Resurrection Doubt? No, He's Alive!

Christ the Lord has risen! He's alive! Do we believe this? The disciples spent three years with Jesus, living and learning from Him. They saw the healings and miracles and knew He was the Messiah. But they didn't expect Him to die. They witnessed His arrest, trial, and crucifixion, though some ran away and hid. Some helped bury Him. Then they hid together and grieved.

Three days later they saw Him! Can you grasp the surprise, amazement, and yet belief in their voices?  

Mary said, "I have seen the Lord! (John 20:18) She knew it was Him!     

The two men on the road to Emmaus did not recognize Him until He broke the bread and revealed Himself to them. They said, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?" (Luke 24:32) Their hearts burned within them even before they recognized Him. Does your heart burn within you in His presence?

Thomas wouldn't believe the reports of the other disciples until he saw Jesus a week later. Then he said, "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28) I imagine he said this with a hushed and humble voice. He may have even bowed before him. Wouldn't you? Do you now?

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most essential doctrine of the church. Any who don't believe this truth are denying Jesus, Christianity and Scripture.  He said He was the Son of God. (Luke 22:70) He said He would rise from the dead. (Luke 18:33) And He did. He said He would return and He will. (Matthew 24:30) What a marvelous faith we have.  

Blessings, Dottie

BOOKS TO READ DURING LENT

Killing Jesus: A History

By Bill O’Reilly

O’Reilly writes a gripping and detailed historical account of the trials, scourging and crucifixion of Jesus. The book is well researched and gives valuable information about Caesar Augustus, Herod the Great, and Pontius Pilate. It also explains the concerns of the Roman officials and the Jewish religious authorities in power at that time. Jesus ministry is touched on briefly and only to explain the outraged response of the religious authorities. The book describes the last week of Jesus’ life in depth, giving vivid and brutal details about his treatment from the time of his arrest to the crucifixion, burial and empty tomb.

The author leaves out much. The birth of Jesus in a manger is omitted but the book tells of Herod having all babies killed due to the report that a prophesied king had been born in Bethlehem. He also leaves out the voice of God “This is my son in whom I am well pleased”, but not the dove at Jesus Baptism. There is scant mention of his miracles, his teaching and his resurrection. He notes that women were treated very well by Jesus and his disciples – something not common at that time.

Though O’Reilly writes this as a secular history it is a worthwhile book for Christians to read. In addition it may well give pause to nonbelievers who want to learn more about Jesus. O’Reilly clearly states the worldwide impact of Jesus which continues to this day.

God’s Grace from Ground Zero: 

Seeking God’s Heart for the Future of Our World

By Jim Cymbala

God’s Grace at Ground Zero is a powerful book about the impact of the 911 disaster on New York in particular and on the United States as well. The Brooklyn Tabernacle opened their church doors to minister to those who walked by covered with soot and in shock. As time passed four members of the congregation were still missing. This is a gripping account of two who died and one who lived and how “God longs for us to place our faith in him, to trust him, no matter what happens.” Cymbala also says that many people who doubted God’s existence before 911 now are seeking him. This is a powerful book that can help us make sense of the tragedies and difficulties in life.

Edge of Eternity 

by Randy Alcorn

Edge of Eternity is an amazing novel written by Randy Alcorn in 1998. The story is about a business man, Nick Seagate, whose life is a wreck. Suddenly he finds himself in another world in which he faces many torments and trials but also meets and makes friends with fellow travelers as they attempt to reach the city of Light. There are many twists and turns to the plot. The writing is full of beautiful and profound words. Early in the book Nick walks with the Woodsman who tells him about a King. He tells Nick: The King is the fountain of life…The King is a rose full of beauty but also thorns…The King is the true vine, the tree of life, the giver of grain…The King is light…The King is a singer and a song and more. Pg 43 This is a very special book full of wisdom with word pictures of our journey in life with the God of the universe.

