It Lasts Forever

Many of us probably feasted on traditional turkey dinners with all the trimmings on Thanksgiving Day, and now we are eating leftovers.

Some may also have used Thanksgiving Day as a time to think of material blessings—and to be thankful for them. And now we can be thankful for leftovers!

Life would be tough without God's blessings—including necessities, leftovers, and even some of our luxuries. But there is another blessing we should remember during the Thanksgiving season: In his great mercy he [God] has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. (I Pet. 1:3b NIV)

This blessing is more important than food, shelter, clothing—or any of the less vital, but enjoyable benefits of comfortable living. Although the new birth cannot be touched or seen, it will last forever.

God gives the new birth as a spiritual feast to all who come to Him, and we never grow tired of it as we do with physical food. There will always be enough to satisfy us over and over. The new birth is an eternal blessing that offers consistent hope and joy, an inheritance can never perish, spoil or fade. . . . (v. 4a) It comes to us directly from God—and will be with us when other blessings fail.

Originally published Novemer 25, 1988.

Picture: Potted plant on deck, 2008. Photo by Solveig.

He Is God of the Living

The Sadducees were a religious sect of Jesus' time that did not believe in either the resurrection from the dead or in eternal life. Jesus came against their doctrine by reminding them of God’s Word to Moses: I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. (Mt. 22:32a NKJV)

I AM is present tense, and in His discussion with the Sadducees Jesus provided a reasoned argument. Although the Sadducees thought the I AM statementwas a cornerstone of their theology, they did not understand the implications. If the I AM God was currently the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—those men who had been dead for centuries would still have life. Jesus said, God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. (Mt. 22:32b) God could not have been the patriarch's I AM God if the men were not still alive.

We can use the same verse and the same reasoning to refute reincarnation. If God is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—and if He is God of the living—then Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob exist as the people they were when they walked on earth—or God could not be their God.

But God is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And He is the God of the living!

Originally published January 15, 1988.

"Because I Live . . ."

When Jesus prepared the disciples for His death, He tried to tell them about the Resurrection: [T]he world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live you also will live. (Jn. 14:19 NIV)

The disciples did not understand—just as we so often fail to understand God’s Word. But the promises are available nevertheless. They’re available to all who come to Him. We will see Jesus and we will rise from the dead.

Jesus’ promises can be especially helpful and comforting when observing occasions such as Memorial Day. Many people will visit graves of family members or beloved friends. We are reminded of death as the final foe—our point of separation from this world. Then we remember the promise of life after death from Jesus.

The Apostle Paul claimed life after death when he quoted Hosea, Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? (I Cor. 15:55)

Originally published May 27, 1983.

The Incorruptible Son

Although the failure of Jesus’ body to decay was a miracle in the material realm, within the spiritual realm it made and makes perfect sense. A sinless, immutable God cannot decompose or decay. Neither death nor Satan will ever prevail against the incorruptible Son of God. It’s spiritually—and therefore physically—impossible.

The importance of Jesus’ resurrection—the victory of His incorruptible body over death—cannot be overemphasized. Paul said, if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is vain . . . you faith is futile, you are still in your sins! (I Cor. 15:14a,17b NKJV) We worship Jesus, in part, because we believe the life of God in Him could not be destroyed.

Furthermore, because Jesus—God manifested in flesh—could not be destroyed, the life of God manifested within individual people cannot be destroyed. Because Christ is within our mortal bodies, we are spiritually alive.

Originally published May 22, 1987 and April 5, 1991
Picture: Lindenwood Park, Fargo, 2008. Photo by Solveig.

His Ministry Continues

Of all the people who have ever lived, only Jesus could say, “it is finished. . . .” (Jn. 19:30b NKJV) The purpose of His human life was fulfilled.

If Jesus’ job was done, why did He appear to Mary Magdalene on Easter morning as she wept by the tomb? Why did He travel with Cleopas and another friend on the road to Emmaus—explaining Scripture as they walked along? Why did He comfort disciples who shut themselves in a room—and breathe the Holy Spirit upon them? (Jn. 20)

Jesus ministered to people after His death and resurrection because He loved them—because He wanted to comfort them—and because they needed to know He still had much to teach them, especially about His resurrection from the dead.

