Today in the Word for April 8-14
Today in the Word
Thursday April 8, 2021
Is mere belief of much value? Doesn’t our belief have to be directed toward something or someone? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David.
When Jesus arrives at the house of Mary, Martha and Lazarus, he is confronted by an angry sister who tells Jesus he is too late to help her dead brother. Jesus replies in John 11:25-27:
“…I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
“Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.””
Jesus announces, ‘…I am the resurrection…’ His raising of Lazarus from the dead is to confirm he is ‘The Resurrection’. Jesus’ exit from the tomb on Easter morning is to confirm he is ‘The Resurrection’. And ‘The Resurrection’ has the power to raise us upon our death.
How are we to survive our death? It is about believing in a ‘who’. We, along with Martha are to believe that Jesus is the Messiah. In other words, we are to believe that Jesus is the fulfillment of prophecy of a coming savior and king. And we are to believe Jesus is the ‘Son of God…come into the world.’ We are called to believe that Jesus is truly God, and that he came to earth and lived as a human like us for a time, and as God, his death made it possible for us to be in relationship with God the Father. And we are to believe that he rose from the grave which makes possible our raising from the dead.
Mere belief has limited value. We are called to believe in a ‘who.’ We are to believe in a person. That person is Jesus. He is the Messiah and the Son of God. He is ‘The Resurrection.’ If we believe in him, we can survive our own death.
And that’s The Word from Pastor David of Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.
Today in the Word
Friday April 9, 2021
Do the stories of Jesus and Lazarus make the same points? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. In John 11:14-15 Jesus states:
“…”Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe…”
After Jesus’ crucifixion, John 19:33-35 reports:
“But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true…he testifies so that you also may believe.”
Roman soldiers were professionals at execution. Breaking the crucified’s legs would hasten suffocation, but Jesus’ death was tested by puncturing his pericardium. If dead, fluid would exit with the blood. If still alive, just blood would appear.
Both stories make the same critical point: both Lazarus and Jesus were really dead. No doubt. No question. No uncertainty. Why? Because an actual resurrection is not possible without an actual death.
And that’s the Word from Deer Lodge Assembly. Tune in Monday for more comparisons of Jesus and Lazarus.
Today in The Word
Monday April 12, 2021
Do the stories of Jesus and Lazarus make similar points? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. Friday we learned that Jesus and Lazarus really died. John 11:38-39 reports concerning Lazarus:
“Jesus…came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. “Take away the stone,” he said.
“But Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.””
John 19:40-42 tell of Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus::
“Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen…At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid…they laid Jesus there.”
After the weekend, women visit Jesus’ tomb. Both men are really buried. Their death is affirmed by their burial for several days. They aren’t in a coma. They didn’t pass out. They aren’t ‘mostly dead.’ They are wrapped up mummy fashion, and entombed.
An honest investigator is compelled to agree. Both Jesus and Lazarus are really buried. Their death, prior to their resurrection is certain.
And that’s the Word from Deer Lodge Assembly. Tune in Tuesday for more comparisons of Jesus and Lazarus.
Today in The Word
Tuesday April 13, 2021
Was Lazarus really raised from the dead? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. After the story of Lazarus’ resurrection, John 12:1-2, 9-11 reads:
“…Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him…Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well,”
The raised Lazarus is throwing a large party in his own house for Jesus. He is quite alive at his own party. He is viewed by a large crowd who are curious to see someone back from the dead.
Bethany is only a couple miles from Jerusalem, the capitol. The religious leaders there do not dispute that Lazarus is alive. In fact they confirm he is back from the dead by putting out a contract on him. After all, there is no rational point to killing off someone who is dead.
The testimony of the crowd and the reaction of the political leaders confirm that Lazarus was really raised from the dead by Jesus. Isn’t it time to believe Jesus is the ‘Resurrection and the Life’?
And that’s The Word from Pastor David of Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.
Today in the Word
Wednesday April 14, 2021
Was Jesus really raised from the dead? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. A week after many reports of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, John 20:24-29 reports:
“Now Thomas…was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So…he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
…Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and…said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe….blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.””
Thomas is a skeptic about something as audacious as Jesus’ resurrection. He figures his fellow disciples are hallucinating or something. Jesus comes to him and offers proof that he is present in the flesh. He is no apparition. He is really raised.
Jesus’ words are still applicable to us. We were not there when Thomas touched Jesus’ nail-scarred hands. But we are challenged by scripture’s report. Will we believe? John goes on to say in verse 31:
“…these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
And that’s The Word from Pastor David of Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.