Preparing for Easter: “Not 1,000 Things”

I’m reading through the portion of the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) that tell the story of the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus and his subsequent resurrection, in preparation for Easter.  I’m also dipping into Acts to see the explosion that happened as the Apostles began to testify to the resurrection of Jesus.

You don’t need to know 1,000 things about Christianity.  You don’t need to know 100.  You don’t need to know 10.

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15 what is of “first importance”, he broke it down like this:

“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received:  that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve….“

You don’t need to know 1,000 things, but you do need to know and believe the inexhaustible greatness of a very few things…Easter things, namely, Jesus Christ and him crucified, buried, risen, exalted, and returning.

If in fact Jesus Christ rose from the dead…think about that…that changes EVERYTHING.

I’m thinking you probably don’t know anybody else who’s done that!

The historical fact of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead immediately resulted in the powerful explosion of a vibrant community of followers of Jesus who were willing to die for their testimony concerning Christ.  The story depended on the account of female witnesses which would not have carried great weight in those days (sorry ladies…).  No, the body wasn’t stolen.  No, the disciples didn’t make it up.  Jesus came back to life, appeared multiple times to multiple people in a resurrected body (the kind where you can walk through walls but still eat food???  Yes, it’s amazing.)

Following Jesus resurrection and ascension to heaven came the powerful outpouring of the Holy Spirit.  The Church was born as a result of the Spirit-empowered preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the proclamation of His substitutionary death on the Cross and resurrection from the dead.

Not 1,000 things.

Luke, in Acts 4:33 states it like this:

“And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.”

That’s incredible.  Not 1,000 things.

Dear friend, get somewhere where you can hear the Gospel this Easter, hear someone proclaim it again, without apology, and come under the powerful grace of the testimony of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.

Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ, rose from the dead on the third day.

That (not 1,000 things…) changes everything.

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A Whole New Twist on Matthew’s Messianic Genealogy

[HT: Kevin DeYoung]

Give Me Jesus

I came across this video last week and completely wept like a baby…in a good way.  I shared it with my family that night and wept some more.  If my kids don’t hear or get anything else, I want them to know this was the cry of their Daddy’s heart – “Give me Jesus!”

Ruth Graham

This is also cool because of the connection with Billy and Ruth Graham and their grandson Tullian, who I mentioned in my last post.  Ruth, who passed away in 2007, has actually had a genuine impact on my life, since her death.  Just the stories I’ve heard and the poetry she wrote and the influence she clearly had on her family…it’s inspiring to me.

It makes me pray with hope, that in spite of all my sin and shortcomings as a husband and a father and a pastor…maybe the Lord could hide some of that from those I love most and allow a true love for Jesus to leave the bigger imprint.

I’m thinking that’s something to keep praying.

I’ve been singing this little tune in my joke of a singing voice every night since…even tweaking the lyrics to fit the occasion: 

“And when I go to bed…

and when I go to bed…

And when I go to bed…

Give me Jesus…”

Ok, no more rambling.  Enjoy.

[HT: Justin Taylor]

Who Do You Say That I Am?

As I mentioned at the end of my previous post, the Lord gave several preaching/teaching opportunities in August, for which I was very grateful.  I preached twice at my home church (Grace Covenant Church), once at my friend Pastor Doug Lynch’s church (Valley Community Church), and 8 times during the week of August 9-14 at Pastor Doug’s summer camp for youth at Sun Lakes, WA.

I spent a lot of time digging into the Gospels, and in particular the passage in Matthew 16:13-20 where Jesus asks his disciples the massive question that echoes throughout the world still today, “Who do you say that I am?“

It’s the question that hung over Jesus head all through His earthly ministry…and it’s still hanging over Him today.

The identity of Jesus Christ is the core confession of Christian faith!

Christianity is summed up in the person (identity, life, teachings) and work (obedience, death, burial, resurrection) of Jesus Christ.  He is more than the founder.  He is the Foundation.  The nature and identity of Jesus is essential to the meaning of His death on cross for us or anyone.  To say that Jesus Christ is God…is no insignificant confession.  And it’s not only the question that is put to the world…but Jesus thought it essential to put that question specifically to his disciples as well.

The Great Confession is not a one-time event in the life of someone who gets saved and follows Jesus.  Oh the power in the sincere confession, from heart-mind-soul-strength-lips, that daily declares – “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God!”

But what ‘s the most common answer you would receive, if you were to ask 100 random strangers throughout America?

Yep, Jesus was a good moral teacher.  A prophet.  A moral revolutionary.  A martyr for love.  But the One True God in the flesh?  That’s taking it too far…

This much we know according to Scripture:

• He taught with divine authority.
• He had a unique relationship with the Father.
• His favorite self-designation was the title “Son of Man”.
• He emphasized his own identity in his teaching.
• He received worship.
• He equated himself with the Father.
• He forgave sins.
• He performed miracles – displaying the power of God.
• He fulfilled all of the numerous prophecies concerning the Messiah.
• He rose from the dead and appeared bodily to multiple witnesses.