JESUS CHANGES EVERYTHING
Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 26-27
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
This photo is of the Jordan Valley wilderness (or Judean Desert) looking towards Jerusalem, which is just beyond the horizon.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: 1 Samuel 26:23
May the Lord repay every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the Lord delivered you into my hand today, but I would not stretch out my hand against the Lord’s anointed.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord Jesus, in another resurrection chapter (1 Corinthians 15), Your servant, Paul, draws a conclusion from the fact that You are risen from the dead. I conclude with Paul that I am to be “steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.” I pray for Your resurrection power to be released more and more in me to produce in a greater way those results. In Your conquering Name, Jesus, I pray. Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
I’ve stood at the graves of my mother and father, one in Ruperts, Quebec, and the other in Elgin, Ontario. Mother died when I was 12 and Dad when I was 36. I heard the minister say the words of Jesus, “I am the resurrection and the life.” I thought, “It’s true! I believe it!” As I read the words on their grave stones, I’ve exclaimed, “O Lord, the resurrection could happen right now while I’m standing here!” But I walk away knowing that there’s still work to be done.
Bruce Stacey, my son-in-law, created animated video shows called God Rocks, where the rocks speak. Bruce was inspired by the words of Jesus on Palm Sunday, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out” (Luke 19:40). My favourite episode in the series is called “Rez, the Rock that Rolled.” The rock’s name had been “Tombstone,” an unhappy, pessimistic rock. But when he was rolled away by the angels and Jesus walked out of the tomb, his name was changed to “Rez!” His whole nature and outlook on life was transformed. Here is a link to some visuals from that episode (Unfortunately, I’m told that the DVDs of this episode are currently out of stock).
Yours in complete confidence that the stone was rolled away and “He is risen!”
David
The Garden Tomb, Jerusalem.
Many believe that it was inside this “Garden Tomb” in Jerusalem that Jesus’ body was laid. This tomb was originally made for a shorter man, perhaps Joseph of Arimathea, but as you can see on the right, the end was dug out to fit a taller man’s body.
Once I was asked what made our Lord’s rising from the dead different than say others in the Bible who were raised to life– like the Jarius’s daughter or Lazarus?
My answer basically was a resurrection is different than coming back from the dead– those like Lazarus came back in their same body and that body eventually died again and that body rotted in the grave and is dust. Our Lord received a resurrection body, one that was healed of his earthly wounds, one that would never die– So no He wasn’t the first person to come back from the dead, but the first one to come back from dead in a resurrected form– which is the proof of the promise of God that because of the redemptive work on the Cross, the wages of sin will no longer be eternal for those who repent and we too can look forward to a new body that will never die,so we can spend eternity in God’s presence, not as floating spirits but real beings with a body united to our spirits– like our Lord.
I think I answered it correctly, or at least what came to mind in the moment, but I was just wondering if there was some other way to explain exactly what the Resurrection was and how it was different than just Jesus coming back to life, which others had done– so blog buddies if someone asked you that question what would have said?
Amen Donna!! I think your explanation is quite accurate! Some things are not easy to put into word.
The most notable difference between the resurrection of Christ and others in the Bible is that Jesus’s resurrection was permanent (eternal) and the others were temporary because those raised to life physically died again.
Many scriptures can be used to support this:
1 Cor 15:20: He is “the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.”
Romans 4:25 says Jesus’ resurrection justifies us and ensures our eternal life. “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.”
John 14:19: “Because I live, you also will live.”
There were many people raised from the dead in the Bible in both the Old and New Testaments.
In OT:
–Elijah the prophet raised the widow of Zarephath’s son from the dead in 1 Kings 17:17-24.
–Elijah the prophet raised the Shunammite woman’s son from the dead in 2 Kings 4:18-37.
–A dead man thrown into Elisha’s grave rose out after his body touched Elisha’s bones in 2 Kings 13:20-21.
In NT:
Resurrections performed by Jesus:
–The dead son of a widow in the town of Nain, was His first resurrection miracle in Luke 7:11-17.
–The second by Jesus was the synagogue leader Jairus’ daughter, in Luke 8:52-56.
–His friend, Lazarus of Bethany, was the third person Jesus raised from the dead in John 11.
Of Jesus:
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ in Mark 16:1-8
After Jesus:
–Various saints in Jerusalem when Jesus died on the cross, the earth quaked, tombs opened and bodies of many holy people rose in Mt 27:50-53.
–Apostle Peter raised Tabitha (whose Greek name was Dorcas) from the dead in Acts 9:36-43.
–Apostle Paul raised Eutychus from the dead in Acts 20:7-12.
I think you said it very well. Life was restored to them. But they would eventually die again. Thanks to you and Beverlee for your comments. Blessings.
amen Donna, amen!
David’s sparing Saul’s life not only shows his love for Saul, but his obedience to His Lord. Being in tune with His Lord’s guidance!
Even after many years after the death of our parents, there is still a longing to see them again. Visiting the grave-sight doesn’t usually fill that gap. Thank you for sharing your heart once again, Pastor David!
Your links and photo’s exemplify the message. What a blessing the episode of “God Rocks” has been and is to share Gospel Story!!!
No Blogs yet since March 20th. Can’t re-register as it says I am already registered.
Any help?? regarding this.
Perhaps check your “spam” or “junk” mail?
prayers needed please! A meeting tomorrow between owners & tenants, owners wanting BIG BIG increase in rent, most will be homeless if this passes, please pray the Holy Spirit enter the hearts of the owners and they forget completely what they were talking about! This is not impossible with God!
In Jesus Name We pray for complete victory for the tenants…..no more stress thank you Lord amen amen
Yes, Amen Sah.