After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. Matthew 28:1. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb. Mark 16:2. On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. Luke 24:1. Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. John 20:1.
Critics of the New Testament often talk about the dissimilarities or presumed conflicts between the gospels. That red herring holds no water with the resurrection. If you fail to notice that the Mary and Mary went to the tomb early on the first day of the week, the fact that haven’t cracked open even one of the gospels becomes obvious.
Jesus has inspired more books in the last 2,000 years than any other historical figure. I would guess the resurrection takes first place in the number of discussions contained in this massive body of writing. For the believer, the resurrection marks the contextual middle of temporal history.
Everything before the resurrection prepares for it and it colors everything after. For thousands of years, a small middle-eastern people group foreshadowed the resurrection through rituals, prophecy, and writings. For thousands of years after the resurrection, the Christian faith, fueled by the power of the resurrection spread to the corners of the world and became the bedrock of western civilization.
The volume of specific historical and logical proofs for the actual, physical, time-space event of Jesus’ resurrection bury competing explanations six feet under. Though these proofs provide us with intellectual comfort by confirming that our faith sees through the lens of fact, our changed lives provide the most significant personal proof.
On the eternal scale, Jesus’ resurrection marks the beginning of all the rest. If Jesus had died and not risen, the promise of new life would have been born still. Because Jesus lives, union with Him – moving beyond the restoration of the first man-God relationship to a more glorious destiny - becomes possible.
The fellowship enjoyed by the apostles who walked with Him continues with us through the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 14:18-21). We speak to Him in prayer (e.g., 2 Cor. 12:8) and He speaks to us through the Spirit (John 16:13-15; 2 Cor. 12:9). We dwell in Him and He dwells in us (John 14:20). I now live by Christ living in me (Gal. 2:20) and I put on Christ (Gal. 3:27). Because the resurrection vindicates Jesus, we receive justification (Rom. 4:25; 5:18-9). His identity is exchanged with ours and in Him we were crucified and died (Gal. 2:20), raised (Col. 3:1), seated in the heavenly places (Eph. 2:6), and are made sons (Gal. 4:4-5). We become heirs according to the promise (Gal. 3:29), a spiritual house and holy priesthood (1 Peter 2:5). We not only have union with Jesus, but with Father and the Spirit (John14:16; Eph 2:18).
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Strong and Courageous
When Joshua took the reigns of the people from Moses, the Lord prepared him with specific instructions and the admonition “be strong and courageous.” A few verses later the He tells Joshua to “be strong and very courageous.” Then the Lord finishes off these first nine verses of Joshua chapter one with a third “be strong and courageous.”
When my wife says something to me once, I sometimes don’t “hear” it. That rarely happens when she repeats it three times. It seems we might want to give the Creator of everything a little more attention (this is not to suggest my wife does not have god-like qualities…is that clear Dear?). So, what’s up with being strong and courageous?
We call a person courageous when he follows his will even though the rest of his person tells him to turn and run screaming like a little girl. A courageous person exercises control over how he will or will not act. Real courage and real strength display themselves in self-control.
If I control something, it means that I choose what it will do. If I choose what that thing controlled will do, then things exist that it could do, but I have chosen it will not do. Rational people make such decisions – what to do or not do – based on the fabric of their values. Values precede actions and courageous action requires courageous values.
In my past criminal defense practice, I once represented a young man with paranoid schizophrenia. Not only did Alex live in an unreal world, all his imaginary friends were out to get him. I recall clearly visiting him for the first time in lock-up – he babbled on about how his case was based on the “water law” and that he should be free. Actually, Alex had stolen a car and led the police on a high speed chase up and down Highway 5 – no water there. After that first meeting Alex and I attended a hearing in which Alex repeatedly interrupted the judge with comments that culminated the announcement that he was going to marry the young and pretty public defender who had represented Alex before me. The judge ended the hearing with a wry smile and a quick “good luck Mr. Trask.” Alex had no basis whatsoever for his decisions. Alex was not a rational person and his values were imaginary.
Where should we rational folk get our values, our standards for self-control - the drivers of courage? For the serious believer, that question borders on the rhetorical. God’s Word provides the ultimate standard for man’s values, thoughts, and actions. After “be strong and courageous,” God spoke his final preparatory command to Joshua, “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.”
In order to have the Word available at the point of courage begging decisions, I must give it the necessary time to soak in and “richly dwell” my heart. I must meditate on, savor, ponder, and wonder over the Word if I plan to act courageously. Do you have the right stuff to initiate courageous action? If not, what will you commit to becoming strong and courageous?
When my wife says something to me once, I sometimes don’t “hear” it. That rarely happens when she repeats it three times. It seems we might want to give the Creator of everything a little more attention (this is not to suggest my wife does not have god-like qualities…is that clear Dear?). So, what’s up with being strong and courageous?
We call a person courageous when he follows his will even though the rest of his person tells him to turn and run screaming like a little girl. A courageous person exercises control over how he will or will not act. Real courage and real strength display themselves in self-control.
If I control something, it means that I choose what it will do. If I choose what that thing controlled will do, then things exist that it could do, but I have chosen it will not do. Rational people make such decisions – what to do or not do – based on the fabric of their values. Values precede actions and courageous action requires courageous values.
In my past criminal defense practice, I once represented a young man with paranoid schizophrenia. Not only did Alex live in an unreal world, all his imaginary friends were out to get him. I recall clearly visiting him for the first time in lock-up – he babbled on about how his case was based on the “water law” and that he should be free. Actually, Alex had stolen a car and led the police on a high speed chase up and down Highway 5 – no water there. After that first meeting Alex and I attended a hearing in which Alex repeatedly interrupted the judge with comments that culminated the announcement that he was going to marry the young and pretty public defender who had represented Alex before me. The judge ended the hearing with a wry smile and a quick “good luck Mr. Trask.” Alex had no basis whatsoever for his decisions. Alex was not a rational person and his values were imaginary.
Where should we rational folk get our values, our standards for self-control - the drivers of courage? For the serious believer, that question borders on the rhetorical. God’s Word provides the ultimate standard for man’s values, thoughts, and actions. After “be strong and courageous,” God spoke his final preparatory command to Joshua, “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.”
In order to have the Word available at the point of courage begging decisions, I must give it the necessary time to soak in and “richly dwell” my heart. I must meditate on, savor, ponder, and wonder over the Word if I plan to act courageously. Do you have the right stuff to initiate courageous action? If not, what will you commit to becoming strong and courageous?
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