In His own image God created Man;
By so doing, He honored Man a’er all,
Hoping that Man would keep it spic and span,
Yet He foreknew Man’d smear it by his fall!
God put Adam in a wonderful place,
The Garden of Eden, with food to spare;
He would never die, nor the human race,
If he obeyed God, and for the place care!
God also said, “You can’t eat of one Tree,
Knowledge of Good and Evil, or you’ll die!.”
If he’d obeyed, all men would ever be;
There’d be no death, no grave, no teary eye!
Think of how much grief Adam could have stayed,
If God’s one command, he would have obeyed!
Scripture Quoted: Genesis 2:15-17 (NIV)
“The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the Lord God commanded the man, ‘You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.’ “
Commentary
When God created the first man from the dust of the earth, He made him the “federal head” of the entire race of human beings. Thus, by God’s standard, every man and woman, including you and me. are bound by Adam’s actions. Though God foreknew what he and each descendant would do—whether obedient or disobedient—Adam was meant to remain obedient and live forever, and so were his descendants. God loved man so much He made us in His own image and gave each one a soul and free will. Adam was given only one command: He was not to eat fruit from one tree, the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Had he obeyed God’s command, the first man would have never died, nor would we. That was not to be; God knew it and His Master Plan, as we shall see, included an alternative. He knew the future before Adam was created—His plan for our salvation was not like an ambulance rushing to an accident; every stage was pre-planned to occur precisely as it did happen.
God gave Adam all the animals of the earth and told him to rule over them. God brought them to Adam for naming, and he gave each his name. They were also made from the dust of the earth, but God did not give the animals souls. At that time there was no enmity between man and beast. There was no rainfall, but God caused water to rise up from beneath the ground, and beautiful trees and plants grew.
The location of the Garden of Eden has never been identified. From the names of rivers whose source the Bible says was in Eden, it is generally thought that it was in the Middle East, probably Iraq. However, after the development of DNA, scientists traced human life back in time to a single woman, who lived in Kenya, Africa. They even call her “Eve”, thinking she may have been the female God created from Adam’s rib and the mother of the human race. The Bible says when Adam and Eve were turned out of the Garden later, that God put angels around it to guard it from being invaded. There was also a Tree of Life in the Garden; anyone who ate its fruit would live forever. I’m sure God would not allow anyone to find it! I believe God “unmade” the Garden, leaving no trace.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him will not die, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16)
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
Monday, November 29, 2010
Saturday, November 27, 2010
God Creates Life (MP 6)
God poured the water of life on the earth;
Plants of many kinds began to appear;
Bushes and trees that bear fruit made their birth;
Grass and weeds grew where the sun did not sear!
He created beasts, and birds of the air,
Fish and ferns that thrived in streams and the sea;
He made a Garden, beautifully fair,
Full of fruit, but with one forbidden Tree!
God looked o’er His work; “It’s good!” He declared;
From dust of the earth, He created Man;
He made Woman of Man’s rib, with Man paired—
Thus God on earth the human race began!
God bequeathed to Man an e’er-living Soul,
Which will be, though countless ages unfold!
Commentary On Creation
Some faithful Christians, when they hear or see the word “evolution”, "see red", and immediately conclude that the user cannot "believe the Bible". In their rush to judgment, they conclude he or she believes Darwin’s complete theory that life evolved from one cell, man descended from apes, and that chance alone resulted in creation of man. They make a “litmus test” of belief in the Bible to be a literal interpretation of Genesis Chapters 1 and 2, and close their minds to any other. Many consider science to be an evil enemy of God and advanced education to mark one who has been brainwashed to become a false teacher of the Christian faith. Drawing such unfounded conclusions about another is a sin, the sin of judging (See Matthew 7:1-2).
The Roman Catholic church committed the same sin in the 17th century by convicting Galileo (1564-1632) of heresy. Using a home-made telescope, he observed that the planets orbited the sun. Since Aristotle had declared the earth to be stationary, the center of the universe, with all heavenly bodies revolving about it, and Psalm 19:6 apparently confirming it, Galileo was convicted by Catholic leadership of heresy and forced to recant. He stated publicly that the earth did not revolve about the sun, but he was heard to mutter under his breath, “But it does.” He defended himself on the basis of, “The Bible teaches man how to go to heaven, not how the heavens go.”
I do not intend to attempt to prove that the universe is 13.7 billion years old, not the 7 thousand that the Bible seems to say. Actually, some faith is essential for any person to believe in the existence of God, and that He created the universe, earth and man from nothing. But when you consider all that science has learned and proved to be true, it takes more faith and supposition to ascribe creation to chance than to a supreme intelligent being (as Albert Einstein said). The miracle of life is that man exists safely no place in the universe except planet earth. The chances that planet earth would receive so many seemingly impossible “lucky” influences to become habitable are so small as to be absolute zero, which glaringly points to God’s signature in its formation. And the process of “evolution”, theistic evolution, was a part of it. How man came to be---alive in flesh with an undying soul---is another miracle creation of God, even if evolution was employed by Him in the process.
