He Is risen Indeed!

 

Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes. (John 20:1-10 ESV).

 

The use of the Ichthys symbol by early Christians appears to date from the end of the first century. Ichthus (ΙΧΘΥΣ, Greek for fish) is an acronym, a word formed from the first letters of several words. It stands for "Jesus Christ God's Son Savior," in ancient Greek "Ἰησοῦς Χριστός, Θεοῦ Υἱός, Σωτήρ." Additionally, in the first three centuries of severe persecution, Christians used this symbol to identify each other. They would casually draw half of the Ichthus, the fish, in the dirt or sand. If the other person responded by drawing the other half, it was good. If they did not, it was just an idle doodle. In many churches today believers will greet one another with “Christ is risen!” and the response will be “He is risen indeed!” Whatever our tradition is, we should join centuries of Christians in marking this day as the day that changed everything. We celebrate the amazing truth that although Jesus was dead, he’s now alive forever. Christ Jesus rose victorious over death. He is risen!

 

It’s interesting to notice how John, the gospel writer, anchors the event of the resurrection to a day, a time, and a witness. On a particular day in history, early in the morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene saw that the stone had been moved away from Jesus’ tomb. John wants to be clear. The resurrection of Jesus happened on earth’s soil, in our time, for the benefit of us humans whom God created and loves. Because Jesus is risen, life for us is forever anchored in good news. Christ’s resurrection gloriously demonstrates that God’s sovereign love has the last word. As a powerful hymn puts it, “No power of hell, no human plan, can ever pluck me from his hand.” We now live in the joyful assurance that because Christ lives, we too will live for all eternity.

 

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

Silent Saturday

 

And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” (Acts 5:27-32 ESV).

 

The Saturday between Good Friday and Easter Sunday is often called Easter Vigil or Holy Saturday. On this day we reflect in sorrow on the death of Jesus for our sake. Our sins were so serious that, to save us, Jesus had to take on suffering so horrible that we cannot really imagine it. But we also look ahead in hope, because we know that on Easter Sunday Jesus rose in victory over death and conquered the grave so that we can have life!

 

In our reading from Acts today, the apostles of Jesus speak out to the authorities who are persecuting them. The apostles remind the authorities that they had Jesus “killed by hanging him on a tree,” a reference to Deuteronomy 21:23 (see also Galatians 3:13). These disciples of Jesus are emboldened to speak because they have confidence and power from the Holy Spirit to speak the truth, saying, “We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

 

Hearing that, the authorities want to kill Jesus’ followers, but Gamaliel, a wise teacher, stops them. He gives reasonable advice, and we can be assured that this comes from the wisdom of God, for Gamaliel says, “Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”

 

As we look ahead to Easter, let’s remember that nothing, not even death, can stand against the Lord, who loves us. Remember… Sunday’s coming!

 

Good Friday?

 

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.” And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:45-54 ESV).

 

Today has been called “Good Friday” through the centuries following the death of Jesus as believers come together to worship what Jesus did on their behalf. However, I often ponder a bit about the validity of calling it “good” except in retrospect. Of course, as we look back at that day and the excruciating death of Jesus from the perspective of the resurrection it is easy to see the goodness of Jesus’ sacrifice. But, placing ourselves in the moment, I wonder what our reaction would have been. The high priest Caiaphas and the Pharisees got rid of a popular, influential preacher, but at what price? Pontius Pilate, the hardened Roman governor, reluctantly allowed Jesus to be crucified to appease the mob and their leaders demanding Jesus’ life. Pilate turned him over to the execution squad, for whom this was just another death sentence along with two others that day—until the centurion realized they’d killed the Son of God (v. 54).

 

If the disciples called it “good,” it was only after encountering the risen Christ (cf. John 21). And would Jesus say that Friday was “good”? The scene at Gethsemane the night before was agonizing, as Jesus prayed that He would be spared him from his awful mission. Maybe later, back in heaven with God, he could finally say, “Yes, Father, that was a good day.”

 

The term "Good Friday" first occurred in the fourth century. Some think it was originally called “God’s Friday.” Today we can call it “good” if we appreciate the fact that Jesus’ trial, punishment, and death brought our salvation. These truths are seen through the spiritual spectacles of faith. So, in that sense it truly is “Good Friday”!

 

Is this Friday good for you?

 

The Cup of Wrath

 

Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” And going a little farther he fell on his face rand prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.” (Matthew 26:36-46 ESV).

 

Gardens are usually wonderful, peaceful places where we can calm our spirits and focus on what is important. But on this night in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was in pure agony. Gethsemane means “oil press.” Gethsemane was a garden where olives were crushed and squeezed to extract their oil. In this garden, on the final night of his life, Jesus was crushed and squeezed to the limit. He was crushed in his awareness of the cup of suffering that he would drink the next day at the cross. This was the cup of God’s wrath and judgment that He would take on our behalf (cf. Isaiah 51:17).

