Resurrection

     When I was a pastor back in 2004, our church considered having an Easter egg hunt.  I was asked by some church members if we would do one or not.  Some congregation members told me that they did not the year before because it quote "would confuse the children about the true meaning of Easter".   After thinking about it, we decided to take that risk and have one.  I remember it very well because it was the first of many fights with one particular family.  We had 17 children at that event that day.  I remember my son, who was four at the time, found the most eggs that day.  We read the resurrection story to them out of the Bible, decorated eggs and did an Easter egg hunt.  Miracle of miracles, nobody seemed very confused at the end of the day.

       It does make you think though, why the world would celebrate Easter with a bunny instead of an open tomb.  That family did have a point to make, even though they lacked the grace to make their point very well.  It is that Easter is of first importance for the christian.  Paul said it this way in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 "For I delivered to you as of first imporance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the scripture and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the scriptures." To lose sight of the imporance of what Christ did on this week is to lose the essence of who christians are and what Christ did.  It is the very fabric of of our faith and without it the life of Christ is simply a very tragic story.

      Does the Easter Bunny confuse the issue?  It does seem that the secular world enjoys taking what are christian holidays and trying to make them about something else.  Instead of the christ child coming at Christmas we have Santa and instead of the death and resurrection of  Jesus we have the Easter Bunny and candy.  If that is the focus you want for you family it can become something that is all about gifts and sales and candy and self.  But, that is the danger everyday.  Being selfish and forgetting about Christ is something that is possible any day of the week.  I think if all you need is a bunny and some candy to get your eyes off Christ then your focus wasn't very strong to begin with.

     "But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, bringing the spices which they had prepared.  And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus Christ."  Luke 24:1-3, NASV


     

eyes like flames of fire

     I recently read through the book of Daniel and also part of Revelation.  I noticed the description of Jesus in Revelations 1:13-16 sounds a lot like a passage in Daniel 10.  Notice how Jesus is described in Revelations

   "I saw seven golden lampstands; and in the middle of the lampstands was one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His breast with a golden girdle, And His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like flames of fire; and His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been caused to glow in a furnace; and His voice was like the sound of many waters."  Rev 1:12b-15

      Now, compared that with what is said in Daniel 10:6  "His body was like beryl, his face had the appearance of lightning, his eyes were like flaming torches; his arms and feet llike the gleam of polished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a tumult."

     And it is interesting that Daniel and John's reactions when they saw this appearance was much the same.  They fell at his feet.  John adds "like a dead man." Revelations 1:16.  Seeing such a vision scared them to death!  This is far from the meek and mild Jesus of the New Testament gospels.  This is a Jesus with power and glory and power.  There was a couple of things that struck me about this vision and Jesus appearance.

    One is that Jesus is timeless.  The Bible describes you and me as shadows.  We are here for a season and gone, like water vapor or smoke.  Jesus appeared much the same even though several hundred years separate the two passages.  His strength didn't diminish nor did he get tired.  He had a great and awesome appearance in Daniel and also to John.  This is because Jesus is timeless.  He created time and stands above it and is not mastered by it.  Jesus would declare this by saying that he is the Alph and Omega, the one who is, who was and who is to come; the Almighty." Rev 1:8

    The other thing that struck me about this passage is that Jesus had eyes like fire.  I think this has to do with the piercing, pentrating gaze of our Lord.  That there is nothing hidden from his eyes.  That there is no thought that alludes him.  That he sees all things and nothing is a mystery to him.  When the Pharisees and scribes were reasoning about Jesus in Luke 5:21 they said "Who can forgive sins but God alone."  Jesus response was "Why are you reasoning in your hearts?"  In other words, he knew the thoughts of their mind and where their hearts were.  The same is true today.  There is nothing hidden from his eyes.  Wonder what it would be like if we lived as though Jesus was always watching us?

    The third thing was his voice.  The sound of the Lord's voice is described like the rush of many waters.  It had a deep, abiding power and authority to it.  This is the same voice that said "Let there be light" and there was light.  It is a voice of power and authority.  We sometimes pray and act as though God cannot truly answer our prayers.  Maybe it is because of vision of who Jesus is is still on the humble carpenter rather than the risen Lord?

the least of these

   Tonight, I spoke for a few minutes at Sheets Memorial Baptist Church in Lexington, NC.  I shared with them about the foster care program where I help license foster homes.  I shared a passage in Matthew 25 that I first really noticed back in 1997.   In Matthew 2:3-46, Jesus is telling his disciples what will happen when Jesus returns.  It says that he will separate the people like sheep being separated from goats.  The sheep will be on his right and the goats on his left.

