Tag Archives: Resurrection

The Scarred God – John 20:24-29

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Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and look at my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Don’t be faithless, but believe.” Thomas responded to him, “My Lord and my God! Jesus said, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” (John 20:27-29, CSB)

NOTE: In the title of this post don’t misread “Scarred” meaning disfigured as “Scared” meaning afraid.

Did you know that Jesus was talking about you when He spoke these words to Thomas during one of His appearances to His disciples after His resurrection?

Christians today face a dilemma they have faced since Jesus made this statement to Thomas—that of living in that period in time after Christ’s first coming and before His second coming.

Some theologians have called the age in which we live “between the times,” meaning the period of time between Christ’s first and second comings.

While the first generation of Christians was closely connected to Christ’s first coming, all Christians since have had to address the ambiguity of the time between His first and second comings.

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Dead Man Walking – John 11:1-44

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After he said this, he shouted with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out bound hand and foot with linen strips and with his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unwrap him and let him go” (John 11:43-44, CSB).

“Dead man walking” is an idiom used in U.S. prisons to announce a condemned prisoner being walked to the place of execution. The use of the phrase has expanded as a euphemism for anyone facing an impending and unavoidable loss.

But, when referring to Lazarus, dead man walking, is more of an axiom than an idiom. It’s not just a catchphrase but a fact! Lazarus was a man who literally died and was resurrected by Jesus and walked out of his tomb.

Lazarus was a bona fide dead man walking! But, he was not a man walking toward his death–he was a man walking away from his death!

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Living Up – Philippians 3:12-21

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“Only let us live up to what we have already attained. Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do” (Philippians 3:16-17, NIV).

In the 3rd chapter of his letter to the Philippians the Apostle Paul delineates two conflicting lifestyles. One lifestyle is characterized by having confidence in oneself and the material things of this world. Let’s call this living down.

The other lifestyle is characterized by faith in Christ and believing in His resurrection power. This lifestyle is characterized by living one’s life on this earth in preparation for the world to come. Let’s call this living up.

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The Normal Christian Life: Part 2 – 2 Corinthians 6:8-10

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“We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich, as having nothing, yet possessing everything” (2 Corinthians 6:8-10, ESV).

Paradox is used to reframe a reality that is outside of normal perceptions. When used in the Bible, paradox helps us perceive an alternative universe–the Kingdom of God–where God rules and reigns.

The normal Christian life is a great paradox. It’s life, but it’s death. It’s sorrow, yet joyful. It’s deficiency and sufficiency.

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The Normal Christian Life: Part 1 – 2 Corinthians 4:7-12

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“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.  We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you” (2 Corinthians 4:7-12, ESV).

The “treasure in jars of clay” verse (2 Corinthians 4:7) is notably in the top three of my favorite Bible verses! The “treasure” in these verses refers to “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” stated in vs 6. And God gives this knowledge of Himself – this treasure, revealed in Christ Jesus – to human beings to do with as they please,  accept it or reject it.

In these verses the Apostle Paul described what life is like for those who possess this treasure. The lifestyle he described might even be called “The Normal Christian Life” – affliction, bewilderment, persecution, adversity AND eternal life.

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The Good Thing About Death – Psalm 116:15

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eternal-life-road-sign“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones” (Psalm 116:15, NASB).

With Easter approaching it seems appropriate to be thinking about death. And the good thing about death!

While Easter is the time we celebrate the Lord’s resurrection, we should also remember that the only way human beings enter into eternal life is through the death of the physical body.

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Resurrection! Part 4: God’s Anger = God’s Mercy – John 11:33-35

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God's Hand of Mercy “When Jesus saw her crying, and the Jews who had come with her crying, He was angry in His spirit and deeply moved. ‘Where have you put him?’ He asked. ‘Lord,’ they told Him, ‘come and see.’ Jesus wept” (John 11:33-35, HCSB).

This meditation is Part 4 of a four-part series from the story of the raising of Lazarus from death. When Jesus arrived in Bethany after Lazarus had died, He encountered family and friends mourning over the death of Lazarus.

Jesus exhibited a wide range of emotions as He shared in the sorrow of Lazarus’ death with family and friends.

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Resurrection! Part 3: The Most Powerful Words Ever Spoken – John 11:25-26

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prayingskelton“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me, even if he dies, will live. Everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die–ever!” (John 11:25-26, HCSB).

This meditation is Part 3 of a four-part series from the story of the raising of Lazarus from death. When Jesus reached Bethany where His good friend, Lazarus, lived, Lazarus had already died and his body placed in a tomb where it had been for four days.

Martha, one of the sisters of Lazarus, came to meet Jesus as He approached the tomb where Lazarus was buried. Martha told Jesus that Lazarus would not have died if Jesus had been there before he actually died. And the words in these verses were the response of Jesus to Martha’s grief-filled complaint.

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Resurrection! Part 2: Just Let Him Die – John 11:5-7

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die-to-self“Now Jesus loved Martha, her sister, and Lazarus. So when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was. Then after that, He said to the disciples, ‘Let’s go to Judea again.'” (John 11:5-7, HCSB).

This meditation is Part 2 of a four-part series from the story of the raising of Lazarus from death. When Jesus heard that Lazarus was sick, He stayed where He was two more days…

What?

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Resurrection! Part 1: Pain Relief – John 11:1-16

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pain_relief“When Jesus heard it he said, ‘This sickness will not end in death but is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it'” (John 11:4, HCSB).

This meditation is Part 1 of a four-part series from the story of the raising of Lazarus from death.  In this opening part of the story of Lazarus, Jesus received a message from Lazarus’ sisters, Mary and Martha, that their brother (and Jesus’ dear friend) was on his deathbed. They wanted Jesus to come and heal Lazarus so he wouldn’t die.

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