“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 NLT
We have just come out of the Easter weekend holiday. I heard messages last weekend of hope, peace, light and other necessary needs for our present world made possible through Jesus Christ rising from the dead. His resurrection gives us all hope for the day in which we live was expounded in their sermons. These words came from some of the world’s renowned and most respected Christian leaders. But there are serious flaws in their messages. It was not what was said, but what was not said.
I will not take away anything from those who pray for peace in this world, we need more spiritual leaders to be part of this. Their Easter message of hope and peace is available to all because of Christ’s resurrection but only through the saving grace of God as one accepts Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection for their sins does it apply. It is a personal experience. The main message of Christ’s resurrection has been replaced by a general one-size-fits-all secular version of hope and peace for this world neglecting the true reason why Christ came; to lay down His life for sinners. Jesus Christ came to save us all who are dead in our sins and believe on Him for salvation saving us from eternal punishment of hell’s fire.
It is true that those who accept Christ as savior from their sin have received joy, peace, and the light of Christ in this dark world that shines for all to see. That alone brings some peace to the world but realize it is a changed person who is now alive and has the Holy Spirit within them because of Christ’s resurrection. The hope of the resurrection we celebrate is future, an eternal hope. Christians who truly know the Lord as savior have the assurance (hope) of being resurrected on the last day and assured of eternal life. That is the true message of Easter (Resurrection Sunday) from the true God of eternal hope.
“The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies. He will be killed, but three days later he will rise from the dead.” Mark 9:31 NLT
Paul Harvey, an American news broadcaster for over fifty years for ABC News, was known for his segments called ‘The Rest of the Story.’ This final segment put closure to a story most people knew about, but not in its entirety. Several of these facts may not have been available at the time or were hidden from the public for one reason or another. Paul Harvey was able to dig up the facts through research and old-fashioned journalism to arrive at the complete story.
Our current world system has many reasons why a story will be under reported or some of the facts left out. There may be legitimate concerns if protective information falls into the wrong hands. Some information is withheld or skewed to create a narrative pushing a preferred agenda. Discernment is necessary for every person when receiving the information to decide its accuracy. As years go by through the decades and centuries even a complete story can be rewritten to distort the truth to agree with the changing culture.
With Easter (Jesus’ resurrection from the dead) right around the corner, there are many stories that have a shorten version of Passion week. It seems to end on Good Friday. Sadly, there are so-called Christians and preachers who accept and justify this rewritten story. They claim to accept Jesus and live by His words and teaching, but it is a selective acceptance. Jesus was clear about His mission, the complete story.
Jesus told His disciples many times in Scripture about His upcoming arrest, death, and resurrection. Jesus was careful to always include His rising again on the third day every time He spoke these words. Jesus never left out the rest of the story. He would rise again on the third day, and He did. There is no Easter without the resurrection. There is no salvation or eternal life without the resurrection. Beware of those who want to rewrite a story that Jesus said is already finished.
“But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last. And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God! I will see him for myself. Yes, I will see him with my own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought!” Job 19:25-27 NLT
Job during his most painful moments and losing all hope in this life had confidence in the resurrection. The visit of his three friends along with Elihu gave him no comfort or hope as Job was chastised by them for what they perceived as sin in Job’s life that caused his suffering. The basis for Job’s confidence are his words in verse 25 of chapter 19. “I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last.” (nlt)
Although suffering and anticipating he was about to die, Job knew he had a redeemer and his redeemer lives. His redeemer was able to raise him up even after his body had decayed. He believed in the eternal God and that Job himself was an eternal being with a soul. Job describe that he will see God in his body, a new glorified body, and not one in spirit only. He would see God with his own eyes and was overwhelmed at the thought.
Do you have the confidence Job had? Do you believe you will be resurrected and see God and His Son Jesus Christ? If you have accepted Christ as savior you will indeed be resurrected even if you have doubts how all that will occur, it will happen. If you have not accepted Christ you too will be resurrected, but not unto Christ but unto judgement and eternal separation from Him. Each one of us is an eternal being who will live on in the resurrection. Do you have confidence where you will spend eternity? If you’re not sure, make sure today.
