implications behind the word: betrayal.

There are many people who promise us that they will stand by us, no matter what comes our way.

They say, ‘we have your back so do not worry, we will be right behind you’.

However, when trouble strikes, armed with that promise of support, many of them end up so far behind us that we cannot see them, even with a telescope!

We are constantly being left behind and hurt by those we believe we should be able to trust with quite literally everything which we hold dearest to our souls.

But when we are shocked, hurt and feeling betrayed by those we are closest to, sometimes even from within our own families – parents, children, and siblings, and spouses, the shock value, the hurt soar to completely indescribable levels.

When it reaches such an intimate and deeply personal level, there is that inner most feeling of.

“My trust is completely shattered.”

“I absolutely believe that in this exact moment I have no one to turn to!”

“What do I do now?”

“This is way too intimate, way too personal to tell anyone!”

“Who would ever understand what is going on within me?”

Is there any greater sense of loneliness that anyone can feel than this?

18-year-old stranger drives three hours to a supermarket in Buffalo, New York. In a state of greatest rage against a class of people with different colored skin, they park their car, get out and start shooting, then they enter the store —

18-year-old teenager gets mad at his mother over Wi-Fi, leaves the house, then drives away, crashes their car into an Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas — A classroom filled with fourth graders, their teachers, is suddenly shot to pieces.

Yes humanity!

As only God knows and all of humanity surely and certainly dreads,

There is always a worse kind of inconceivable pain and anguish, of a souls’ indescribable betrayal, of utterly shattered trust and undefinable loneliness.

Who dares now to enter into this indescribable, inconceivable whirlwind?

Who has answers to all of the questions, both ponderable and imponderable?

Where to turn in the search for truth and trust?

Who to wise enough for us to ultimately turn to for truth and trust?

Psalm 22:1-2 Amplified Bible

A Cry of Anguish and a Song of Praise.

To the Chief Musician; set to [the tune of] Aijeleth Hashshahar (The Doe of the Dawn). A Psalm of David.

22 [a]My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?
Why are You so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?
2 
O my God, I call out by day, but You do not answer;
And by night, but I find no rest nor quiet.

The Word of God for the Children of God. Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Amen.

King David was incredibly sad when he wrote this psalm, wasn’t he?

He was telling God that he felt completely alone. He felt like he couldn’t find God anywhere. He cried out in desperation, but God didn’t seem to answer.

Have you and I or literally everybody else we know ever felt like that? 

Sometimes we are sad beyond our own capability to sufficiently express, maybe we do not trust those around us with our very deepest, most intimate thoughts.

When we are in that place where we are sure no one else can understand exactly what is going on in our hearts and in our souls, but also know we cannot keep it to ourselves because it is too powerful, overwhelming to sufficiently contain.

When we even in that place, question whether or not to dare to tell God about it.

Psalm 22 gives us words to unleash on our own when we feel God is not nearby.

We uncontrollably unleash upon any unsuspecting soul, Psalm 22:1-2 with a measure of trust and certainty that “we do not care who hears it, but we know from deep within the deepest places of our souls, there is someone who cares deeply enough to actually respond because our words have not scared them off.

When a person expresses their saddest feelings to God, that’s called a “lament.”

Psalm 22 is a lament.

Psalm 22 teaches us something else, though, about talking to God.

Read a few more verses—Psalm 22:3-5:

Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;
    you are the one Israel praises.
4 In you our ancestors put their trust;
    they trusted and you delivered them.
5 To you they cried out and were saved;
    in you they trusted and were not put to shame

In these verses David switches from telling God about his great sadness to remembering that God is great. God helped his ancestors.

David reminds God how others were saved when they trusted in God.

Perhaps David is remembering when Israel trusted God to save them from their enemies. Perhaps he is thinking of stories that you and I know too—stories about Ruth and Boaz, stories about Gideon and Joshua or Abraham and Isaac. Maybe David is remembering how God helped him defeat the giant Goliath.

