While I don't want to "jump the gun" and post before Pastor Matt, when I read this week's Scripture passages I got excited about sharing something that I (a "word nerd") recently learned.
"Jesus said to her, 'Mary.' She turned toward Him and cried out in Aramaic, 'Rabboni!' (which means 'Teacher')." (John 20:16)
When Mary used the word "Rabbi," she was actually saying much more than "teacher." To call someone "Rabbi" shows a great deal of respect and honor toward that person -- but calling someone "rabboni," is the greatest designation of all: The word "rabbon" meant "Great Master"; therefore, "rabboni" means "My Great Master."
Jesus is risen! He is risen indeed! Although we set aside a specific time each year to celebrate that resurrection, those statements are true whenever we might proclaim them. As we remember Jesus' sacrificial death and His glorious resurrection, we can also celebrate the new life we have found in Him on a daily basis, for Christ is risen; He is risen indeed.
In that day they will say, “Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.” (Isaiah 25:9)
Isaiah looked ahead and saw the salvation which awaited God's people. That prophecy was fulfilled when the people of Israel returned from exile. It was fulfilled again, more completely, when Jesus was raised from the dead. It will be fulfilled once and for all when all of God's people are gathered together before Him at the great feast, when the Sovereign Lord will "...swallow up death forever..." and "...wipe away the tears from all faces." The week preceding Easter is a somber one, for we pause to remember the cost of our salvation. But we also anticipate the joy that is celebrated at the end of the week which foreshadows the joy we will all know as we dwell together in heaven for all eternity, where "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." (Revelation 21:4)
Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: “The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things! The Lord’s right hand is lifted high; the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!” I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done. (Psalm 118:15-17)
"I will not die but live, and proclaim what the Lord has done." This is what the resurrection of Jesus Christ means for us. We will not die but live. We who were once separated from God with no hope for reconciliation, who had nothing to offer God and no way to pay the price for our sin, have been redeemed and declared righteous through His Son.
"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." (1 Corinthians 15:20-22)
This is the good news of Jesus Christ which comforts us and gives us hope. Christ is risen. He is risen indeed!
Britain claims a womb to tomb life insurance. We claim a womb (Incarnation) to tomb (Resurrection) Life assurance.
In three Quarters, His body was formed in the darkness of the womb. In three days and nights, His body was transformed in the darkness of the tomb.
A Mary, a Joseph, and angels figured prominently at his birth. A Joseph, a Mary and angels figured prominently at his death and resurrection . The pregnancy and birth were grief and pain turned to joy. The death and resurrection were grief and sorrow turned to joy
As the man, the life He lived was full of grace and truth. As the risen Christ, the life He gives is full of glory and power.
Some thoughts about the four Scripture passages, loosely connected with the Lord as dominant theme:
John 20: “7 and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself.” At some formal dinners, a crumpled napkin says, I’m done; a folded napkin says, I’m coming back.
Psalm 118: “8 The LORD HAS chastened me severely, But He has not given me over to death.” The Psalmis,t perhaps unknowingly, prophesies the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.
Isaiah 25: 8” He will swallow up death forever And the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces; we have waited for Him; we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation”. Isaiah compresses the entire Gospel of Redemption
1 Corinthians 15: “10 I labored more abundantly than they all.” Paul, by grace alone, did more traveling, more church plants, more suffering, and more writings.
The Cross and the Tomb -- as critical points in the history of mankind, and His Story of the Redemption of mankind -- provide endless insights into the Sovereignty and Mercy of our Living God. Focus on the Repentant Thief: -- As a penitent, he spoke almost as many words as Jesus, when words meant added agony for every breath;
-- Observe what is the essence of the Gospel: Confession, Repentance, Believe, Faith, Appeal to the Lord, Witness to his neighbor two crosses away, and Inner Peace – no baptism **, no works, no fruits, no serious Bible Study, but by Grace alone;
-- Amidst their weeping and grieving over the sordid circumstances of the Cross, a bright spot -- the Angels had a brief moment of rejoicing and gladness over one sinner that repented;
-- Someone has observed, of the two thieves: One was saved that no one need despair, but only one that no one dare presume.
Yes there are -- though rare -- deathbed conversions, but unlikely in the case of mangled autos, or coronary artery clots. Now is the day of Salvation.
** If the darkness and clouds brought rain, he might have been sprinkled.
"Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:1-2)
Here Paul reminds us of what the cross, and our faith in the One who died on that cross, really means. It means that we have moved from death to life, that we have been saved from the wages of our sin. When we hold firmly to that truth, when we refuse to let our faith be shaken no matter what might happen in this world or what our circumstances look like, our belief will not be in vain. We will receive salvation from this world and a guarantee of eternal life in the next. That is the faith by which we stand, and it is the only faith which can deliver us from death.
One word, and Mary's grief and confusion was taken away. Jesus spoke her name, and she knew Him. He spoke our name, and we knew Him. For somewhere along the line Jesus called you, by name, and you turned and you knew. You knew His voice because you belonged to Him, and you were able to say to those around you, "I have seen the Lord!" What a precious blessing that was! What a gift to know and be known, and to receive the promise that one day we will know as we are known. Jesus spoke your name, and you knew the truth, and the truth has set you free. Christ is risen; He is risen indeed.
While I don't want to "jump the gun" and post before Pastor Matt, when I read this week's Scripture passages I got excited about sharing something that I (a "word nerd") recently learned.