During those visits, He let them know He had a body. A changed but tangible body. Although He walked through a wall, He ate food. At different times He invited His followers to touch Him. He was real—different but real. They were eyewitness.

Originally published March 28, 1986.

People Who Love Him

Thomas had trouble believing Jesus was resurrected from the dead. When the other disciples insisted Jesus had appeared to them, Thomas declared, “Except I see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.” (Jn. 20:25b KJV)

A graphic statement of resistance and unbelief. And yet, Thomas loved Jesus and he couldn’t get past his desire to be with Jesus—he even wanted to be with the other disciples as all of them struggled to find their way in their strange new circumstances.

Jesus knew about Thomas’ statement of unbelief, but He also knew Thomas’ heart. And Jesus goes out of His way to reveal Himself to people who love Him.

When Jesus came to the group again, Thomas was present. Then Jesus spoke directly to Thomas. “Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side, and be not faithless, but believing.” (v. 27)

Thomas, emotionally overcome by the encounter, answered and said unto Him, “My Lord and my God.” (v. 28b) His unbelief was shattered by a Word from God.

Originally published May 12, 1989.
Picture: Roses, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2008. Photo by Solveig.

"My brothers" & "Your Father"

After His resurrection, Jesus talked to Mary of Magdala in the garden of the tomb. She did not recognize Him—until He called her by name. Then she turned, fell at his feet, and cried out His title as Teacher in Aramaic, the common language of the region. “Rabboni!” she said. (Jn. 20:16b NIV)

Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” (v. 17)

In that intimate moment, Jesus called the disciples brothers, something He had not done before. Then, after referring to God as His Father, he added, and your Father . . .

With those few words, Jesus revealed that His death on Calvary had destroyed divisions. A division between God and His people had changed and a division between Jesus and the disciples had changed—both washed away by the Blood He shed on the cross.

Originally published April 8, 1983.

Come, See the Place

The concept of a resurrection seemed impossible to the women who visited the tomb on Easter morning. Then, they found the stone rolled away . . . but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. (Lk. 24:2a,3 NIV)

To make matters worse, when they tried to tell the disciples what had happened, the disciples did not understand them; their words seemed to them like nonsense. (v. 11b)

There are many who still think the story is nonsense. And truthfully, it goes against our understanding of reality. But God was not deterred by the disciples questions and He is not deterred by our questions. He does not defend Himself, He invites people to examine His Son Jesus—His life and His ministry—the works He did—the Word He spoke—His crucifixion—and His claim of victory over death and the grave.

On that first Easter morning, when the angel invited the women to inspect the tomb, the angel said, “Do not be afraid, for I know you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.” (Mt. 28:5b,6 NKJV)

Originally published April 20, 1984.
Picture: Floral plant arrangement, 2006. Photo by Ken.

His Time in the Tomb

Jesus’ time in the tomb is a mystery. How were His graveclothes removed? How long was He there before He descended into hell? How long was He in hell? Did the angels greet Him after He had already come back to life—or did He come back to life after they rolled the stone away?

We know that on Friday afternoon Joseph of Arimathea went to Pilate to request the dead body of Jesus. Pilate checked to make sure Jesus was actually dead. Then Joseph, when he had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his new tomb. . . . (Mt. 27:59-60a NKJV). One of the other Gospels mentions that Nicodemus helped Joseph.

On Sunday morning, Jesus left the grave alive.

The impossible happened. A man rose from the dead. He rose victorious over the grave and death. And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. (I Cor. 15:45)

Originally published April 12, 1993.

Looking Forward

Most of us have experienced a time when life seemed utterly black, hopeless. Jesus death on the cross was such a time for His disciples. All hopes of a kingdom on earth were dashed—and they didn’t understand the eternal kingdom Jesus had talked about. They couldn’t conceive of the resurrection that would follow. It appeared that evil controlled their future when Jesus was delivered into the hands of sinful men. . . . (Lk. 24:7 RSV)

So often our darkest hours are preludes for a resurrection. When we think there is no hope, God is doing His thing, working with a master plan set in place before written history and beyond our wildest human imaginations.

Although the disciples didn’t understand, Jesus did. The writer of Hebrews explains this when he wrote, Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross. (Heb. 12:2a NIV)

Lent is meaningful because it points to Easter.

Originally published April 9, 1982.