Tag Archives: death

He is Alive! – Luke 24:1-12

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There are many theories banded around about Jesus death.  Many people cannot believe that Jesus actually rose from the dead.  Of course if Jesus had not risen from the dead, there would be no Christian Faith.  We would simply be telling a sad story of a man who said amazing things but then died.  Thankfully, however Jesus defeated death in its own playing ground and rose victorious able to give life to those who believe.

Today’s Our Daily Bread reading makes an extremely good point with regard to anyone doubting the resurrection.  All of Jesus disciples (apart from John) died a martyrs death.  Yes they died for what they believed and what they were telling people about.  Their entire message was based on the fact that Jesus had risen from the grave.  Would men who were making up a story really die for a lie?  Of course not.  I found this such an encouraging way to look at any questions of doubt that may arise.

Some people who wish to disprove the message say that Jesus “woke up” or recovered from basically being unconscious because of all that was done to Him (they claim he had not died).  To clarify, there is no way that Jesus was still alive.  How on earth he had managed to live after the flogging alone, then carrying the cross over His back alone is a testament to His determination and love.  However once upon the cross, there was no way the Romans would let a man down until they were sure the victim was dead.  To be sure a spear was plunged into his side and out came a mixture of blood and water.  When someone dies the blood separates, proof Jesus was dead.  The Romans carried out thousands of crucifixion’s there was no way they were going to get it wrong.

Even if they did get it wrong (which if you remember the spear in the side, they didn’t), having been flogged, lost so much blood, been nailed to a cross and suffocated, being pierced by a spear etc, that a man would be able to make a full recovery and then roll away a tomb stone many times his own body weight to then appear to many disciples around the area.

Stolen body?  Not at all,  the Romans nor the Jews wanted to give Jesus disciples any more reason to “go on” about Jesus.  That’s why they crucified Him!  Thats also why they put guards to stop people getting near Him.  And of course as we have said, if the disciples had stolen Him, why on earth would they die for a lie?  They simply wouldn’t.  And finally then, how would we explain the many appearances of Jesus to Disciples and friends all around the area?

I am 100%, totally and utterly convinced of the resurrection and the power of the Lord Jesus over death!  I am so thankful he came to earth to die for our sins that we whom believe may have everlasting life.  Put any doubt away, and start believes in the Risen Lord.

Amen

Take up your Cross – Luke 9:23

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A blog entry isn’t enough space to fill all the things I want to say about the following, and I will more than likely post a commentary about this verse in the near future.  In the meantime here are some of the home truths I learnt and was reminded of today;

23 Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

(NIV)

A hard verse to stomach perhaps?  Jumped out at me!  Jesus foretells his own death, then invites His disciples (and us) to pick up their own crosses and follow Him.  I really wasnt all together what picking up your own cross meant so I did some digging around.

From what I have read, in a nutshell, taking up your cross is to lead your life as Jesus would live.  We should therefore not indulge  in our selfish desires, thinking only of our own gain, but live a selfless life just as Jesus led.  This is in no way easy, and we can face many oppositions, many conflicting feelings, attacks and stumbling blocks that will try to steer us off the right path.

To gain life, you need to loose it!  That means putting your old life behind you!  Turning 180 degrees, so our backs are to it, and begin walking with Jesus.  Only then will we begin to experience real life!  A life that is given completely and utterly is a life that is guaranteed to succeed!  After all with God in the driving seat we can lean on Him and trust his direction.

When I say guaranteed to succeed, I don’t mean promotions at work, and riches beyond your wildest dreams, but treasures in heaven, spiritual gifts, blessings, a quenched thirst, a fulfilled life.  The persecution you could receive for living for the Lord is but a small price to pay for the rewards we will get from our Saviour.  The reward of life.

An earthly lifetime of truth, and an eternal life with Him.

More Proof? – Romans 1:18-23

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9 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

Every now and again, a little doubt is sometimes entertained by my mind of God existence.  Thankfully any time that happens, within seconds I realise how foolish it to doubt!  Just looking up at the stars at night is such an awesome sight.  Beautiful celestial creations, powerful yet graceful, placed their by Gods hand.

Not just the stars in the sky, but the very nature we see around us is so amazing.  Take a look at this website www.edenpics.com, it is full of pictures of God’s glorious creation.  Awe inspiring landscapes, breath taking views, and science would have you believe that all that beauty was an accident!  A reaction that caused an explosion that created all we see?  Not likely!  All I can see is an awesome masterpiece made by a loving artist.  Our God.

Proof of Gods existence is everywhere.  It is humbling therefore to think that our Father God, loved us SO much that he sent His Son to take away the sin of the world, that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life.  Do you sometimes doubt Jesus existence?  You only need to look at the history books, and how many people wrote about Him, saw Him and had heard of Him.  We believe in the existence of Julius Ceaser, and yet there is not a lot of evidence he actually existed!  We have the Bible, down through the ages, the written word.  The Bible is Truth.

