April 29, 2014
After Jesus was resurrected he “opened the minds” of the disciples, so that they could understand the Scriptures concerning him. There are over 300 Messianic prophecies in the Old Testament and Jesus fulfilled every one. Yet, many doubted or misunderstood. Now, the risen Jesus did more than explain, he “opened their minds.” This is more than instruction. This is a miraculous spiritual sight given to those previously blind. They were now able to see Jesus in the Scriptures. He became not only the object to which the Word pointed, but the lens through which they could rightly interpret it. Jesus is the criterion for right understanding of God’s Word. Without him, there is no true understanding for we would be left as the “natural man” who finds God’s Word as foolishness. Only the spiritual, whose minds have been “opened” can understand (1 Cor. 2:14-16).
April 28, 2014
This question asked by the angel at Jesus’ empty tomb is still relevant today. Christ’s first century followers had to be reminded that Jesus had told them he would be crucified and would arise from the grave three days later. It wasn’t that they suffered from amnesia. They didn’t simply forget what Jesus had said. Perhaps they thought he was merely speaking metaphorically or that his prediction had some hidden spiritual meaning. Whatever the reason, they were surprised to discover the tomb empty and Jesus alive. Many today look for Jesus “among the dead.” They read dusty doctrines and puffy philosophies looking for him. They search for him in skeptical histories and among agnostic catacombs. They look with their eyes but they never open their hearts. They never consider the possibility that Jesus is alive. That he is risen. He is not someone just to read about, but to meet. Why keep looking for the living among the dead? Invite Jesus to reveal Himself to you. He is alive.
April 25, 2014
Both the humanity and divinity of Jesus are seen in this prayer. His humanity in his desire to avoid suffering and death. His divinity in his obedience to the Father to lay down his life for our sin. That Jesus is both Son of God and Son of Man is seen, but also a new way of praying. Praying like Jesus, we not only express our desires to God, but we invite God to realign our will with His. We pray like Jesus when we pray, “Not my will, but Yours be done” prayers.
April 22, 2014
Jesus speaks of His Second Coming in a manner consistent with the prophet Daniel’s words (Dan.7:13) concerning the “Son of Man,” a Messianic title. His return will not be like His first coming, in weakness and in obscurity, a baby born in a Bethlehem manger. No, it will be in “power and great glory” for all to see. Those who are ready for His return will be filled with joy for their salvation is near. But those who are not, will be terrified by His coming judgment. Our hope for Christ’s future return is as sure as our faith in His past resurrection from the dead. Christ has come. And He is coming again.
April 21, 2014
Jesus challenged the bad theology of the Sadducees (who denied the resurrection and only affirmed the 5 books of Moses). Since they only believed Moses, He used Moses’ words to teach them about the resurrection. Be careful of strict theological systems because they can lead to error. Jesus is the only true criterion for understanding God and His doctrines. Jesus is the lens that brings God’s Word into focus. Only those who have the mind of Christ can rightly divide His Word. Jesus not only proved the resurrection from the Scriptures, He proved it in history by being raised from the dead.
April 20, 2014
After hearing Jesus tell the parable of the evil tenants, the people wondered at how terrible the tenants treated the Owner’s son. At this, Jesus pointed them to the Scripture found in Psalm 118:22 that described how their spiritual leaders would reject the true stone for the temple which would turn out to be the Cornerstone that undergirds their entire worship. The Jewish leaders knew that Jesus was comparing them to the evil tenants and they fulfilled the Psalm by rejecting Him and turning Him over to Pilate to be crucified. Yet, on the third day He arose. The stone the builders rejected became the Chief Cornerstone. The Resurrected Christ is the foundation of our faith! The Church is built on Him!
April 19, 2014
Jesus knew the future of Jerusalem. He knew that the Romans would destroy it, not leaving one stone upon another. This destruction happened in 70 AD, within the lifetimes of many that heard His prediction. That Jesus knew the future with such certainty points to His divinity. That He wept over Jerusalem shows His humanity. Jesus is both God and man, even His judgments are marked by tears.
April 18, 2014
The people all had their own ideas about why the Messiah would come and what he would accomplish. But none were ready for his true mission: “to seek and save” the lost. Jesus described himself with the Messianic title “Son of Man” while explaining his purpose. On his way up to Jerusalem, to be crucified for our sins, he stopped in Jericho to eat at a tax collector’s house named, Zacchaeus. There the rich, little, tree climbing man confessed his sins to Jesus. And Jesus continued up to Jerusalem and to the cross, and carried Zacchaeus’ sins, and our sins, there with him.
April 17, 2014
As Jesus and his disciples traveled the road from Jericho up to Jerusalem, he once again spoke to them concerning his impending death. They didn’t understand the significance of these predictions until after Jesus was raised. Yet, Jesus was very specific in these predictions. He was fully aware of his identity, taking the Messianic title “Son of Man” and claiming to be the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies concerning the Anointed One. He was also specific in the details of how the Jews and Romans would conspire to kill him and the means thereof. Knowing what was awaiting him, Jesus continued “going up to Jerusalem” and finally up Calvary’s hill. After all, this was why he came into the world.
April 15, 2014
Jesus pointed to Old Testament scenes of God’s judgment to answer end times questions. His use of the “Son of Man” title seems a clear reference to the exalted Messianic figure of Daniel 7. The fact that Jesus speaks of his future suffering and return further points to his self-awareness as the Messiah. Then, he compares the timing of his return to the days of Noah and later, to the time of Lot. In both cases, God’s judgment came without anyone being prepared, except the few warned by God (Noah’s family and Lot’s). Their was no worldwide awareness of God’s pending judgment, no readiness to face the Righteous One. It was a day like any other, it was “business as usual” when the end came suddenly. This is sobering news. Yet, nested within these stories is the fact that God saved Noah and Lot. They escaped God’s wrath through divine means. Perhaps the better question is not “when will the end come?” But “how can we escape God’s judgment?” How can we be ready for Christ’s return? The answer is to be found “in” Christ just as Noah was found in the boat when the floods came. As Paul said in Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”