    It says that he sys to the sheep, "Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.  For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited me; I was in prison, and YOu came to Me."  The righteous ask Jesus when they did that for him and he responded "to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine; even the least of them, you did it to Me." 

     I shared with them how sometimes those who Jesus described as the "least of these" are people who you may not like, they may not be gracious or grateful for the help you provide.  They may not be the most attractive or well educated.  You may find that you don't like them very much.  I know I have felt that way sometimes about people I have helped in mental health.  But, Jesus said when we do it for the least of these it is like we are doing it for him.

      It may appear then by saying this that we are saying that salvation is by works.  The passage doesn't say that, but it does say that works are important.  James talked about this in his little book when he said "But are you willing to recognize you foolish fellow; that faith without works is useless." James 2:20.  In other words, if you have real faith then it will demonstrate itself in real ways.  If you don't have faith then it will not bear fruit.  Recognize in the passage I mentioned earlier in Matthew that those who were condemned were very surprised that they were condemned.  They thought that they had been good enough.  But, Jesus accused them of turning away from those in need and by doing so neglecting him also.

      In Ephesians 2:10, it says, "for we are HIs workmanship, creatd in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."  What this passage says to me is that God has given us tasks to do to further His kingdom and to please and honor Him.  We each have different gifts, personalities and strengths, but God has singled out works that he wants you to do.  Not doing them, is demonstrating a lack of faith.  Walking in them, pleases him and bears fruit for him. 

     God has given each of us tasks he wants us to do.  These tasks may require for us to walk by faith and to trust him.  By taking that step of faith and doing what he commanded, we honor Him and bear fruit for eternity.  These tasks are unique to who we are and to who he has made us to be.  It incorporates our gifts, personalities and the passions and calling he has given us.  None of us are called to the sidelines, to sit and soak and not to do the Father's work.  All of us are called to put our hand to the plow and to be busy at our task until he comes again.

some thoughts abot forgiveness

    This last week, I was contemplating the meaning of forigiveness.  What forgiveness truly is and what it is not. How do I know when I have forgiven and what is my obligation as a christian.  I noticed that forgiveness is related in scripture to how God has forgiven us.  Jesus tells a parable about a king who wished to settle debts with slaves.  He calls a slave and forgives a large debt.  The slave responds by going out into the community and finding a man who owes him about 3.5 months wages.  He tries to choke the man and throws him in prison.  The king is angry when he finds out about this lack of forgiveness and throws the man in prison.  God uses this parable to say to us that he expects us to forgive each other because he has forgiven us.

      This is a good way to think about forgiveness.  That it must  be done with the humility that however much others have offended us that we have offended God much more.  If God, who didn't need to forgive us was willing to go to that length then we should forgive others.  Forgiveness is not minimizing nor is excusing what others have done.  It doesn't say that it doesn't matter.  Nor, does it mean I treat the person like nothing happened.  I can forgive a snake for biting me, but I don't need to stick my hand back into his nest.

      I will admit that I am struggling in this area.  I have had several people, who I personally don't like, offend me.  I have a hard time letting it go.  Perhaps it is my pride that doesn't want to let go.  It feels in some ways like I give up power over the situation when I forgive.  This is  especially true when the other person is unwilling to acknowledge the hurt they have caused.  Holding on to it and nursing it in some ways makes me feel like someone is acknowledging it.  But, it also seems the longer you hold on to unforgiveness the harder it is to let go.  That thing takes roots and starts to make a home of bitterness and doesn't want to let go easy.

      And I think that is one of the reasons it is so important to let it go and give it to God.  Because when it does take root, the bitterness is something that saps the strength and joy out of the one holding it.  Like a weed that chokes the very life out of its owner.  Like a vine that steals all the nourishment for the soul.  God gives us these commands for our own sake.  Because unforgiveness is like a poison and dangerous to play with.  You think your holding on to it and then it turns and bites you. 

    I also think I need to acknowledge here that it is also difficult for me to forgive myself at times.  I think about stupid things that I have done.  We have to realize that none of us is perfect and we all make mistakes.  Nobody except Jesus lived a life where no mistakes or sins were made.  I am thankful that God has told me over and over that if I come to him he is faithful and just to forgive me of my sins and cleanse me from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).  Jesus was even able to forgive those who crucified him on the cross.