I believe that God made the first man and woman, but I don’t believe He had to personally shape dust of the earth into a doll-like form; if He could command a void with nothing in it to make a universe with unimaginably vast numbers of heavenly bodies, He certainly could make man in His image without using His hands. The same outflow of energy that created all the world’s matter also instilled an undying soul in every human being. Yes, I said “undying”. The real “you” is your soul; it contains your memories, and it will live after your body returns to dust. God will give you a new undying body when He resurrects you at the end of time. Then where will you live? There are only two places, in heaven with God, or in hell with Satan and fallen angels. God already has His new body, for He was the first man to be resurrected.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him will not die, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
Plants of many kinds began to appear;
Bushes and trees that bear fruit made their birth;
Grass and weeds grew where the sun did not sear!
He created beasts, and birds of the air,
Fish and ferns that thrived in streams and the sea;
He made a Garden, beautifully fair,
Full of fruit, but with one forbidden Tree!
God looked o’er His work; “It’s good!” He declared;
From dust of the earth, He created Man;
He made Woman of Man’s rib, with Man paired—
Thus God on earth the human race began!
God bequeathed to Man an e’er-living Soul,
Which will be, though countless ages unfold!
Commentary On Creation
Some faithful Christians, when they hear or see the word “evolution”, "see red", and immediately conclude that the user cannot "believe the Bible". In their rush to judgment, they conclude he or she believes Darwin’s complete theory that life evolved from one cell, man descended from apes, and that chance alone resulted in creation of man. They make a “litmus test” of belief in the Bible to be a literal interpretation of Genesis Chapters 1 and 2, and close their minds to any other. Many consider science to be an evil enemy of God and advanced education to mark one who has been brainwashed to become a false teacher of the Christian faith. Drawing such unfounded conclusions about another is a sin, the sin of judging (See Matthew 7:1-2).
The Roman Catholic church committed the same sin in the 17th century by convicting Galileo (1564-1632) of heresy. Using a home-made telescope, he observed that the planets orbited the sun. Since Aristotle had declared the earth to be stationary, the center of the universe, with all heavenly bodies revolving about it, and Psalm 19:6 apparently confirming it, Galileo was convicted by Catholic leadership of heresy and forced to recant. He stated publicly that the earth did not revolve about the sun, but he was heard to mutter under his breath, “But it does.” He defended himself on the basis of, “The Bible teaches man how to go to heaven, not how the heavens go.”
I do not intend to attempt to prove that the universe is 13.7 billion years old, not the 7 thousand that the Bible seems to say. Actually, some faith is essential for any person to believe in the existence of God, and that He created the universe, earth and man from nothing. But when you consider all that science has learned and proved to be true, it takes more faith and supposition to ascribe creation to chance than to a supreme intelligent being (as Albert Einstein said). The miracle of life is that man exists safely no place in the universe except planet earth. The chances that planet earth would receive so many seemingly impossible “lucky” influences to become habitable are so small as to be absolute zero, which glaringly points to God’s signature in its formation. And the process of “evolution”, theistic evolution, was a part of it. How man came to be---alive in flesh with an undying soul---is another miracle creation of God, even if evolution was employed by Him in the process.
I believe that God made the first man and woman, but I don’t believe He had to personally shape dust of the earth into a doll-like form; if He could command a void with nothing in it to make a universe with unimaginably vast numbers of heavenly bodies, He certainly could make man in His image without using His hands. The same outflow of energy that created all the world’s matter also instilled an undying soul in every human being. Yes, I said “undying”. The real “you” is your soul; it contains your memories, and it will live after your body returns to dust. God will give you a new undying body when He resurrects you at the end of time. Then where will you live? There are only two places, in heaven with God, or in hell with Satan and fallen angels. God already has His new body, for He was the first man to be resurrected.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him will not die, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
Thursday, November 25, 2010
The Beginning Of Evil (MP 5)
Homage to Lucifer all angels paid;
He received it as only but his due;
But when he learned that men were to be made,
Into a jealous rage Lucifer flew!
He persuaded one-third to join his cause,
To topple God, so he could take God’s place!
His intent was futile, his plan filled with flaws;
Pride dulled his brain and led to his disgrace!
The war between good and evil began
In heaven and continues on the earth,
Where the trophy sought is the soul of man,
Each one a great prize of eternal worth!
Lucifer, now Satan, is evil’s source;
Spiting God, he steals souls with guile, not force!
Scripture Quoted: Revelation 12:7-9; Hebrews 1:15 (NIV)
“And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon [Lucifer], and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.” [Brackets added]
“Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?”
Commentary
God is the ultimate source of evil, because He created Lucifer, putting self-pride into his nature, and making him chief of all the angels. He did it so that man would have freedom of will to choose between good and evil. Had there been no evil in the world, only good, man would have no choice and remain untested. Of course God is a loving God; He loves all men and does not desire for any man to do evil and be condemned for it; yet His firm justice allows no one to enter heaven and dwell with Him eternally who ignores the good. Satan, once Lucifer, is allowed freely to delude men and women into living in sin, turning a deaf ear to God. The “great dragon” is still waging war against God by capturing as many souls as he can to deny God the joy of welcoming them into His family. Satan cannot topple God; he doesn’t seem to realize that, still thinking more of himself than he really is.