Whatever he is thinking of, David quickly moves from sadness to praise. As we will see when we read more of this psalm, David isn’t done being sad, but he comes to God with two things on his mind: how sad he is and how good God is.

We can tell our sorrows to God too, but, like David, we should also remember how great God is. We can talk to God about our sorrows because we know that he listens to us. Isn’t it beyond great that we can talk to God about anything?

We can affirm our faith in the faithfulness of our God.

We can affirm our faith in the steadfast presence of His Son Jesus.

We can affirm our faith in the constancy of Holy Spirits intercession,

My own personal affirmation of faith in such times is from John 1:1-5

John 1:1-5Amplified Bible

The Deity of Jesus Christ

1 In the beginning [before all time] was the Word ([a]Christ), and the Word was with God, and [b]the Word was God Himself. 2 He was [continually existing] in the beginning [co-eternally] with God. 3 All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him not even one thing was made that has come into being. 4 In Him was life [and the power to bestow life], and the life was the Light of men. 5 The Light shines on in the [c]darkness, and the darkness did not understand it or overpower it or appropriate it or absorb it [and is unreceptive to it].

In spite of all questions, answerable and imponderable, YES! I Believe…!

I believe in the living God, the Creator and complete truth of the universe,

  who is the pulse and purpose of all things seen and unseen,

  who from the dust of earth calls up living beings to be children of eternity,

  who through countless ages has provided for us many liberators

  and tirelessly seeks to bring victory out of defeat and life out of decay.

I believe in Jesus the Christ, the Resurrected, God’s ONLY true Son,

  who is bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh,

  who took upon himself the healing of the human race,

  who bearing the burden of our sins went to Golgotha carrying his cross,

  who was betrayed, crucified, dead and buried in a borrowed tomb,

  who on the third day was found to be gloriously alive,

  meeting with those who trust him and serve him to the end of the world.

I believe in the Holy Spirit of God,

  within and among all who cherish Christ and his way,

  who brings hope out of despair, love out of apathy, and joy out of sorrow,

  who unceasingly regenerates and reforms the church

  that it may always be the contemporary body of the risen Christ,

  loving the world through prayer, word and deed.

I believe that even I am caught up in the resurgent life of Christ Jesus,

  and that nothing in life or death can separate me from his love and joy.

In spite of unanswered, imponderable questions, YES! I believe.

YES! I BELIEVE!

I believe in truth as a living Reality,

not captured in theory or a creed,

but revealed to those who love;

the truth of Jesus,

the Spirit of truth,

the truth of God.

YES! Because I believe I trust,

not blindly but open eyed and bold

as a child climbing into a mother’s lap;

the truth of Jesus,

the Spirit of truth,

the truth of God.

YES! Because I believe I serve,

not as a slave that serves a tyrant

but like farmers reaping a harvest;

the truth of Jesus,

the Spirit of truth,

the truth of God.

YES! I BELIEVE

God is big enough to hear about our biggest hurts and our deepest sorrows.

He wants us to tell him everything

YES! I BELIEVE God is faithful!

God is trustworthy!

God is true!

YES! I BELIEVE

We can trust his promises to be kept and his purposes to be good.

How do we know?

Because from the very beginning of all things, God spoke and God Created;

The sunrise each morning is a reminder that the Father of heaven and earth is at forever and ever at work diligently keeping His universe in working order.

If it is true in nature, (Psalm 19:1-2) it is true in the spiritual realm as well.

Greet each new beginning, each sunrise as a reminder of God’s faithfulness.

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Let us Pray,

God, Builder and Creator of all things, I know that when I acknowledge your authority and your power that you will make my paths straight in front of me.

Please empower me to live a greater life in Christ. May your Holy Spirit who lives in me draw me closer to you. Give me a mind of understanding. Let me see as you see, and not as the world sees. I trust your judgment fully and know that my own judgment is limited. I believe you have everything in control, and you will guide me exactly where you want me to go. Gloria! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.

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