I am excited to get out of the Gospels for a time and enjoy one of Paul's many letters to the different churches. This one is to the church in Corinth which was situated South of Greece and 45 miles west of Athens. Already, the early church, here in 55 AD, was already corrupted. "Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, 'I am of Paul'. and ' I of Apollos', and 'I of Cephas (Peter)', and 'I of Christ'. Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? v. 12-13
The church members had started forming into cliques following one favorite pastor or another. (I can see how it can happen because the human pastor is here/ now, more tangible than Christ.) We've seen it in our churches as well as the destruction that comes from the likes of a Jim Jones. I personally saw it when a very gifted pastor had half the church break-away with him, which was fine at first, until he took a very misguided, "cult-like" step to oblivion and they all went with him! Christ Only!
The Corinthians's young church had trouble of letting go of the world, separating themselves from the culture around them. The Corinthian culture was haneous, filled with moral depravity and the worship of Aphrodite, the goddess of love. So much of Paul's letters to them were filled with correction, instruction in turning their backs on sin. I love this, "One way or another, wrong living always stems from wrong belief."
Paul promised them that God would give them all the tools they would need to follow Christ and speak the Word. "I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge, even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you, so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerl7y the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ...God is faithful..." v. 4-9
My day should always start with prayer following along the lines of these previous verses.
"Where is the debater of the this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?" v.20 This text made me think of science. Having just watched "Contact", the movie about life in space. Hmmm. Between the talk of the 'big-bang' and evolution...I don't know. It's a marvelous mystery.
"For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God..." v. 21
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Luke 24
The women went to the tomb and they did find the body. "while they were perplexed about this, behold, two men suddenly stood near them in dazzling clothing;and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, 'Why do you seek the living One among the dead? He is not here, but He has risen'." v. 4-6
Only Luke mentions that there were two angels. Scripture describes at least ten distinct appearances of Christ between the resurrection and ascension.
"He Himself stood in their midst and said to them, 'Peace be to you.'" v. 36"Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See My hands My feet, that is Myself, touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have." ...He showed them..."While they still could not believe it because of their joy and amazement, He said, 'Have you anything to eat?' They gave Him a piece of broiled fish; and He took it and ate it before them." v.36-43
The latter passage gives me such hope/peace that we remain who we are after we die, which is a deep concern of mine...in the next paragraph I am going to quote John MacArthur. I really like what he says here and brings some thought.
"His resurrection body, though real and tangible and even capable of ingesting earthly food, nonetheless possessed certain properties that indicate it was glorified, altered in a mysterious way. Christ could appear and disappear bodily, as seen in this text. His body could pass though solid objects - such as the grave clothes or the walls and doors of a closed room. He could apparently travel great distances in a moment, for by the time these disciples returned to Jerusalem, Christ had already appeared to Peter. The fact that He ascended into heaven bodily demonstrated that His resurrection body was already fit for heaven. Yet, it was His body, the same one that was missing from the tomb, even retaining identifying features such as the nail-wounds. he was no ghost or phantom."
Only Luke mentions that there were two angels. Scripture describes at least ten distinct appearances of Christ between the resurrection and ascension.
"He Himself stood in their midst and said to them, 'Peace be to you.'" v. 36"Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See My hands My feet, that is Myself, touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have." ...He showed them..."While they still could not believe it because of their joy and amazement, He said, 'Have you anything to eat?' They gave Him a piece of broiled fish; and He took it and ate it before them." v.36-43
The latter passage gives me such hope/peace that we remain who we are after we die, which is a deep concern of mine...in the next paragraph I am going to quote John MacArthur. I really like what he says here and brings some thought.
"His resurrection body, though real and tangible and even capable of ingesting earthly food, nonetheless possessed certain properties that indicate it was glorified, altered in a mysterious way. Christ could appear and disappear bodily, as seen in this text. His body could pass though solid objects - such as the grave clothes or the walls and doors of a closed room. He could apparently travel great distances in a moment, for by the time these disciples returned to Jerusalem, Christ had already appeared to Peter. The fact that He ascended into heaven bodily demonstrated that His resurrection body was already fit for heaven. Yet, it was His body, the same one that was missing from the tomb, even retaining identifying features such as the nail-wounds. he was no ghost or phantom."
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Luke 23
This chapter takes us all the way from Jeses' trial to His death and burial.Unbelievable cruel camaraderie takes place between to rival judges at Jesus' expense: "And Herod with his soldiers, after treating Him with contempt and mocking Him, dressed Him in a gorgeous robe and sent Him back to Pilate. Now Herod and Pilate became friends with one another that very day; for before they had been enemies with each other." vv. 11-12
Note: the gorgeous robe was most likely one that Herod was ready to discard. The kings became friends thru the common cruel antics of making fun of Him.