“And God will raise us from the dead by his power, just as he raised our Lord from the dead.” 1 Corinthians 6:14 NLT
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The passing of a loved one for those who do not know Christ causes a sadness that is not relieved by any hope. Life has come to an end which creates uncertainty as to what’s next. For one with no assurance of salvation and the certainty of eternity there is no hope that comforts the soul. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.” (Jn.11:25 nlt)
Jesus confirmed He is the resurrection and the life by rising from the dead that first Easter morning. Some people doubt the resurrection of Christ. In our text reading today Martha was shaken by her brother’s, Lazurus, death. Jesus comforted her with these words as He knew what He would do in raising her brother from the dead. He had the power to raise Lazurus from the dead and He has the power to raise us at His glorious return. However, we don’t need to wait until that day until we meet Jesus and have eternal life. Paul tells us when we are separated from our bodies in death, we are in the present of the Lord. “Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord.” (2Cor.5:8 nlt)
The resurrection of Christ is our hope of eternal life. He defeated death. He defeated Satan. His resurrection assures us as He lives, so all who trust in Him will also live. Jesus was raised in power by the Holy Spirit, and that same Spirit will raise up each of us who know Him as savior uniting our dead bodies with our eternal souls. We will then have new glorified bodies as we enter the kingdom of God. So, don’t doubt Jesus’ resurrection, it is our only hope of eternal life.
“Jesus replied, ‘Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God.’” Mark 12:24 NLT
This week in Biblical Insights Jesus is approached by two groups of religious rulers opposed to each other but have a common enemy, Jesus. Their goals are to trap Jesus into contradicting Himself and for Him be at odds with either the Roman government or the Jewish law.
Our first group is a combined group of the Pharisees and the Herodians. The Herodians were a political group of supporters of King Herod, not exactly the Jews best friend but they were sent together to ask Jesus a question about paying taxes. “Later the leaders sent some Pharisees and supporters of Herod to trap Jesus into saying something for which he could be arrested.” (Mk.12:13 nlt) Their hope was Jesus wouldn’t recognize the Herodians and He would agree with the Pharisees in not paying tribute to Caesar by not paying taxes forcing His arrest.
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The Pharisees and Herodians used flattery by telling Jesus they knew how honest He was. They noted His impartiality, playing no favorites, and always speaking the truth of God. Then they asked Jesus should we be paying taxes to Caesar. Of course Jesus saw right through this. “Why are you trying to trap me? Show me a Roman coin, and I’ll tell you.” (Mk.12:15 nlt) Showing Jesus a coin, He asked them an easy question, whose picture is on the coin? When they replied with ‘Caesar’s’ Jesus said, “Well, then, give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.” (Mk.12:17 nlt) Problem solved. But the Pharisees didn’t see it that way. They hated to pay taxes to the Roman government who was oppressing them. Their thought was, Jesus would never sanction such a tax, but he did, and they were amazed. They also failed at their attempt to trap Jesus in having Him arrested or the crowds turning on Him which was the real goal.
What Jesus laid out to the taxpayers of His day applies to us in our day. Jesus implied our responsibility to the government does not interfere with our responsibilities to God. We are under divine obligation to pay taxes to the government God has placed over us, for all authority comes only from Him. Many Christians today have the same problem the Jews had in paying taxes to an oppressive government, but Jesus spoke it plainly, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.”
Our second group this week are the Sadducees. They were the sophisticated Jewish party and very wealthy. Australian Theologian Leon Morris describes them best, “The conservative, aristocratic, high-priestly party, worldly minded and very ready to cooperate with the Romans, which, of course, enabled them to maintain their privileged position.” They were made up of High priests, chief priests, and most of the Sanhedrin. They were highly political and had great influence in the religious activities at the Temple. They oversaw the Temple business which Jesus disrupted the day before by clearing them all out. Their beliefs were noticeably opposite the Pharisees and other religious rulers. The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection. They were all about this world and making a profit. The Sadducees only recognized the first five books of Moses as authority and did not adhere to any oral, traditional, or Scribal law of the Pharisees. They also denied the existence of angels.