 

At the cross, Jesus would have to endure God’s curse on our sin down to the last drop. That’s why he prayed that the cup might be taken from him. But he also prayed that God’s will would be done. The next day Jesus willingly drank that cup. The sun quit shining. Darkness covered the land. Jesus cried out to God, “Why have you forsaken me?” But there was no answer. At that moment Jesus experienced the torments of hell so that we will never have to.

 

Many churches will celebrate the Lord’s Supper today. As you take the cup, remember and believe that Jesus drank the cup of God’s judgment for you.

 

Judas' Price

 

Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him. (Matthew 26:14-16 ESV).

 

I find it very interesting that we see this side of Judas Iscariot revealed as it is in our reading today. We know that Judas betrayed Jesus. Many have sought to make the betrayal about his disillusionment with Jesus. He was a political zealot who desired that the Jews be set free from the heavy hand of the Roman empire. Undoubtedly, he saw Jesus as the promised Messiah and believed it would be this One who would restore the Davidic kingdom. However, as we see in our reading what led Judas to take this final step of betrayal was simply the money. His question is very revealing. He asks, “What will you give me if I deliver Him to you?”

 

There had been other minor betrayals before this one. In the circle of the twelve closest followers of Jesus, Judas had been appointed treasurer. As donations came in, Judas was expected to use the money for the group’s expenses or to help people in poverty (cf. John 13:29). But Judas also took some of the money for himself. Now Judas saw a better financial opportunity——a more lucrative way to take advantage of his relationship with Jesus. Judas investigated, and he learned he could collect thirty silver coins as a reward for turning Jesus over to the people who wanted him dead. So Judas sold Jesus, his master and teacher.

 

But earlier Judas had been present when Jesus asked his followers this vital question: “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” (Matthew 16:26). Apparently, Judas no longer valued Jesus as his master, or even as a fellow human being. When Jesus was teaching, Judas heard only the clank of silver coins; when Judas looked at Jesus, he saw only a chance to make some money. Now, before we are too hard on Judas, we must examine our own motives. Do we sell out to gain some worldly trinket or treasure? Are we willing to use the name of Jesus for our advantage? If the answer is yes, we are no better than Judas in our own betrayal.

 

Woes to the Pharisees

 

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” (Matthew 23:1-12 ESV).

 

It's just Tuesday of the Week of Passion and we see Jesus confronting hypocrisy directly. I find it a very contemporary truth in today’s world. The Pharisees meet with Jesus as He is teaching. Remember the Pharisees were religious leaders who wanted people to keep the law of Moses. So, they built up all kinds of rules around the basic law. In fact, there are over 3,000 of these laws that they burdened the people with. In the process, many of the leaders got so distracted by the rules that they forgot the heart of the law (love God; love your neighbor), and they did not practice what they preached.

 

In our reading today, Jesus let the Pharisees know what he didn’t like about them. Jesus agreed with a lot of what the Pharisees taught. Jesus was a faithful Jew, so he thought the Pharisees had good things to say about what it meant to love God and to serve God. But Jesus showed that the Pharisees cared more about the appearance of loving God than about actually loving God.

 

Following Jesus does not mean throwing out all religious traditions. Jesus knew that faith is meant to be practiced in community. We cannot be Christians by ourselves; we live within the guidelines of a community of other Christians. But following Jesus also does not mean following the law just for the sake of the law. Jesus always called his disciples to put people first and traditions second. Jesus challenged the Pharisees for making the rules of the law too important. He called them to show love to people, as the law was intended to help them do. Jesus calls us to love people today too, following his excellent example. Commit yourself to being like Jesus rather than merely talking about being like Him!

 

A House of Prayer

 

And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.” And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant, and they said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read, “‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise’?” And leaving them, he went out of the city to Bethany and lodged there. (Matthew 21:12-17 ESV).

 

Monday was a very busy day for Jesus. Paramount of the events that day was what we know as “the cleansing of the Temple.” There were many reasons for this action from Jesus when He entered the Temple area. Religious huckstering was certainly one of those reason, however it wasn’t the only reason the temple needed to be cleansed. Another reason had to do with God’s mission to the world. There were four courts in the temple. The outer court was where the Gentiles—the non-Jews—could come to worship God. Next was the court of women, and then the court of men. The inmost court was where the priests alone could enter to offer sacrifices.

 

Jesus’ righteous anger at the merchants in the temple was heightened by the fact that they had chosen to do business in the court of the Gentiles. How could anyone from other nations pray and worship God while surrounded by the bleating of sheep and the shouting of buyers and sellers? We can understand the impact of Jesus’ complaint when we look at the actual passage he quoted from Isaiah: “My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations” (Isaiah 56:7). The presence of sellers and money changers made worship impossible for Gentiles—and that angered Jesus.

 

The Jews in charge of temple matters needed to remember that “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Joel 2:32). We must remember that too. Neither our actions nor our traditions should stand in the way of others who seek to worship God.