God’s love for man, his ultimate creation, for whom He created the universe and earth, angels, heaven, plant and animal life, and His intention of adopting the righteous men into His own divine family, convinced Lucifer that his status with God would suffer; he found it impossible to accept. 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” He is angry, for he knows his time is brief. He gains nothing by enslaving the souls of men and women, for in the end he will suffer the same punishment as they—separation from God. He is responsible for the downfall of millions of angels and billions of human beings. God grieves over the loss of each soul
Most would consider it odd of God not to slay Lucifer for treason; had He done that, though, Lucifer/Satan would be no more, and he could not have brought evil to earth with which to test men. In a real sense, Satan on earth is essential to God’s Master Plan for the world, for he provides men and women with the option of rejecting God for enslavement to evil.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him will not die, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
He received it as only but his due;
But when he learned that men were to be made,
Into a jealous rage Lucifer flew!
He persuaded one-third to join his cause,
To topple God, so he could take God’s place!
His intent was futile, his plan filled with flaws;
Pride dulled his brain and led to his disgrace!
The war between good and evil began
In heaven and continues on the earth,
Where the trophy sought is the soul of man,
Each one a great prize of eternal worth!
Lucifer, now Satan, is evil’s source;
Spiting God, he steals souls with guile, not force!
Scripture Quoted: Revelation 12:7-9; Hebrews 1:15 (NIV)
“And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon [Lucifer], and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.” [Brackets added]
“Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?”
Commentary
God is the ultimate source of evil, because He created Lucifer, putting self-pride into his nature, and making him chief of all the angels. He did it so that man would have freedom of will to choose between good and evil. Had there been no evil in the world, only good, man would have no choice and remain untested. Of course God is a loving God; He loves all men and does not desire for any man to do evil and be condemned for it; yet His firm justice allows no one to enter heaven and dwell with Him eternally who ignores the good. Satan, once Lucifer, is allowed freely to delude men and women into living in sin, turning a deaf ear to God. The “great dragon” is still waging war against God by capturing as many souls as he can to deny God the joy of welcoming them into His family. Satan cannot topple God; he doesn’t seem to realize that, still thinking more of himself than he really is.
God’s love for man, his ultimate creation, for whom He created the universe and earth, angels, heaven, plant and animal life, and His intention of adopting the righteous men into His own divine family, convinced Lucifer that his status with God would suffer; he found it impossible to accept. 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” He is angry, for he knows his time is brief. He gains nothing by enslaving the souls of men and women, for in the end he will suffer the same punishment as they—separation from God. He is responsible for the downfall of millions of angels and billions of human beings. God grieves over the loss of each soul
Most would consider it odd of God not to slay Lucifer for treason; had He done that, though, Lucifer/Satan would be no more, and he could not have brought evil to earth with which to test men. In a real sense, Satan on earth is essential to God’s Master Plan for the world, for he provides men and women with the option of rejecting God for enslavement to evil.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him will not die, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
God's Test: Choose Good Or Evil (MP 4)
God is good; evil He cannot abide;
To dwell with Him in everlasting life,
Each must have chosen good before he died,
Eschewing evil in earth’s testing strife!
God knew He must put evil on the earth,
Side by side with good, and give man free will,
So, by man’s own choice, each could prove his worth,
Or show himself unfit God’s house to fill!
Then God made angels, as helpers for Him;
Lucifer was chief, prideful though most fair;
He preened himself, strutting among them;
None else but God could with him compare!
Knowing the future, God suffered it be;
For His Plan's success, Lucifer was key!
Scripture Quoted: Isaiah 14:113-14 (NIV)
“… You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds. I will make myself like the Most High.’ “
Commentary
God dwells outside the steadily growing universe. During the billions of years before He created life on earth, He created millions of angels. These are supernatural beings who live with God, worshiping and glorifying Him. Angels will never die; they have many marvelous powers; are neither male nor female; do not have souls; and carry out various tasks assigned by God. Of these, Lucifer was chief of all, the most powerful and beautiful of the angels. God knew in advance that Lucifer’s overweening pride would cause him to be unfaithful.
Many people have been unable to reconcile the question of how a loving God could create a world which contains evil. His inability to find a plausible answer to the problem of evil kept Albert Einstein from believing in the existence of God. I believe that God had to deliberately insert evil into the world in order that men and women have freedom of choice—that is, free will—and thus each individual would be totally responsible for his or her destiny: eternal life with God or eternal life without God. If there was no evil in the world, there would be no choice; everyone would be forced to live for good. It was God’s Plan that evil come into the world through Lucifer; his pride induced him to do the unthinkable—to desire God’s throne for himself; Lucifer rebelled against God. He is waging war against Him to this day. Because God loves humans so much, Lucifer is stealing men’s souls by inducing them to “sin”, which means to “miss the mark” of God’s high standards for being good.
Later, when God created men and women in bodies of flesh on earth, He implanted a nonperishable soul in each. The physical bodies are shortlived and will die, but the souls will live forever; the bodies will be resurrected imperishable and rejoin the souls. The question is not whether there is an afterlife or not; there is eternal life awaiting; the question is, Where will the life after death be lived? While in this very brief life of flesh, each must choose whether to live with God or without God. It is too late to choose after physical death.