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This group, the Sadducees, described in the previous paragraph asked Jesus the most ridiculous question. They based the question on a law of Moses found in the Old Testament. The Sadduceess were seeing common ground with Jesus for their question. They confirmed the book of Moses and knew of Jesus’ quotations from Moses. But their question was to prove their point of no resurrection. They start by saying, “Teacher, Moses gave us a law that if a man dies, leaving a wife without children, his brother should marry the widow and have a child who will carry on the brother’s name.” (Mk.12:19 nlt) The purpose of Moses’ law was to provide a continuance of the man’s family name and inheritance rights. The first son born would be considered the son of the dead brother. The Sadducees then create a scenario where there were seven brothers and all of them died without passing on a son, and then the woman died. Now their ridiculous question from a group who doesn’t believe in the resurrection, “So tell us, whose wife will she be in the resurrection? For all seven were married to her.” (Mk.12:23 nlt) Absurdity!
“Jesus replied, ‘Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God.’” (Mk.12:24 nlt) The Sadducees were ignorant of the Scriptures. If they knew God’s Word even just the first five books they claim to believe they would know of the power of God and His ability to raise the dead. People today are just as ignorant of the Bible as the Sadducees were. They don’t believe because they don’t know. They don’t know because they haven’t read. They don’t read because their eyes are blinded by the spirit of darkness in this world. Christians should be in prayer for eyes and hearts to be opened in people to read God’s Word and understand His plan of salvation.
Jesus then explained those raised from the dead are not married as when they were here on earth but are like angels in heaven. Angels do not marry and do not have children. Life in heaven is not like life on earth. Marriage was established by God on the earth for companionship and advancing the human race. Believers in heaven will have a totally new spiritual existence.
The Sadducees needed understanding in another area in which Jesus is going to explain to them. They needed to know the truth of the resurrection. “But now, as to whether the dead will be raised—haven’t you ever read about this in the writings of Moses, in the story of the burning bush? Long after Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had died, God said to Moses, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’” (Mk.12:26 nlt) Jesus went right to book of Moses, the book they should have been familiar with for they accepted it as the authority of God. This Scripture proves there is a resurrection of the dead. God spoke of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as being alive. He said, ‘I am the God of Abraham’ not ‘I was’, but ‘I am’ in the present tense.
Only the power of God is able to raise someone from the dead. Every believer’s body will be raised up on the last day and be united with our living souls in heaven. Our physical bodies die but our souls live on either in heaven with Christ or in hell with the lost until they reunited at the Lord’s return unto eternal life or eternal punishment. Don’t be as the Sadducees. Don’t be ignorant of the Bible, believe in the resurrection and the power of God, and accept Christ as His Spirit calls you unto salvation.
The Bible speaks of a future resurrection of the dead in several places. Jesus, Himself referred to this in the gospel of John. “Don’t be so surprised! Indeed, the time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear the voice of God’s Son, and they will rise again. Those who have done good will rise to experience eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to experience judgment.” (Jn.5:28-29 nlt)
Jesus confirms there will a future resurrection of the dead. That includes everyone. Those who have died in the Lord and those unsaved at the time of their death. It is true that those in Christ at their death are in the presence of the Lord, and those outside of Christ are in eternal punishment. (Lk.16:23-24) But Scripture is clear, our physical bodies will be raised from the dead to face final judgement. This is not only a New Testament reference but is noted in the Old Testament as well. In Daniel chapter 12 it says, “Many of those whose bodies lie dead and buried will rise up, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting disgrace.” (Dan.12:2 nlt) Sounds a lot like Jesus’ words.
So, in the future resurrection of the dead, what will be your status? Will you be granted eternal life with Christ or will you stand in judgement and be condemned for all eternity. You can be certain where you’ll stand, but you need to make that decision in this lifetime. There are no second chances at the future resurrection. Today is the day of salvation. “And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.” (Rev.20:15 nlt)
“Two-thirds of Americans say they believe Jesus physically rose from the dead, with nearly half of Americans saying they “strongly” believe in the historical event that forms the core of Easter, according to a Lifeway Research survey.” (1)
I suppose the above statement could be considered good news that over half the people in the United States believe Jesus rose from the dead. But the bad new is 113 million people in America do not believe in the resurrection of Christ. Even among some Christians today, the resurrection is not fully embraced of actually occurring. What many fail to realize, even a few Christians, is that without Jesus’ resurrection there is no hope for any of us. The apostle Paul wrote, “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.” (1Cor.15:17 niv) If we are still in our sins there is no resurrection for us and we are dead, to remain dead, and sure of a Christless eternity.