ReplyDelete"Jesus said to her, 'Mary.' She turned toward Him and cried out in Aramaic, 'Rabboni!' (which means 'Teacher')." (John 20:16)
When Mary used the word "Rabbi," she was actually saying much more than "teacher." To call someone "Rabbi" shows a great deal of respect and honor toward that person -- but calling someone "rabboni," is the greatest designation of all: The word "rabbon" meant "Great Master"; therefore, "rabboni" means "My Great Master."
Jesus is risen! He is risen indeed! Although we set aside a specific time each year to celebrate that resurrection, those statements are true whenever we might proclaim them. As we remember Jesus' sacrificial death and His glorious resurrection, we can also celebrate the new life we have found in Him on a daily basis, for Christ is risen; He is risen indeed.
ReplyDeleteIn that day they will say,
ReplyDelete“Surely this is our God;
we trusted in him, and he saved us.
This is the Lord, we trusted in him;
let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.”
(Isaiah 25:9)
Isaiah looked ahead and saw the salvation which awaited God's people. That prophecy was fulfilled when the people of Israel returned from exile. It was fulfilled again, more completely, when Jesus was raised from the dead. It will be fulfilled once and for all when all of God's people are gathered together before Him at the great feast, when the Sovereign Lord will "...swallow up death forever..." and "...wipe away the tears from all faces." The week preceding Easter is a somber one, for we pause to remember the cost of our salvation. But we also anticipate the joy that is celebrated at the end of the week which foreshadows the joy we will all know as we dwell together in heaven for all eternity, where "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." (Revelation 21:4)
Shouts of joy and victory
ReplyDeleteresound in the tents of the righteous:
“The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!
The Lord’s right hand is lifted high;
the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!”
I will not die but live,
and will proclaim what the Lord has done.
(Psalm 118:15-17)
"I will not die but live, and proclaim what the Lord has done." This is what the resurrection of Jesus Christ means for us. We will not die but live. We who were once separated from God with no hope for reconciliation, who had nothing to offer God and no way to pay the price for our sin, have been redeemed and declared righteous through His Son.
"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." (1 Corinthians 15:20-22)
This is the good news of Jesus Christ which comforts us and gives us hope. Christ is risen. He is risen indeed!
Britain claims a womb to tomb life insurance.
ReplyDeleteWe claim a womb (Incarnation) to tomb (Resurrection) Life assurance.
In three Quarters, His body was formed in the darkness of the womb.
In three days and nights, His body was transformed in the darkness of the tomb.
A Mary, a Joseph, and angels figured prominently at his birth.
A Joseph, a Mary and angels figured prominently at his death and resurrection
.
The pregnancy and birth were grief and pain turned to joy.
The death and resurrection were grief and sorrow turned to joy
As the man, the life He lived was full of grace and truth.
As the risen Christ, the life He gives is full of glory and power.
Thank you for sharing! What a powerful comparison!
DeleteSome thoughts about the four Scripture passages, loosely connected with the Lord as dominant theme:
ReplyDeleteJohn 20: “7 and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself.”
At some formal dinners, a crumpled napkin says, I’m done; a folded napkin says, I’m coming back.
Psalm 118: “8 The LORD HAS chastened me severely, But He has not given me over to death.”
The Psalmis,t perhaps unknowingly, prophesies the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.
Isaiah 25: 8” He will swallow up death forever
And the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces; we have waited for Him;
we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation”.
Isaiah compresses the entire Gospel of Redemption
1 Corinthians 15: “10 I labored more abundantly than they all.”
Paul, by grace alone, did more traveling, more church plants, more suffering, and more writings.
The Cross and the Tomb -- as critical points in the history of mankind, and His Story of the Redemption of mankind -- provide endless insights into the Sovereignty and Mercy of our Living God.
ReplyDeleteFocus on the Repentant Thief:
-- As a penitent, he spoke almost as many words as Jesus, when words meant added agony for every breath;
-- Observe what is the essence of the Gospel: Confession, Repentance, Believe, Faith, Appeal to the Lord, Witness to his neighbor two crosses away, and Inner Peace – no baptism **, no works, no fruits, no serious Bible Study, but by Grace alone;
-- Amidst their weeping and grieving over the sordid circumstances of the Cross, a bright spot -- the Angels had a brief moment of rejoicing and gladness over one sinner that repented;
-- Someone has observed, of the two thieves: One was saved that no one need despair, but only one that no one dare presume.
Yes there are -- though rare -- deathbed conversions, but unlikely in the case of mangled autos, or coronary artery clots. Now is the day of Salvation.
** If the darkness and clouds brought rain, he might have been sprinkled.
"Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:1-2)
ReplyDeleteHere Paul reminds us of what the cross, and our faith in the One who died on that cross, really means. It means that we have moved from death to life, that we have been saved from the wages of our sin. When we hold firmly to that truth, when we refuse to let our faith be shaken no matter what might happen in this world or what our circumstances look like, our belief will not be in vain. We will receive salvation from this world and a guarantee of eternal life in the next. That is the faith by which we stand, and it is the only faith which can deliver us from death.
Jesus said to her, “Mary.” (John 20:16)
ReplyDeleteOne word, and Mary's grief and confusion was taken away. Jesus spoke her name, and she knew Him. He spoke our name, and we knew Him. For somewhere along the line Jesus called you, by name, and you turned and you knew. You knew His voice because you belonged to Him, and you were able to say to those around you, "I have seen the Lord!" What a precious blessing that was! What a gift to know and be known, and to receive the promise that one day we will know as we are known. Jesus spoke your name, and you knew the truth, and the truth has set you free. Christ is risen; He is risen indeed.