Monday, March 28, 2016

40 days before Ascension - The Road to Emmaus

The Road to Emmaus happens on the same day of the Resurrection.

Why Jesus' Resurrection can't be a lie? Did the Disciple hid the body of Christ?
There is no possibility that Disciples could have hid the body of Christ, because the very idea of Resurrection was foretold by Jesus and the Roman officials and the Jews knew it. They had a strong protection and the events that took place suggests that the Disciples had no chance to hid his body.

The Disciples were disappointed: Though being with Jesus for more than three years, having seen many miracles they were devastated when the event of Crucifixion took place. Most of them went back to their old profession, Judas killed himself, Peter went back to fishing.

Matthew 28(NASB)

Jesus Is Risen!

28 Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave. 2 And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. 3 And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 4 The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men. 5 The angel said to the women, “[a]Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. 6 He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. 7 Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you.”

8 And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples. 9 And behold, Jesus met them [b]and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him. 10 Then Jesus *said to them, “[c]Do not be afraid; go and take word to My brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they will see Me.”

11 Now while they were on their way, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had happened.12 And when they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, 13 and said, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.’ 14 And if this should come to the governor’s ears, we will win him over and [d]keep you out of trouble.” 15 And they took the money and did as they had been instructed; and this story was widely spread among the Jews, and is to this day.

In the Road to Emmaus. Jesus tells the whole story of the Bible to the two disciples:

“O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary for the [c]Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” 27 Then beginning [d]with Moses and [e]with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.

Beginning with Moses: Moses was said to be a great leader who helped to deliver the Israelite from the Egyptians. The Disciples would have asked Jesus that they thought Jesus was suppose to deliver them from the Romans. Jesus would have said, that a blameless lamb's sacrifice is required to save the whole world, through the blood of the Lamb all are saved. The final plague in which God asked every Israelite to mark the door with the blood of the Lamb - The celebration of the Passover. Jesus would have explained one by one.

Beginning from the Beginnings:
God had a perfect harmony with the humans, Adam and Eve were instructed to eat everything except the fruit of life and death, but Adam failed. But God did not turn his back on humanity, providing a solution stating, (Genesis 3:15

This also points out to the fact that the Messiah should be suffered and crucified so that the perfect harmony between God and Humanity will be restored forever.

The disciples suggest that God could have just wiped out the entire human race who have sinned and oppose God, Just like the great flood. But God again protects and saves one family - Noah's and through a rainbow he establishes a new covenant stating, (Genesis 9:12-17

God's Promise to Abraham: Your descendants will be like that of the stars..
Patriarchs

Luke 24:13-35New American Standard Bible (NASB)

The Road to Emmaus

13 And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was [a]about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place. 15 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them. 16 But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him. 17 And He said to them, “What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, answered and said to Him, “Are You [b]the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?” 19 And He said to them, “What things?” And they said to Him, “The things about Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people, 20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to the sentence of death, and crucified Him. 21 But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened. 22 But also some women among us amazed us. When they were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and did not find His body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just exactly as the women also had said; but Him they did not see.” 25 And He said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary for the [c]Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” 27 Then beginning [d]with Moses and [e]with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.

28 And they approached the village where they were going, and He acted as though He were going farther. 29 But they urged Him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day [f]is now nearly over.” So He went in to stay with them. 30 When He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, Hebegan giving it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from [g]their sight. 32 They said to one another, “[h]Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was [i]explaining the Scriptures to us?” 33 And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, andfound gathered together the eleven and those who were with them,34 saying, “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 Theybegan to relate [j]their experiences on the road and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread.

Sunday, March 27, 2016

Significance of Resurrection Sunday - Easter

God came in human flesh, died for our sins and the story does not end there. As like everyone who hopes in Lord Jesus Christ, Christ himself proved his word by coming back from the death and never to die again. No man has ever claimed to live forever and no man has proved, but only Jesus.

Significance of Resurrection:
Jesus proves that he is God, One of most fascinating thing in the life of Jesus is Resurrection. What he claimed to be - The Son of God to be suffered, died and to be raised on the third day has come true.

If Christ has risen why does not he now come alive and prove that he is God?
This question is somehow very much similar to what the religious leaders at the time of Crucifixion of Christ said, "Matthew 27:40 New International Version (NIV)
and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!”

The element of believing in Christ requires Faith,
Hebrews 11:6 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

It is blessed to have faith in the true God.
John 20:29 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Jesus *said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”

We will be Jesus's brothers and sisters.
Matthew 12:48-50 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
But [a]Jesus answered the one who was telling Him and said, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” 49 And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, “Behold My mother and My brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.”

So, It is very much necessary to have faith in Christ that God has raised him from the death. That we will also have hope after our death to live with him. That we will be accepted in his kingdom to be with him forever. He is now seated at the right hand of God. Coming to Judge the world as the Lion.

Because he lives in us through the Holy Spirit we doesn't want the evidence of his resurrection, as Jesus said, in John 15:26 King James Version (KJV) But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

If Christ has not raised from the death we are still in our sins:
If Christ has not raised from the death our faith is in vain:
If Christ has not raised from the death we have no hope in eternal life:

The list goes on...

Therefore Christ has risen.. He is no more in the tomb... He is in the right hand of the Father... He is coming soon...

Paul explains the need and importance of Resurrection in I Corinthians 15

1 Corinthians 15

1 Corinthians 15New American Standard Bible (NASB)

The Fact of Christ’s Resurrection

15 Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand,2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast [a]the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.

3 For I delivered to you [b]as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; 7 then He appeared to [c]James, then to all the apostles;8 and last of all, as [d]to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.9 For I am the least of the apostles, [e]and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

12 Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; 14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. 15 Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified [f]against God that He raised [g]Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; 17 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also whohave fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.

The Order of Resurrection

20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. 21 For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in [h]Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming, 24 then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death.27 For He has put all things in subjection under His feet. But when He says, “All things are put in subjection,” it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him. 28 When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all in all.

29 Otherwise, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized for them?30 Why are we also in danger every hour? 31 I affirm, brethren, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 32 If [i]from human motives I fought with wild beasts atEphesus, what does it profit me? If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die. 33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” 34 Become sober-minded [j]as you ought, and stop sinning; for some have no knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.

35 But someone will say, “How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?” 36 You fool! That which you sow does not come to life unless it dies; 37 and that which you sow, you do not sow the body which is to be, but a bare grain, perhaps of wheat or of [k]something else. 38 But God gives it a body just as He wished, and to each of the seeds a body of its own. 39 All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of men, and another flesh of beasts, and another flesh of birds, and another of fish. 40 There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one, and the glory of the earthly is another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory.

42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown [l]a perishablebody, it is raised [m]an imperishable body; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living soul.” The last Adam became alife-giving spirit. 46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. 47 The first man is from the earth,[n]earthy; the second man is from heaven. 48 As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly. 49 Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, [o]we will also bear the image of the heavenly.

The Mystery of Resurrection

50 Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does [p]the perishable inherit [q]the imperishable. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised [r]imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For this[s]perishable must put on [t]the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 But when this [u]perishable will have put on[v]the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law;57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not invain in the Lord.

Word Of God