“For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him will not die, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
To dwell with Him in everlasting life,
Each must have chosen good before he died,
Eschewing evil in earth’s testing strife!
God knew He must put evil on the earth,
Side by side with good, and give man free will,
So, by man’s own choice, each could prove his worth,
Or show himself unfit God’s house to fill!
Then God made angels, as helpers for Him;
Lucifer was chief, prideful though most fair;
He preened himself, strutting among them;
None else but God could with him compare!
Knowing the future, God suffered it be;
For His Plan's success, Lucifer was key!
Scripture Quoted: Isaiah 14:113-14 (NIV)
“… You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds. I will make myself like the Most High.’ “
Commentary
God dwells outside the steadily growing universe. During the billions of years before He created life on earth, He created millions of angels. These are supernatural beings who live with God, worshiping and glorifying Him. Angels will never die; they have many marvelous powers; are neither male nor female; do not have souls; and carry out various tasks assigned by God. Of these, Lucifer was chief of all, the most powerful and beautiful of the angels. God knew in advance that Lucifer’s overweening pride would cause him to be unfaithful.
Many people have been unable to reconcile the question of how a loving God could create a world which contains evil. His inability to find a plausible answer to the problem of evil kept Albert Einstein from believing in the existence of God. I believe that God had to deliberately insert evil into the world in order that men and women have freedom of choice—that is, free will—and thus each individual would be totally responsible for his or her destiny: eternal life with God or eternal life without God. If there was no evil in the world, there would be no choice; everyone would be forced to live for good. It was God’s Plan that evil come into the world through Lucifer; his pride induced him to do the unthinkable—to desire God’s throne for himself; Lucifer rebelled against God. He is waging war against Him to this day. Because God loves humans so much, Lucifer is stealing men’s souls by inducing them to “sin”, which means to “miss the mark” of God’s high standards for being good.
Later, when God created men and women in bodies of flesh on earth, He implanted a nonperishable soul in each. The physical bodies are shortlived and will die, but the souls will live forever; the bodies will be resurrected imperishable and rejoin the souls. The question is not whether there is an afterlife or not; there is eternal life awaiting; the question is, Where will the life after death be lived? While in this very brief life of flesh, each must choose whether to live with God or without God. It is too late to choose after physical death.
“For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him will not die, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
Sunday, November 21, 2010
God Creates Planet Earth (MP 3)
God required a place that could support life;
In the growing universe there was none,
Till the Milky Way emerged from the strife
Many years after creation begun!
A star, our Sun, appeared in the right spot,
Capturing eight planets; our Earth was one;
Earth was neither too cold, nor too hot;
It towed the Moon, and both circled the Sun!
The Moon served Earth as an essential brake,
That its path remained in the safe-life zone;
God made Earth safe for His beloved Man’s sake;
We can live here and thrive, and here alone!
God planned and caused Earth for His testing place,
Because of His great love, mercy, and grace!
Scripture Quoted: Psalm 19:1-6 (NIV)
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they pour forth knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun, which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from its heat.”
Commentary
The universe is a work in progress; it is continuously growing and accelerating from its starting point almost 14 billion years ago. It was planned by God, and it all came from His exhalation of energy when He commanded it to “Be.” There was nothing pre-existent in the void that was space. Albert Einstein was Jewish and not a believer in God; he said of the Big Bang that “the universe has a beginning; there must have been a superior reasoning power”. He was the discoverer of the amazing fact that all matter is created from energy in 1907. Today the universe is 13.7 billion years old and still expanding.
God needed a heavenly body as a platform of testing for mankind, and it would have to be safe for plants, animals, and men to exist and thrive. Such a body could not have been made by chance in the cataclysmic turmoil of super heat and cold; the extreme radiation; the catastropic collisions; and gravitational maelstrom of solid matter creation. God had pre-planned for a galaxy of stars called the Milky Way. It appeared 9.2 billion years after the beginning of the universe, and in one of its outer spirals a star called the Sun was formed in the exact spot it needed to be. Had the Sun been nearer the center of the galaxy or farther away, it could not have served the Earth to provide safety for life.
Because of God’s provision for nature’s law of gravity, the Sun drew eight planets that were held in orbit by its gravitational pull; Earth was the third one from the Sun, which was where it had to be for life to survive. If it had been 4% closer, the temperature would have been so high that nothing could live; just 1% farther away, and Earth would be solid ice, making it impossible for life to exist.
Earth had a captive Moon one-third its weight. It is heavy enough to exert gravitational pull that tilted Earth’s axis to 23 degrees, making its orbit about the Sun almost circular, the only planet to do so; therefore Earth never leaves the narrow zone of safety for life. Numerous other “lucky” aberrations not found in any other heavenly body in the whole universe supply evidences of God’s thoughtful preparations for the safety of Man during his brief life in the flesh. God put His signature on creation. Earth and the universe will not last forever. The universe is expected to collapse inward upon its starting point when it reaches 20 billion years of age. Science and the Bible agree on this; in fact, the more science discovers, the more it agrees with the Bible!
