Four Realities that are Rooted in the Resurrection of Jesus
Friday, March 28th, 2008 : By Dan Miller
On Sunday (March 23.08) we outlined Luke 24:1-10 and thought through how incredible the very idea of a person being resurrected was and also how impossible it is for a resurrection to happen if it were not for the power of God.
As we moved toward a conclusion I noted four outcomes that find there basis in the power of the resurrection.
The Bible is true
God keeps His Word
“Death” has been defeated
Anyone can enjoy God now and forever
Let’s address reality #1, “The Bible is true.”
For centuries the Bible has spoken of a coming Messiah. In Acts 13:26-39, Paul cites three Old Testament passages, Ps. 2:7, Isa. 55:3, and Ps. 16:10. In each of …
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It’s Resurrection Day!
Sunday, March 23rd, 2008 : By Dan Miller
Jesus had a way of showing up in the midst of crisis and make what seemed to be the end just the beginning. Today we celebrate this hope in the fact that Jesus rose from the dead. The subject of resurrection was nothing new to Jesus. Remember Lazarus? (see John 11). Jesus had been told Lazarus is sick, so he waited. A good friend… waiting… the ability to heal? This seemed very odd. When Jesus finally arrives, Lazarus has been dead four days. Four days of waiting is significant due to the popular Jewish teaching of the day that the soul would hover over and around the body for three days. In waiting four days Jesus removes any doubt that …
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It’s Saturday of the Passion Week
Saturday, March 22nd, 2008 : By Dan Miller
Jesus is dead. The disciples are stunned and scattered.
The religious leaders are thanking God for exterminating one more religious nut while basking in the glow of self righteousness.
Mary rides the waves of her memories of Jesus… a baby… a young child… a young man… a son brutally killed!
Jesus’ family is reminding themselves that they pleaded with Jesus to not be so fanatical. They told Jesus things like, “Don’t make enemies!” “Don’t speak like that to our religious leaders!” “Jesus be patient, God has told us that He will send the Messiah to make things right…” Now they must have been left in mourning for all the things Jesus could have done to make things better…“Jesus, what were …
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It’s Friday of the Passion Week
Friday, March 21st, 2008 : By Dan Miller
Friday, April 6th, 2007 : By Dan Miller
As you slept last night…
Jesus was betrayed in the Garden by a one of his disciples - Judas (Luke 22:47-48). Jesus was then taken to the former high priest, Annas (John 18:13). Jesus, the King of the Jews, was bound and delivered to Caiaphas - the reigning high priest who just happens to be the son-in-law of Annas (wink,wink). Then Jesus was taken before the Sanhedrin, a group of top ranking religious leaders who were modeled after a council of elders that Moses convened to administer justice to keep Israel pure before their God (see Numbers 11:16). Jesus, the Son of God was bound by man - the creation of God. The entire …
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It’s Thursday of the Passion Week
Thursday, March 20th, 2008 : By Dan Miller
Thursday of the Passion Week invites us into the most intimate picture we have of Christ with His disciples. After three years, Jesus and His disciples had formed a bond that was more than simply teacher and follower they have become friends (see John 15:15). The emotions of the moment were thick. The air in Jerusalem was filled with religious activity since it was now the time of Passover. Jesus knew his time was short, but wanted to emblazon some final truths on the mind of His disciples so that when He is gone from their side, they will know that they are still in His hands. At this point in the story we turn to the Apostle John as …
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It’s Wednesday of the Passion Week
Wednesday, March 19th, 2008 : By Dan Miller
Wednesday of the Passion Week is often called “Silent Wednesday.” The dominant thought is that this day was Judas’s day of arranging the betrayal of Jesus. It seems appropriate that a man who sought riches through betrayal would receive silence as his reward.
Judas Iscariot is a tragic figure
Judas is a derived from Judah which means “Jehovah leads.” Is there a more paradoxical name given in history? We know that Judas was from Judah (southern Israel) from the fact that his last name is a geographic reference. Judas last name is Iscariot which is a compound word made up of “ish” (man) and “Kerioth” - a city in southern Judea see Joshua 15:25). Therefore, Judas is the “man from Kerioth.” Out …
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It’s Tuesday of the Passion Week
Wednesday, March 19th, 2008 : By Dan Miller
It is now Tuesday in the Passion Week of Christ. Jesus goes back into Jerusalem (Mark 11:27) and is immediately challenged by the religious leaders of the day: By what authority are you going these things? And who gave you this authority? (see Matt. 21:23). These two questions set off a theological explosion since these two inquiries focus on the epicenter of the conflict between Jesus and the religious leaders, the true identity of Jesus Christ. It is easy to expose what the religious leaders of the day thought of Christ since they viewed Jesus’ authority as fake, a simple poser that needed to be exposed as a heretic. It is now clear that the religious leaders refuse to see …
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It’s Monday of the Passion Week
Sunday, March 16th, 2008 : By Dan Miller
Every year, I repost my Passion Week blog to help us walk through the events of the last week of Christ’s life on earth. It is my hope that as you meditate on the events of the last week in the life of Christ you will worship Him for all that He is and has done for us.
The day after the “Triumphal Entry” or “Palm Sunday” Jesus again enters Jerusalem in the morning, but this time he is walking. No ceremony, no joyful cheers, just a plant that will serve as a living parable. It was early and Jesus was hungry (Matt. 21:18-22). Upon investigating the tree, Jesus sees that the tree that was intended to produce figs had …
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