So he existed, but how can we be sure he was the Son of God.  For me it is how everything he said so perfectly matched Gods promises in the Old Testament!  (Check out Isaiah for a start off!)  Check out this link http://www.sowhataboutjesus.com/who.php that looks in depth into was Jesus a Liar, Lunatic or the Son of God.  You will come to the same conclusion I came to long ago, that he really is the Messiah, the Son of God, sent to this world to pay the price for our sins.

Coming to this realisation really humbles me.  What amazing love that He would die for me.  I can’t thank Him enough.  Its at Easter time that I feel so sad and ashamed that my sin drove those nails into His hands and His feet.  But then I remember that He rose again, victorious over death, so we may too have eternal life.  That we may have a relationship with Him, and love him forever.

Thank you God for loving us so much.  Thank you for your sacrifice on the cross.  You are amazing God.  I love you.

Broken for You and Me – 1 Cor. 11:23-26

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This Easter time, people will be exchanging Easter Cards, purchasing and consuming Easter eggs, having Easter egg hunts, visiting family and generally enjoying the time off that the Easter season allows for.  I am reminded of a poem I ususally hear most Christmases however it it still very apt even now:

” Jesus

is the reason, for this season”

Like Christmas people often forget the true meaning of what is becoming more commonly known as the “Holiday Seasons”. Yes, many large companies are now taking on the term “Holiday Seasons” to avoid a direct relationship with Christian Celebrations so as not to offend others.  Television adverts during Easter concentrate on chocolate, and at Christmas, Santa and gifts!

Easter is the time we remember when our Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins on the cross.  He was the perfect sacrifice.  A lamb to the slaughter, untouched by sin, clean and yet he was willing to take the punishment we each deserve!  The part of Easter that fills me with joy is the fact that Jesus rose again.  Showing he had power over death and has gone ahead to prepare a place for each one who believes.

This Easter time, I pray that we don’t get carried away with chocolate and games, and forget the true meaning of Easter.  Of course chocolate and games are fun and I would highly recommend both, however we do need to make sure we spend time with the Lord, thanking Him for what he has done for us.  What he did was the most amazing gift of love.

Thank you Jesus.

Spend Spend Spend – Luke 12:13-21

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“Spend Spend Spend”, the famous words of a British woman in the 1960s who won today’s equivalent of 3 Million pounds!  That is certainly what she did, and quite literally until it was all gone!

We live in a society that is encouraged to live beyond its means.  Credit is freely available to all no matter what credit rating you have.  Images on advertisements, television etc all show us how we are meant to live, and show us the possessions we are meant to own to be fulfilled in life.  Perfumes that will attract the perfect man, designer jewellery that will make you look rich and prosperous, holidays to far off locations, the latest model of car you just have to own.  The list is endless!

In this passage of scripture, Jesus is talking to the crowd when a man who’s brother had inherited a fortune, asks Jesus to get his brother to share it.  Jesus responded;

14Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” 15Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

We can’t add true value to our lives with possessions!  That perfume will not attract the “perfect” man, and that car will not satisfy us.  Possessions are simply our way of trying to make ourselves feel better.  If they could truly satisfy, then we would be content with the ones we have and would not feel the need to stretch ourselves for the next big thing.

Jesus goes on to tell a parable about a rich man who has a good crop one year.  So he decides to build bigger barns to store everything for himself.  The God tells him he will die that night!  This was simply to highlight the fact the possessions are useless to a man who is about to die also!  You have heard the old saying

“You can’t take it with you”.

Well its true.  Your car won’t go to heaven with you!  Instead we need to be storing up our treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:20)!  For when we arrive we will reap the blessings of those treasures for eternity as our earthy treasures will be no more.

By living our lives to glorify the Risen Lord, being generous, loving, patient and kind, by telling others of His

saving grace, spending time with the Lord in prayer and the Word, through fellowship with other Christians we can build up lasting treasures in heaven that we will enjoy when we meet the Lord one day.  Not only that, but by doing these sorts of things during our time of this earth, we will feel fulfilled, satisfied and no longer thirsting for the things of the world that are temporary

but seeking after what is eternally His.

Dealing with Loss – Ruth 1:8-17

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16 “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.

17 Where you die I will die, and there

I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.”

Despite being faced with the loss of her husband, Ruth was adamant that she was going to stick with Naomi.  She didn’t give in, run away, and leave her old life behind her.  Ruth put her relationship with God, and others first looking beyond what had just transpired, and contemplating the future.

We can learn a lot from this.  When we have lost a loved one, or something in life we hold dear, we need to turn to the Lord for strength.  He will wrap his loving tender arms around us, and comfort us.  He will give us strength to cope and to begin to look toward the future.  And even to start to step out toward that future, instead of being stuck still in sadness and hopelessness.