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him will not die, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
In the growing universe there was none,
Till the Milky Way emerged from the strife
Many years after creation begun!
A star, our Sun, appeared in the right spot,
Capturing eight planets; our Earth was one;
Earth was neither too cold, nor too hot;
It towed the Moon, and both circled the Sun!
The Moon served Earth as an essential brake,
That its path remained in the safe-life zone;
God made Earth safe for His beloved Man’s sake;
We can live here and thrive, and here alone!
God planned and caused Earth for His testing place,
Because of His great love, mercy, and grace!
Scripture Quoted: Psalm 19:1-6 (NIV)
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they pour forth knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun, which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from its heat.”
Commentary
The universe is a work in progress; it is continuously growing and accelerating from its starting point almost 14 billion years ago. It was planned by God, and it all came from His exhalation of energy when He commanded it to “Be.” There was nothing pre-existent in the void that was space. Albert Einstein was Jewish and not a believer in God; he said of the Big Bang that “the universe has a beginning; there must have been a superior reasoning power”. He was the discoverer of the amazing fact that all matter is created from energy in 1907. Today the universe is 13.7 billion years old and still expanding.
God needed a heavenly body as a platform of testing for mankind, and it would have to be safe for plants, animals, and men to exist and thrive. Such a body could not have been made by chance in the cataclysmic turmoil of super heat and cold; the extreme radiation; the catastropic collisions; and gravitational maelstrom of solid matter creation. God had pre-planned for a galaxy of stars called the Milky Way. It appeared 9.2 billion years after the beginning of the universe, and in one of its outer spirals a star called the Sun was formed in the exact spot it needed to be. Had the Sun been nearer the center of the galaxy or farther away, it could not have served the Earth to provide safety for life.
Because of God’s provision for nature’s law of gravity, the Sun drew eight planets that were held in orbit by its gravitational pull; Earth was the third one from the Sun, which was where it had to be for life to survive. If it had been 4% closer, the temperature would have been so high that nothing could live; just 1% farther away, and Earth would be solid ice, making it impossible for life to exist.
Earth had a captive Moon one-third its weight. It is heavy enough to exert gravitational pull that tilted Earth’s axis to 23 degrees, making its orbit about the Sun almost circular, the only planet to do so; therefore Earth never leaves the narrow zone of safety for life. Numerous other “lucky” aberrations not found in any other heavenly body in the whole universe supply evidences of God’s thoughtful preparations for the safety of Man during his brief life in the flesh. God put His signature on creation. Earth and the universe will not last forever. The universe is expected to collapse inward upon its starting point when it reaches 20 billion years of age. Science and the Bible agree on this; in fact, the more science discovers, the more it agrees with the Bible!
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him will not die, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
Friday, November 19, 2010
God Creates The Big Bang (MP 2)
The infinite empty void that was space
Surrounded God; He exhaled, and said, “Be!”
His flaming breath gushed and began to race,
Like a dense swarm of bees glad to be free!
The swarm spread out and away at high speed;
Some joined others, forming furnace-hot stars;
Each fled from each as if compelled indeed,
Fleeing outward, as cowards flee from wars!
Galaxies, planets, and moons formed in time;
Gravity’s Law dictated their places;
Nature worked its will, giving each its clime;
But o’er it all no life yet left its traces!
The farther it spread, the faster it went,
All instructed by God’s inborn intent!
Scripture Quored: Psalm 8:3-4 (NIV)
"When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man, that you are mindful of hi?"
(Note: This is the second poem andcommentary in my series on God’s Master Plan for the world.)
Commentary
God was alone in an infinite void when He launched His plan for the world. There was nothing to begin with—no universe; no energy; no solids; no light or heat; no time measurement—nothing but void. The Master Plan for the world was complete in every detail—creation of the universe, earth, and man; time, including its beginning, history within it, and ending; and the everlasting life that follows time. God had a Book of Life, in which was inscribed the names of all human beings to be conceived in every woman’s womb; He knew exactly every name that would be blotted out of it and every name that would not be blotted out. Those whose names were still in the Book of Life at the end of time would dwell eternally with God. All these things and everything else were known to God before He launched the universe with the “Big Bang”.
The Big Bang was not a “bang”, because there was no sound. God exhaled an inexhaustible supply of energy at a super heat, and He uttered the word, “Be”. Immediately a vapor-like cloud exploded and expanded in all directions—up, down, and around—racing outward at thousands of miles a second, cooling rapidly and, in time, forming quarks, luons, neutrons, and protons. Solid matter of all kinds eventually was formed from the energy emitted by God. When man began to measure time, science determined that the Big Bang occurred 13.7 billion years ago, which is how old the world is. The universe that we live in is still expanding; it all came from God with presumably His first exhalation of energy.
All instructions for the formation of the universe, including the laws of nature, were permanently inherent within the exhalation and spoken voice of God; He did not have to continuously direct the processes that took place. All nature is subject to the supreme Being, who can suspend or reverse any natural law. The energy and solid matter contained in the world all came from God and remains ready to respond to Him at all times.
