Tag: lack of faith
Jesus is alive!
Scripture reading for March 3rd: Mark 16
When the women came to the tomb on the first day of the week, they expected to anoint the body of Jesus with spices. They found the tomb open and saw a young man dressed in white robes sitting where the body had been laid. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. But go and tell the disciples and Peter. “He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him, just as He told you.'” (Mark 16:6-7) The women did as they were told, but the disciples did not believe them. Jesus appeared to two others as well, but the rest again refused to believe.
It may seem surprising that those who had been with Jesus had a hard time with the resurrection. Jesus had plainly told His disciples what would happen. (Mark 10:33-34) But they had also witnessed the crucifixion and were humans of Adam’s line themselves. Jesus met them where they were, and rebuked them for their unbelief as He had done on other occasions. He then sent them out to share the good news with the whole world!
The resurrection of Jesus Christ marked a turning point in the history of mankind. In Adam, all men and women were born in sin and had the curse of death. There was nothing that they could do to save themselves. But God sent His Son, born of a woman, to come and live among men. He demonstrated the love and mercy of God by forgiving sins and healing sickness and disease. But the greatest miracle, was His defeat of the curse of sin and the resulting penalty of death on the cross and resurrection from the dead!
The God of the Living!
Scripture reading for April 21st: Luke 20:27-47
Are we eternal beings or just here on earth by time and chance? What happens when we die? Will there be life after death? If so, what will life after death be like? Jesus had such a discussion with the Saducees in today’s reading. These Saducees were sad you see, because they did not believe in the resurrection or heaven! (Luke 20:27)
These religious leaders called the Saducees were the ancient equivalent of the anti-supernatural believers of our day. They had trouble in thinking about the subject of resurrection because when a person died, it looked to them that it was all over. The body went into the ground and when a person was dead, they were gone forever! This view has serious implications for how we live our lives here on earth.
They came to Jesus to debate this question and try and trap Him. They asked about a situation where a man who was married had seven brothers. He passed away and according to the Law of Moses, a brother was to marry the widow and have children for his dead brother. In their story, each died in turn after having married the widow, until all seven and the widow had died and left no children. Their question for Jesus was: “Now then, at the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?” (Luke 20:33)
“Jesus replied, “The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. But those who are considered worthy of taking part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry or be given in marriage, and they can no longer die: for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection. …He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to Him all are alive.” (Luke 20:34-36,38)
Jesus challenged their lack of faith in the resurrection. He explained that those who would take part in that age and the resurrection were alive. He explained from the books of Moses that God was the God of the living and Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were alive! Have you accepted God’s offer to be a “child of the resurrection?” Today is the best day to respond by repentance and faith in Jesus Christ!
Sunday Rest and Reflection:Hometown Prophets!
Dear Friends of God,
Greetings in the wonderful name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Savior of the world! We have enjoyed our first week reading the New Testament and the story of Jesus! He is a wonderful Savior and worker of miracles! I pray that you are gathering today with God’s people to worship Him and celebrate your life in Him! In Him we live and move and have our being!
As I look back on this past week’s reading, I find the story of Jesus visiting his hometown of Nazareth and visiting the synagogue to teach there. His relatives and the people of the town were amazed at His teaching and wondered at where Jesus got His miraculous power since he was a simple carpenter’s son. They knew his father and mother and brothers and sisters. As they thought about his earthly family, they took offense at him! How could someone with such a common family have such miraculous power?
“But Jesus said to them, “Only in His hometown and in His own house is a prophet without honor.” And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.” (Matthew 13:57b-58) Sometimes, familiarity is a stumbling block to faith. We have a hard time becoming like a little child and believing. Our perceptions from our senses block the reception of the word of God. Our faith comes by hearing and receiving the word of God. We have to take the word into our hearts and place our trust in God’s ability to perform His word. When we get our eyes on the messenger and begin to reason, we often miss out on the miraculous!
Take a moment today to reflect on your own life. Are you giving honor to Jesus Christ as the Son of God? Do you find yourself critiquing the preacher or messenger and failing to put your faith in God and His word? Is your own unbelief a hindrance to receiving what you need from God? Confess if necessary and choose to believe!
“People brought all their sick to Him and begged Him to let the sick just touch the edge of His cloak, and all who touched Him were healed.” (Matthew 14:35b-36) Crossing the Sea of Galilee, Jesus came to a land where people believed! Miracles came with faith!
In His Love, Pastor John