We are all sons and daughters of Adam with our sin nature punishable by death, physically and spiritually, but Paul continues to write, “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” (1Cor.15:20-22 niv) We are made alive through Jesus’ resurrection. Our salvation and eternal life demand that Jesus both died and rose from the dead. Don’t celebrate an incomplete Easter. We are made alive in Christ because of His resurrection, our only hope.
“Jesus told her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.’” John 11:25 NLT
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The story is told of another miracle perform by Jesus in the eleventh chapter of the gospel of John. It is also the basis for His fifth “I AM.” This particular one is perhaps the greatest of them all. Jesus raised a person from the dead, one who had been dead four days. The person was Lazarus, a very close and personal friend of Jesus along with Lazarus’s sisters Mary and Martha. When Jesus heard that his friend Lazarus was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was before he left in response to the news. (Jn.11:6) The question immediately comes to mind, why? Why did he wait two days?
Some have suggested that Jesus knew that Lazarus was already dead when the messenger’s arrived to tell Him that His friend was sick. Perhaps so, but there seems to be a deeper explanation. For those present at Lazarus’s resurrection and for those of us in our day, it is a matter of trust (or faith) in Jesus Christ. Do we believe He is in control of every portion of our lives, that He is never late, and that He loves us knowing what is best for us? Do we believe He is God the Son, and have faith that nothing is impossible for Him to do?
Raising Lazarus from the dead was not impossible for Jesus to do, He is the resurrection and the life. Jesus also said, “Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.” (Jn.11:26 nlt) We are assured of a place in heaven and eternal life if we put our trust and faith in Jesus Christ, God the Son.
Jesus is speaking to you and me when He says, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, (insert your name)?” (Jn.11:25-26 nlt)
In the United States, Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday in May. The day is set aside to remember and honor those who have given all in the service of their country. It was known as “Decoration Day” in its beginning shortly after the American Civil War. Fellow soldiers would decorate the graves of their fallen comrades with flags, flowers and wreathes. The tradition continues to this day. These decorated graves signify that each individual is not forgotten, but remembered and honored for their sacrifice in the protection and maintaining the freedom of their fellow citizens.
Many people visit the grave-sites of their departed loved ones and heroes year after year honoring their memory. But there is one particular grave-site that is visited by thousands of people year after year, and yet they do not come to decorate for remembrance. That is due to the fact that the grave is empty. It is known as the garden tomb in Jerusalem, where Jesus was laid after His death on the cross. They come to wonder in amazement and worship the Lord Jesus Christ who rose from the dead and is alive today in Heaven and seated at the right hand of God the Father.
As we remember those who have given their lives, by paying the ultimate sacrifice for freedom; let us also be reminded of the ultimate sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. His death provided freedom from the bondage of sin, and because He lives, all those who call upon His name will also live.
“They said to each other, ‘Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?’” Luke 24:32 ESV
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The first two people to walk with Jesus after His resurrection was Cleopas and his friend. They were returning to Emmaus from Jerusalem late in the day that first Easter Sunday when Jesus approached them and joined them in their walk. They had been discussing among themselves all that had transpired in the last few days. Jesus asked them in a curious way what they were talking about. They did not recognize Him even though they were told He was seen alive. Cleopas couldn’t believe their new walking companion wasn’t aware of the events around Jerusalem over that long weekend. He then preceded to give Him a detailed account of the last three days about Jesus the Nazarene.
Cleopas and his friend were sincere and accurate in their reporting of all that happened, but they missed the point as to the reason. They were looking for Jesus to free Israel from the Roman government and set up His Kingdom. Jesus then admonished them concerning Himself by saying, “Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” (Lk. 24:26 esv) Jesus then explained to them the scriptures as they walked together.
Christians today have the same opportunity to walk with Jesus through the presence of the Holy Spirit. As we read the Bible, the Spirit guides us into all truth concerning the Word of God. The Holy Spirit guides us into the saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus, our Savior. As we accept Christ as our Savior, He is constantly with us through the Holy Spirit as we walk in this life. Cleopas and his friend may have been the first to walk with Jesus after His resurrection unknowingly, but each of us today can know that it is Christ who walks with us as we put our faith in Him.
Word for the Soul 