Why did God undertake His Plan for the world? He did not need to do it, but He was existing alone, and He wanted fellowship with other beings like Himself. He has an abundance of love, mercy, and grace, and He decided to create a race of men and women having free will, some of whom would choose to live righteously; in so doing they would glorify Him, and He could share His love, mercy, and grace. He knew the men and women would have to be tested to separate those whose attitudes toward Him were sincere from those who were not; therefore He needed a safe place for them to live briefly as a place of testing. The universe was created to provide a place where men and women could sustain their lives while being tested for fitness to dwell with Him forever; He knew that not one man or woman would pass the fitness test on his or her own, but He determined to give His own righteousness to those whose attitudes were fit.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him will not die, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
Surrounded God; He exhaled, and said, “Be!”
His flaming breath gushed and began to race,
Like a dense swarm of bees glad to be free!
The swarm spread out and away at high speed;
Some joined others, forming furnace-hot stars;
Each fled from each as if compelled indeed,
Fleeing outward, as cowards flee from wars!
Galaxies, planets, and moons formed in time;
Gravity’s Law dictated their places;
Nature worked its will, giving each its clime;
But o’er it all no life yet left its traces!
The farther it spread, the faster it went,
All instructed by God’s inborn intent!
Scripture Quored: Psalm 8:3-4 (NIV)
"When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man, that you are mindful of hi?"
(Note: This is the second poem andcommentary in my series on God’s Master Plan for the world.)
Commentary
God was alone in an infinite void when He launched His plan for the world. There was nothing to begin with—no universe; no energy; no solids; no light or heat; no time measurement—nothing but void. The Master Plan for the world was complete in every detail—creation of the universe, earth, and man; time, including its beginning, history within it, and ending; and the everlasting life that follows time. God had a Book of Life, in which was inscribed the names of all human beings to be conceived in every woman’s womb; He knew exactly every name that would be blotted out of it and every name that would not be blotted out. Those whose names were still in the Book of Life at the end of time would dwell eternally with God. All these things and everything else were known to God before He launched the universe with the “Big Bang”.
The Big Bang was not a “bang”, because there was no sound. God exhaled an inexhaustible supply of energy at a super heat, and He uttered the word, “Be”. Immediately a vapor-like cloud exploded and expanded in all directions—up, down, and around—racing outward at thousands of miles a second, cooling rapidly and, in time, forming quarks, luons, neutrons, and protons. Solid matter of all kinds eventually was formed from the energy emitted by God. When man began to measure time, science determined that the Big Bang occurred 13.7 billion years ago, which is how old the world is. The universe that we live in is still expanding; it all came from God with presumably His first exhalation of energy.
All instructions for the formation of the universe, including the laws of nature, were permanently inherent within the exhalation and spoken voice of God; He did not have to continuously direct the processes that took place. All nature is subject to the supreme Being, who can suspend or reverse any natural law. The energy and solid matter contained in the world all came from God and remains ready to respond to Him at all times.
Why did God undertake His Plan for the world? He did not need to do it, but He was existing alone, and He wanted fellowship with other beings like Himself. He has an abundance of love, mercy, and grace, and He decided to create a race of men and women having free will, some of whom would choose to live righteously; in so doing they would glorify Him, and He could share His love, mercy, and grace. He knew the men and women would have to be tested to separate those whose attitudes toward Him were sincere from those who were not; therefore He needed a safe place for them to live briefly as a place of testing. The universe was created to provide a place where men and women could sustain their lives while being tested for fitness to dwell with Him forever; He knew that not one man or woman would pass the fitness test on his or her own, but He determined to give His own righteousness to those whose attitudes were fit.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him will not die, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
When God Was Alone (MP 1)
GOD was alone in an infinite void;
HE had a desire to be glorified;
Limitless power and love HE enjoyed;
This empty space left HIM dissatisfied!
HE was One Being, but HE could divide
Into the FATHER, SON, and HOLY GHOST;
Equal pow’r to GOD would in each abide;
Three in unlike roles, with none uppermost!
There is nothing too hard for GOD to do;
Instantly, of all plans, HE chose the best;
From start to end, all details were seen to;
HE knew your name and mine, and all the rest!
Time had not begun when HIS plan was made;
It'll run its span, and remembrance fade!
Scripture Quoted: Psalm 90:2 (NIV)
"Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting, you are God.”
SPECIAL NOTE; In this poem and commentary series, I am giving my concept of God and His Master Plan for the world. I intend to base it on my personal inadequate and possibly incorrect interpretation of Scripture and science; any mistakes will be unintentional. Please accept what I write as an 85-year-old man’s understanding of God and man after a lifetime of Christian church attendance, a post-doctoral education in mathematics, and a career of teaching, professorship, college deanship, and church staff membership. The series will be chronological, marked by the parenthetical code in the titles—the “MP” means “God's Master Plan”. You are welcome to make copies, for the complete story should be very interesting for Christians and non-Christians alike.
Commentary
When there were no day and night, before time began, there was nothing—no “things” or matter; no energy, such as heat and light; no gases; there was NOTHING, but empty infinite space in darkness or void; but there was GOD.