I pray that I can emulate the strength, character and determination that Ruth displays in these verses.

Others Feelings – Matthew 5:21-26

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22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.

This challenged me this morning as I too have been guilty in the past of name calling, and teasing.  One step we can take is to really think about the words we use with people.  Sometimes, without thinking, we can use words that put others down, or can even be offensive.

As Christians, we should be imitating Christ, and building each other up (encouraging on another).  I think it has become culturally acceptable to tease a person “in jest”.  We use the excuse that we are saying these things “as a friends” and “just joking with you!”.  And although people laugh, and the person who is on the receiving end may laugh, they could actually be hurting inside.  Plus the fact you are making fun, even in a “friendly” way, you are still possibly pointing out flaws, or simply putting that person down.

I myself often “poke fun” in a friendly way with friends, but am now challenged to reconsider my approach and to think about what it is I am saying, and how that could affect my brother or sisters feelings.

We can also apply this teaching in situations where someone says something nasty to you.  It is so tempting to want to reply back with something equally as nasty!  Remember all sin is sin.  There is no sin that is more sinful than another.  Of course in human terms we assign categories and levels to Sin and pat ourselves on the back for not committing the “really bad” sins, however this scripture points out that God does not categorise sin in this way.

Romans 6:23
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

I have learnt 2 lessons today.  Firstly, no matter how much I am “joking” I need to really consider what I say to people, and continue to imitate Christ.  Secondly not to categorise sin into “good sin” and “bad sin” buckets.  We will be standing before the almighty Father and Judge, who is perfect.  If we go before him without Jesus, we don’t stand a chance!

Turn to Him, seek forgiveness of your sins, and continue to live for Him.

As a result of this reading, I need to go apologise to a few people!

Fragrance – 2 Corinthians 2:14-17

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15For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.

Another reminder of how important it is to be an example to others of the love and saving grace of our Saviour Jesus Christ.  For some people, we may be the only Christian contact or example they have had in life, for others, we may be a reminder to them of the answer they are seeking.

If people can’t see the difference in us, then we are not going to stand out.  I will try to illustrate:  Imagine as a Christian you are a healthy flower, you feed regularly on the word, share fellowship etc all to help you to continue to grow and bloom.  You are in a bunch of dead flowers, whose leaves and petals have dried and their head droop with sorrow to the ground.

The healthy flower stands out from the others.  Its smell sweet to the scent, its glory radiates against the back drop of death.  People notice that flower, there is something different about it!

Non-Christians should see us as different in a way too.  If I was not to feed regularly on the word thus stunting my growth as a Christian, and if I was to join in earthly activities satisfying my own desires, then I would look very similar to the dead flowers that surround me, and people would not see the Glory of God.

Feed on the “Miracle-Grow” that is His word, blossom and bloom, and be a living example in a world of sin, of Gods Glory that other people may know him, and come to bloom.

Faith in the Promise – Hebrews 11:8-16

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My Grandma died yesterday. It’s a sad time, and it made me think about what happens after death. I read through 2 Corinthians 5:1-10 and was greatly comforted by the description of how our Christian lives unfold, and how we yearn for our eternal spiritual rest in Jesus for eternity.

Today’s reading picks up on the tough times of life. When things are difficult, we often forget that we have such a wonderful promise in Christ Jesus who came to this earth, to die for our sins, that we may have eternal life! Yes, eternal life in heaven.

So when the going get tough, we need to stand strong in faith, knowing that one day,

we will receive our rewards in heaven.

These verses certainly aren’t saying “wish your life away”, as we are responsible as Christian, to make disciples of all nations. Lets not waste our lives waiting for the end, but by the grace of God, lets go forth and spread the good news. We are going to die one day, and we know we are going to a place of unimaginable happiness, so we literally want to take as many people as we can with us!

Picking up further on Faith, we are reminded of the promise we inherit from Abraham, and Abraham and Sarah’s faith in that promise.  Even though the were both too old to have children, they had faith in Gods promise, and because of that it came to pass.

God is God of the impossible, have faith in Him and have faith in His Promises.

What Will They Say? – Matthew 11:7-19

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Sounds like a depressing title!

The Daily Bread reading today has picked up on funerals and how someone has to give a speech on the departed ones life. In this passage Jesus is in essence giving a tribute about John the Baptist.

The Daily Bread reading then asks us a very stirring question: “What will others say about me when it is time to say goodbye”?

Jesus said great things about John the Baptist. John was a faithful servant, he suffered for his beliefs, he dedicated his life in service to the Lord, telling all he could the good news of Jesus’ coming to earth. He stuck to it even in the face of death. What an Obituary he should have!

Other readings have stressed ways of living for the Lord, including imitating him, regular time of reading the word, worship, prayer and fellowships. This reading itself challenges you to think of what you leave behind, and I hope to leave behind a eulogy that is pleasing to the Lord.