On His way to Mt. Calvary, Jesus addressed some women that were lamenting Him. Only Luke records this: "....stop weeping for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold , the days are coming when they will say, ' Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed. Then they will BEGIN TO SAY TO THE MOUNTAINS, 'FALL ON US', AND TO THE HILLS, 'COVER US'. For if they do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?'" vv. 28-30(Jesus is the green and the old Jewish nation is the dry.)
Jesus says to the one thief, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with me in PARADISE." v.43 Paradise is referred to only three times in the New Testament. The word means 'garden', same word used for Eden, but in all three uses in the NT, it speaks of Heaven.
Usually victims of crucifixion died much slower deaths, but He being in control, simply yielded up His soul. "And Jesus crying out with a loud voice said, 'Father, INTO YOUR HANDS I COMMIT MY SPIRIT.'" v. 46 Wow, what a sight to witness. No wonder the centurion standing with Him proclaimed His deity. I hope when it is my time to go, I can go like that...with that peace.
All four gospels mention a man named Joseph; he was most likely a member of the Sanhedrin but believed Jesus' claims. "This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. And he took it down and wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid Him in a tomb cut in the rock, where no one had ever lain." v. 52-53 Joseph, a wealthy man, probably had the tomb built for his own family. Christ being buried there was a wonderful fulfillment of Isaiah 53:9:
"His grave was assigned with wicked men, Yet HE WAS WITH A RICH MAN IN HIS DEATH, because He had done no violence, nor was there any deceit in His mouth."
Please take the time to read all of Isaiah 53. The whole chapter is the prophecy of Christ's trial, crucifixion and burial.
Note: the gorgeous robe was most likely one that Herod was ready to discard. The kings became friends thru the common cruel antics of making fun of Him.
On His way to Mt. Calvary, Jesus addressed some women that were lamenting Him. Only Luke records this: "....stop weeping for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold , the days are coming when they will say, ' Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed. Then they will BEGIN TO SAY TO THE MOUNTAINS, 'FALL ON US', AND TO THE HILLS, 'COVER US'. For if they do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?'" vv. 28-30(Jesus is the green and the old Jewish nation is the dry.)
Jesus says to the one thief, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with me in PARADISE." v.43 Paradise is referred to only three times in the New Testament. The word means 'garden', same word used for Eden, but in all three uses in the NT, it speaks of Heaven.
Usually victims of crucifixion died much slower deaths, but He being in control, simply yielded up His soul. "And Jesus crying out with a loud voice said, 'Father, INTO YOUR HANDS I COMMIT MY SPIRIT.'" v. 46 Wow, what a sight to witness. No wonder the centurion standing with Him proclaimed His deity. I hope when it is my time to go, I can go like that...with that peace.
All four gospels mention a man named Joseph; he was most likely a member of the Sanhedrin but believed Jesus' claims. "This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. And he took it down and wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid Him in a tomb cut in the rock, where no one had ever lain." v. 52-53 Joseph, a wealthy man, probably had the tomb built for his own family. Christ being buried there was a wonderful fulfillment of Isaiah 53:9:
"His grave was assigned with wicked men, Yet HE WAS WITH A RICH MAN IN HIS DEATH, because He had done no violence, nor was there any deceit in His mouth."
Please take the time to read all of Isaiah 53. The whole chapter is the prophecy of Christ's trial, crucifixion and burial.
Friday, July 8, 2011
Luke 22
Here we are seeing Christ praying in the garden, Judas' betrayal and Peter's denial.
"Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him. And being in agony He was praying very fervently and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground." v.43-44
"Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him. And being in agony He was praying very fervently and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground." v.43-44
What I learned was that this verse suggests a dangerous condition known as hematidrosis, the effusion of blood in one's perspiration. Wow! It can be caused by extreme anguish or physical pain. Capillaries dilate and burst, mingling blood with sweat. You could only imagine!
"Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me, yet not My will but Yours be done." v.42
After Peter's 3 denials, "The Lord turned and looked at Peter." v. 61
Only Luke records that Jesus made eye contact with Peter when Jesus was being brought into the courtyard. This really struck me. How humiliating and devastating it must have been for Peter to have Jesus catch him red handed witnessing the cock crowing.! I really spent some time thinking about the Lord's eyes and how He sees me and what He sees.
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