Where did He come from? I don’t know; He was just there, always; He lives outside of this expanding, racing universe today; when time ends, He will live forever, with believers in Jesus Christ, and He will keep living with them when time and this universe and the history of Man are a dim remembrance. He has always been, is now, and will always be. He is omniscient, which means He knows everything— past, present, future—He knows when even a sparrow falls; He knows every thought in a person’s heart, every one that ever lived or conceived, and the number of hairs on each one’s head. He even knows who will believe in Jesus Christ and who will not.
God is also omnipotent, which means He has all power—there is nothing too hard for God to do. He can multiply Himself billions of times, take the form of a spirit, and live within all people. He is also omnipresent, which means He can be everywhere at once. Everything in man’s universe came from Him; it is not a stretch to think of all things as being of His substance.
There is nothing impossible for God. He can suspend all natural laws, such as making earth’s sun to move backwards. His thoughts are simultaneously multiple and higher than man’s as the stars are above the earth; one day is to Him as a thousand years to man, and a thousand years as a day; He is not bound to linear chronology, and can drink from an empty cup. God’s justice is fair and no respecter of persons; His attributes and qualities are unequaled and can be known to man by the orderliness and beauty of created nature; all His words are true, and He hates sin, which is a man or woman doing anything contrary to His commandments; He created the universe, the earth, all forms of life, including man, and all matter and elements and energies; He loved man most of all, and for man was all things created that were created. He is the Savior and will dwell with all men who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and He is the relentless Judge of all who do not believe in Jesus.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him will not die but have everlasting life.”
(John 3:16)
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
(Romans 10:9)
HE had a desire to be glorified;
Limitless power and love HE enjoyed;
This empty space left HIM dissatisfied!
HE was One Being, but HE could divide
Into the FATHER, SON, and HOLY GHOST;
Equal pow’r to GOD would in each abide;
Three in unlike roles, with none uppermost!
There is nothing too hard for GOD to do;
Instantly, of all plans, HE chose the best;
From start to end, all details were seen to;
HE knew your name and mine, and all the rest!
Time had not begun when HIS plan was made;
It'll run its span, and remembrance fade!
Scripture Quoted: Psalm 90:2 (NIV)
"Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting, you are God.”
SPECIAL NOTE; In this poem and commentary series, I am giving my concept of God and His Master Plan for the world. I intend to base it on my personal inadequate and possibly incorrect interpretation of Scripture and science; any mistakes will be unintentional. Please accept what I write as an 85-year-old man’s understanding of God and man after a lifetime of Christian church attendance, a post-doctoral education in mathematics, and a career of teaching, professorship, college deanship, and church staff membership. The series will be chronological, marked by the parenthetical code in the titles—the “MP” means “God's Master Plan”. You are welcome to make copies, for the complete story should be very interesting for Christians and non-Christians alike.
Commentary
When there were no day and night, before time began, there was nothing—no “things” or matter; no energy, such as heat and light; no gases; there was NOTHING, but empty infinite space in darkness or void; but there was GOD.
Where did He come from? I don’t know; He was just there, always; He lives outside of this expanding, racing universe today; when time ends, He will live forever, with believers in Jesus Christ, and He will keep living with them when time and this universe and the history of Man are a dim remembrance. He has always been, is now, and will always be. He is omniscient, which means He knows everything— past, present, future—He knows when even a sparrow falls; He knows every thought in a person’s heart, every one that ever lived or conceived, and the number of hairs on each one’s head. He even knows who will believe in Jesus Christ and who will not.
God is also omnipotent, which means He has all power—there is nothing too hard for God to do. He can multiply Himself billions of times, take the form of a spirit, and live within all people. He is also omnipresent, which means He can be everywhere at once. Everything in man’s universe came from Him; it is not a stretch to think of all things as being of His substance.
There is nothing impossible for God. He can suspend all natural laws, such as making earth’s sun to move backwards. His thoughts are simultaneously multiple and higher than man’s as the stars are above the earth; one day is to Him as a thousand years to man, and a thousand years as a day; He is not bound to linear chronology, and can drink from an empty cup. God’s justice is fair and no respecter of persons; His attributes and qualities are unequaled and can be known to man by the orderliness and beauty of created nature; all His words are true, and He hates sin, which is a man or woman doing anything contrary to His commandments; He created the universe, the earth, all forms of life, including man, and all matter and elements and energies; He loved man most of all, and for man was all things created that were created. He is the Savior and will dwell with all men who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and He is the relentless Judge of all who do not believe in Jesus.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him will not die but have everlasting life.”
(John 3:16)
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
(Romans 10:9)
Monday, November 15, 2010
What Of John? (J79)
Jesus had told them they would be hated;
Now, He warned Peter that when he grew old,
A horrible death for him awaited—
He’d be compelled to do what he was told!
“But what of John?” Peter asked aghast;
Jesus said, “What has that to do with you?
If I want him to live until the last,
You must follow me, as I’ve taught you to!”
Because of this remark, a rumor spread
Through the brothers, that John would never die,
But that is not what the Son of God said—
He meant that Peter was not with John to vie!
