Tag: three days
A Word of Knowledge!
Scripture reading for February 21: Mark 10
“And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the twelve again, He began to tell them what was to happen to Him, saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him over to the Gentiles. And they will mock Him and spit on Him, and flog Him and kill Him. And after three days, He will rise.” Mark 10:32-34
This passage of Scripture describes the disciples and Jesus walking on the road to Jerusalem for the last time. Jesus had already told them on two other occasions that He would suffer and die in Jerusalem and then rise again on the third day. This was not fully understood by the disciples, and they were afraid as the journeyed onward. It is insightful that Jesus walked ahead of them. A good leader goes ahead and Jesus sought to help them by telling them what lie ahead as well. Through prayer and consultation with His Father, Jesus knew in detail the path that He would walk. He understood the mission and the demonstration of love that He would give to bring many souls to salvation and glory.
Jesus gave His disciples a word of knowledge of events to come. He demonstrated that as God, He knew the end from the beginning. He revealed details of the events to come that we know today took place just as He had foretold. Not only that, these events fulfilled Scripture thus proving God’s awesome fore-knowledge. He is comforting these disciples and us as well as He reveals the triumphant resurrection after three days. Our world view is expanded by Jesus’ amazing words of truth.
Have you ever followed Jesus with amazement and fear at the same time? Was there ever a time in your life when someone or God gave you a word of knowledge that calmed your fears? How does this story help you to trust Jesus Christ and His knowledge of your future?
Prayer: I thank You Father, that You know all things past, present and future. Thank You for calming my fears and amazing me at Your understanding and knowledge of details to come. As I call to You in my fear, reveal what I need to walk in faith through my trial. Amen.
Make it secure as you can!
Scripture reading for February 6: Matthew 27
“When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it be given to him. And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away. . . .The next day, the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while He was still alive “After three days I will arise.” Therefore order the tomb to be made secure. . . .,Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.” Matthew 27:57-66
Jesus had willingly given His life and blood on the cross according to plan and gave up His spirit after proclaiming His work done. A disciple named Joseph from Arimathea came to claim the body for burial in his own newly made tomb. He was obviously a friend of the family and the other disciples as well. His actions fulfilled prophesy (Isaiah 53:9). Jesus was only to be there temporarily as He had said. It would be a three-day lease!
But those who had Jesus crucified were also aware of Jesus’ claim to rise again after three days. They came to Pilate asking for help. In their world view, the only way Jesus’ body would arise is if someone would steal it from the grave. Pilate agreed with their view and assigned soldiers to guard the grave. His instructions to the armed Roman soldiers: “Make it as secure as you can.” These soldiers would be no match for the fishermen and tax collectors that followed the ‘Impostor’ Jesus. They sealed the stone and surrounded the grave site thinking all was secure! After all, it was foolish to believe in resurrection.
How does the announcement of Jesus, “After three days I will arise,” square with your understanding of our world? Why do you think those who crucified Jesus were worried about Jesus’ body disappearing? Do you think Pilate was at all concerned that Jesus might actually rise from the dead after three days?
Prayer: Father God, I am amazed by the prophetic preparation and fulfilment of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection that is laid out in Scripture. Thank You for expanding my world view to include resurrection from the dead through Your Son’s resurrection. Jesus Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Amen!
Thankful for One greater than Jonah!
Scripture reading for September 29th: Amos 8-9, Obadiah, Jonah 1-2
Key Scriptures: Jonah 1:14-17 “Then they cried to the Lord, “O Lord, please do not let us die for taking this man’s life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for You, O Lord have done as You pleased.” Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. At this the men greatly feared the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows to Him. But the Lord provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights.”
Jonah had been instructed to go to Nineveh and preach God’s coming judgment. Jonah rebelled and boarded a ship for Tarshish. A great storm arose and God revealed it was Jonah who had caused it. Jonah told them to cast him into the sea. They did and this calmed the angry waves. God provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, where he stayed for three days and nights. His ordeal mirrors prophetically that of Jesus Christ over 800 years later, who preached repentance to His own people!
God’s amazing plans: “He (Jesus) answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except for the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented a the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here.”” (Matthew 12:39-41)
The sign of Jonah!
Scripture reading for April 5th: Luke 11:14-36
Jesus’ ministry was marked by supernatural power. He was a man of prayer who sought God for instructions each day and then walked out what God showed Him to do. He did not play to the crowd, doing miraculous signs just to please those who watched. He wasn’t into popularity or fame, but instead was solely focused on His Father’s will.
There were those who were skeptical of Jesus’ spiritual power to cast out demons. After the miraculous deliverance of a mute man, some accused Him of casting out these devils by the power of Beelzebub, the prince of demons. Still others wanted to see more signs and the crowds grew in anticipation of a greater show of power. (Luke 11:14-16) “As the crowds increased, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It asks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation.” “ (Luke 11:29-30)
Jesus did not take the popular approach and perform some more miracles for these skeptical people. He gave them a word picture from the Scriptures about one of their prophets, Jonah, who was running from God and His purpose for his life. A great storm came upon the boat as he fled and the result was Jonah thrown overboard and swallowed by a great fish. (Jonah 2:14-17) Jonah spent three days and nights in the belly of that fish before being vomited out on the shores of Nineveh. The Ninevites repented at his preaching and were spared disaster. (Jonah 3:4-10) (Matthew 12:39-41)
The major sign Jesus would give these skeptical people was His own death, burial, and resurrection. On the third day He would rise from the dead and His resurrection would proclaim He was a greater prophet than Jonah. These people would be judged for their rejection of His message of repentance. “The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now One greater than Jonah is here.” (Luke 11:32)
Be careful about seeking more signs that Jesus is Messiah. Believe the grand sign, Jesus Christ alive from the dead after three days! His death and resurrection prove His power and declare He is the Son of God! (Romans 1:4)