“I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.” John 11:25

Blessings, Dottie

REASONS TO BELIEVE IN JESUS

4. REASONS TO BELIEVE IN JESUS

This is the fourth of a series of Reasons to Believe blog posts with my sister, Betty Haynie. Our thoughts may be helpful to those who don’t believe in God as well as others. Betty wrote down her beliefs in detail several years ago. I’ll post her thoughts monthly and add my thoughts and beliefs to each one. Our thoughts are intentionally brief on subjects that could fill volumes.

                                                                                 

WHY I BELIEVE IN JESUS

By Betty Haynie

People have spent centuries trying to make Jesus go away so they won’t have to deal with the question of His status as God. If Jesus is NOT God then He becomes acceptable to everyone. The Koran honors Him as a prophet and teacher. Jesus the man is acceptable to most religions. Nicodemus recognized Him as a rabbi and prophet. (John 3:1) The problem is Jesus said He was the Son of God.

It’s the divinity of Jesus that sets him apart. I believe He was 100% human and 100% God. There are many examples but his human and divine attributes come together in the following story. Jesus was in the boat with His disciples, sleeping in the stern when a storm came up. The disciples, full of fear, woke Him up. With a wave of His hand and an admonition about the limits of their faith, He quieted the storm. Now, obviously He was mortal - He needed sleep; but He was also capable of stopping a storm - hardly a human ability!! (Matthew 8:23-26, Mark 4:36-30, Luke 8:22-25).

I believe Jesus is the second person of the trinity. God gave us His Word in the Bible and He gave us His Word made flesh. Jesus was the Word made flesh. John writes that Jesus existed even before the beginning of time. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made.”  John 1:1-3 NIV

My Bible commentary says that “In the beginning” meant not the beginning of time, but before time was. John used the phrase in an absolute sense to refer to the beginning of time, prior to the world and the universe. Thus, Jesus, the second person of the trinity always existed, he always was.

It is difficult for us mere humans to understand God’s Word so He made the Word into a form we can understand. We can identify with another human because we are human. We are not gods (no matter what some religions believe). Jesus came as God’s expression of Himself - to give us a God we could relate to.

Did Jesus claim to be God? Yes, he did. In the following verses Jesus is clearly claiming that He and the Father are one.

Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we shall be satisfied.” Jesus replied, Phillip, don’t you even yet know who I am, even after all the time I have been with you? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking to see him? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?” John 14:8-10 NLT

Further, Jesus claimed that He existed before Abraham was born. “Jesus said to them, ‘’Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I AM.’" John 8:58 NASB

Jesus also asked his disciples who they thought he was: Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of John for flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 16:15-17 NASB

C. S. Lewis, a Cambridge University professor and former atheist wrote about Jesus in Mere Christianity:

“A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher... Either this man was, and is, the Son of God - or else a mad man or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool; you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come up with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”

No one in history is like Jesus. He alone deserves our trust and He alone is the path to God. No one comes to the Father EXCEPT through Jesus!

Blessings, Betty

WHY I BELIEVE IN JESUS

By Dottie Parish

Betty said it very well, Jesus is our only path to God. I didn't believe this when I walked into Main Street Church in 1990 after decades away from God and church. I thought of God as a force. That first Sunday, while singing a hymn about Jesus, I choked up and my soul found God in person. What a difference! When God is just a force we are in charge of how we want to live. When God is personal we bow to him in awe and wonder. We listen to him. We follow him. He does not force himself on us. He is gentle, loving and kind. And change comes gradually following our initial surrender.

Jesus is now my Lord and Savior. Jesus is God. Jesus lived on this earth – fully man and fully God. He performed miracles, healings, stopped storms, held children on his lap and taught 12 men profound things about who God is and what he wants from us. Jesus died on a cross to save us from our sins. Because God is Holy, no one unholy can be in his presence. If we accept Jesus as our Savior his blood covers our sins and we can enjoy his loving presence and guidance here and now and we will be with him in heaven. 

