Friday: Further Thought – Crucified and Risen
As did all the other Gospel writers, Matthew wrote about the resurrection of Jesus. Also, as did his fellow writers, he wrote next to nothing about what the meaning of the Resurrection itself was. Though they depicted the story of the Resurrection, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John gave us no real theological explanation of it, even though it’s so central to the Christian faith. It’s in Paul’s writings that we get the most detailed explanation about the meaning of the cross.
Image © Review & Herald Publishing from GoodSalt.com
“But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive” (1 Cor. 15:20-22, NKJV). Paul also wrote that we have been “buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead” (Col. 2:12, NKJV). Peter, too, has something to say on this crucial topic: “There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 3:21, NKJV). Though we don’t know why the Gospel writers didn’t go into any detailed explanation, some scholars have seen this as more evidence of the truthfulness of their accounts. After all, writing many years after the events, why didn’t they use this opportunity to give a detailed explanation of what they wanted people to believe about the Resurrection? If it were a fraud or a con, why not take the opportunity to make it mean whatever they wanted it to mean? Instead, they simply tell the story, making no attempt to embellish it with any theological explanations as to what it all was supposed to mean.
Discussion Questions:
|
(16)
The main problem that people had then and that we still have today as Christians is that we have too many doubts. We do not want to believe things as they unfold, we hear some doubted that Jesus had indeed risen. They saw the empty tomb but some still didn't believe.
We also note that the resurrection was the pinnacle of Christ's victory on accomplishing his earthily mission.
Doubts are plentiful where ever you look. The argument regarding creation and evolution is probably the biggest problem that most in the scientific world face.
Doubts only exist in those who entertain them. Satan will always bring doubts, but there is never lack of evidence that all doubts are without cause. Yet, due to our chosen ignorance of God's character, government and purposes, which He has revealed to us, we entertain needless doubts.
Ignorance in the face of all that God has revealed is willful.
It was the straight testimony of Jesus life, death and resurection that stimulated the initial growth of the early christian church. It would appear that the gospel message required Paul to elaborate in the detail when speaking to the Jewish converts as there was more for them to unlearn the traditions of men before they could learn the purity of Christ.
Thinking that Christ is in the most holy place for my case makes me fearful. If only I died that day I received my baptism..... How can I be "with boldness to enter the holiest with the blood" yet I've done so much. The problem is that some I've been to even immediately hearing a warning only to regret thereafter.
Accepting Christ righteousness as our own and walking in faith that we have received it is our only hope. As Adventist we understand that Salvation can be lost and so some of us live in constant fear that we aren't saved at any given moment. That is not Gods intention for us. He gave us His son on the cross so that we could by accepting His offering be saved. We must walk in faith in accordance with that promise
If we are in constant fear, it can only be for one of the following reasons:
(1) Our picture of God is that of an angry God. "The enemy of good blinded the minds of men, so that they looked upon God with fear; they thought of Him as severe and unforgiving." ---[Steps to Christ 10.2]
(2) We have unconfessed and unresolved sin in our lives as sin leads to fear (just like Adam and Eve who hid after sin because they were afraid).
The resurrection helps us to understand the state of the dead. Yes, those in Christ will live again, but only at His Second Coming!
1 Cor 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming.
Satan did not mind Jesus dying, actually he made sure he did. But he knew that in Christ Resurrection was victory over death which is the major result of sin. If death is overcame then sin is a defeated foe. Also he knew that Christ had a work of Priesthood awaiting in heaven therefore resurrection meant Salvation to all men is guaranteed
Amen praise the Lord
Our saviour redeemer and soon coming King
Jesus lived and died was resurrected and will return for us
Let's be faithful while we tell others of His saving grace
Happy sabbath
Romans 6:4 "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."
-
The death of Jesus addresses guilt of the individual. The resurrection deals with the individual's depravity and the fear of nothing after death.
Hebrews 2:15 "And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage."
So many people get cheated on having a fulfilled life now due to fear, peer pressure and intimidation.
All will be resurrected. Those who did not have their characters transformed or decriminalized, and did not have their thoughts detoxed, or go through a mind makeover will be in the 2nd resurrection.
The whole journey of Jesus to the cross showed me how important i am to God.The agony He went through in the garden of Gethemane and the seperation from the glory to become sin for me make me to feel safe and to understand better that i am not my own, i am His and i should let Him lead me as He is the way, protect me as He is my shepard and to guard me.I am assured that am really safe in Him.No fear and no worry.I am covered.
Wrapped up the study of Matthew last Sabbath.
There are 1074 verses in Matthew. SDA members had about 91 days (91,000) minutes to read those verses. Could have easily been read in 1 minute per day. Some statistics reveal that 90% of churchgoers have never read the whole bible. Matthew is just 3% of the bible. Anyone interested in remnant church quality control or any degree of accountability?
Take a survey and see what percentage of Sabbath school members even read all of Matthew. Not like the old days when SS teachers had the yellow cards and would ask who studied their SS lesson daily.
Just who took 90 minutes over 13 weeks to even read one single gospel.
Maurice Ashton, one of the moderators, issued the challenge on SSNET to read Matthew right through and some 90 people commented that they had taken the challenge. That response was encouraging.
And I am sure we all learned new insights and understanding from the reading.
Hi Jim:
Thanks for writing some useful tidbits about the Bible and asking some interesting questions.
Your post reminded me of the words written by EGW re Bible study: "One passage studied until its significance is clear to the mind and its relation to the plan of salvation is evident, is of more value than the perusal of many chapters with no definite purpose in view and no positive instruction gained." --- [SC 90.2]
Dear Jim,
There are many of us who still study the Sabbath School Lessons daily. The Bible talks of a remnant who will be saved. My prayer is that many of us will be in that remnant.