Remember, Jesus is alive! After his resurection He was seen by the twelve disciples and by two men on the road to Emmaus and by 500 people. His followers were told to spread the Good News about Him and they did. Our faith is built on historical facts as well as the evidence of missions, ministries, hospitals and churches all over the world with followers of Jesus.

What if this is true? Don’t wait and be left behind. Seek God and he will embrace you. Jesus lived in history and is still alive in glory with the Father. Who do you say Jesus is?

“I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the father but by me.” John 14:6

“It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and in everyone.” Ephesians 1:11 The Message

Blessings, Dottie

Watch for the next Reasons to Believe post on WHY I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT in late September by Betty and Dottie

How Deep is the Love of Christ?

As we approach Christmas with all its preparations and celebrations, with all the hustle and bustle, let’s keep our minds focused on Jesus and on his incarnation – God in human flesh coming into our world. Let’s be amazed by the deep love of God in Christ Jesus. “God so loved the world he gave his only Son.” John 3:16 

Paul knew the deep love of God in Christ Jesus and wrote this beautiful prayer:

“When I think of the wisdom and scope of God’s plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.  I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit. And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.” Ephesians 3:14-19 NLT

Paul refers to the wisdom and scope of God’s plan. We know the whole incredible story. Jesus, the Son of God, came into our world as a baby to live and grow up as a human being, to teach us, and show us God. He also came to plant his Church on earth. As a sinless God/Man he died to cover our iniquities. What deep love. He arose from the grave, appeared to many followers and gave us more teaching. He ascended to heaven, is seated with God and sent His Spirit to be with us and in us. And he’s coming back!

He showed us Life and he conquered death. He showed us Light and he over came the dark. Does the world make any sense without this knowledge? – yet so many are lost in darkness.

How deep is the love of Christ? Think of this, when we take one step toward him he runs to meet us. His love is deep. No matter how far away we’ve gone, no matter how much we have rebelled against him, he’s ready to forgive us and take us back. The God of the universe, Creator of all things, wants a close relationship with each of us. His love is deep.

Dear Father,

During this Christmas season help us gain a deeper understanding of You. Help us make Christ more and more at home in our hearts and in our homes. Help us know we are forgiven and that nothing can separate us from your love. We can’t reach the top or the bottom of Your love. We can’t reach the width or the length of Your love. Your love has no limits. Strengthen us with Your mighty power in our inner being. Let Your power work within us to be Your Body in the world for Your glory. In Christ’s name we pray.

Christmas Blessings, Dottie Parish

The Events of Holy Week

We will be blessed this holy week if we read, study, meditate and pray on the events of this week as recorded in Scripture. Today I’m listing Monday through Thursday. Meditate on His life as you read through these events.

Sunday: Jesus “Triumphal Entry” into Jerusalem occurred on Sunday with Jesus riding on a donkey fulfilling Zechariah 9:9’s prophesy, “Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See your king comes to you, righteous and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” See Matt 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:29-44, John 12:12-19.

Monday: Jesus is anointed (for burial) at Bethany (John 12:1-9) and he clears the temple of the money changers. Matthew 21:12-13, Mark 11:15-18, Luke 19:45-48

Tuesday: His authority is questioned. Matt. 21:23-27, Mark 11:27-33, Luke 20:1-8. And Jesus teaches in the temple. Matt. 21:28-23:39, Mark 12:1-44, Luke 20:9-21:4.

Wednesday: Judas plots against Jesus. Matt. 26:14-16, Mark 14:10-11, Luke 22:3-6

Thursday: Jesus and His disciples eat the Passover meal, the Last Supper, the first Communion. Matt. 26:17-29, Mark 14:12-25, Luke 22:7-38, John 13:1-38. Jesus says to his disciples “This is my body, broken for you, do this in remembrance of me.” In John 14:1-16:33, He comforts the disciples, and in John 17:1-26 He gives His high priestly prayer, praying for them and for us – for our unity in Him.

This is a holy week with much to ponder about Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

Blessings, Dottie