Jealousy is sin, where’er it appears;
What a cost it’s exacted through the years!
Special Note: This is my last poem/commentary on the book of John. There are 79 commentaries in the last 80 that chronologically cover verse-by-verse the entire gospel written by the apostle John. My next poem/commentary on Nov. 17th and every other day after that, if God permits, will begin a new series from God's perspective on His Master Plan for the world. It should prove interesting, as it attempts to give answers to questions about the Bible as God may have pre-planned them.
Scripture Quoted: John 21:18-19, 25 (NIV)
“ ‘I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted, but when you are old you will stretch out your hands and someone else will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.’ Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said, ‘Follow me.’ “ … “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room enough for the books that would be written.”
Commentary on: John 21:18-25 (NIV)
After restoring Simon Peter to fellowship for his sin of denying the Savior, Jesus made a prophecy to him indicating that he would be martyred. It was fulfilled in 64 A.D. Simon was crucified by the Romans under the emperor Nero. He asked to be crucified upside down, saying he was unworthy to die like his Savior. They complied with his request.
Evidently there was a bit of jealousy in Peter toward John, the author of this book; in it, John referred to himself as the “disciple that Jesus loved”. The jealousy, if there was, did not come from Peter’s reading of the book, for John did not write it until after Peter’s death. John described himself as the “disciple leaning on the breast of Jesus” at the Last Supper the evening before the crucifixion. He was the youngest apostle and lived at least to 100 A.D., longer than any of the others. John died a Roman prisoner on the Isle of Patmos, just off the edge of “Asia”, which is Asia Minor, or Turkey, today. All of the apostles were martyred. Notice that a Christian who dies for the name of Jesus is said to “glorify” his Lord. Jesus told His disciples that the world would hate them for His name’s sake, and it has throughout history. The United States was founded by Christians. They did not call it a “Christian” nation, but they provided for freedom of religion and Christian principles underlay the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Today, however, there is hatred for the name of Jesus and a definite antagonism toward Christianity. President Obama is leading the nation away from the faith, though 78.4% of Americans are members of Christian churches.
John concludes his gospel book by stating that Jesus did many more things than those described in his book. John was very selective about the miracles performed by Jesus. He only included seven of them; the other gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke describe many more. John stated that he chose these seven in order that the reader might believe that Jesus was the Messiah sent from God. In my last 80 blogs I have tried to interpret the book of John, so that you who read them would see and accept that Jesus was the Christ.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him will not die, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
Now, He warned Peter that when he grew old,
A horrible death for him awaited—
He’d be compelled to do what he was told!
“But what of John?” Peter asked aghast;
Jesus said, “What has that to do with you?
If I want him to live until the last,
You must follow me, as I’ve taught you to!”
Because of this remark, a rumor spread
Through the brothers, that John would never die,
But that is not what the Son of God said—
He meant that Peter was not with John to vie!
Jealousy is sin, where’er it appears;
What a cost it’s exacted through the years!
Special Note: This is my last poem/commentary on the book of John. There are 79 commentaries in the last 80 that chronologically cover verse-by-verse the entire gospel written by the apostle John. My next poem/commentary on Nov. 17th and every other day after that, if God permits, will begin a new series from God's perspective on His Master Plan for the world. It should prove interesting, as it attempts to give answers to questions about the Bible as God may have pre-planned them.
Scripture Quoted: John 21:18-19, 25 (NIV)
“ ‘I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted, but when you are old you will stretch out your hands and someone else will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.’ Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said, ‘Follow me.’ “ … “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room enough for the books that would be written.”
Commentary on: John 21:18-25 (NIV)
After restoring Simon Peter to fellowship for his sin of denying the Savior, Jesus made a prophecy to him indicating that he would be martyred. It was fulfilled in 64 A.D. Simon was crucified by the Romans under the emperor Nero. He asked to be crucified upside down, saying he was unworthy to die like his Savior. They complied with his request.
Evidently there was a bit of jealousy in Peter toward John, the author of this book; in it, John referred to himself as the “disciple that Jesus loved”. The jealousy, if there was, did not come from Peter’s reading of the book, for John did not write it until after Peter’s death. John described himself as the “disciple leaning on the breast of Jesus” at the Last Supper the evening before the crucifixion. He was the youngest apostle and lived at least to 100 A.D., longer than any of the others. John died a Roman prisoner on the Isle of Patmos, just off the edge of “Asia”, which is Asia Minor, or Turkey, today. All of the apostles were martyred. Notice that a Christian who dies for the name of Jesus is said to “glorify” his Lord. Jesus told His disciples that the world would hate them for His name’s sake, and it has throughout history. The United States was founded by Christians. They did not call it a “Christian” nation, but they provided for freedom of religion and Christian principles underlay the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Today, however, there is hatred for the name of Jesus and a definite antagonism toward Christianity. President Obama is leading the nation away from the faith, though 78.4% of Americans are members of Christian churches.
John concludes his gospel book by stating that Jesus did many more things than those described in his book. John was very selective about the miracles performed by Jesus. He only included seven of them; the other gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke describe many more. John stated that he chose these seven in order that the reader might believe that Jesus was the Messiah sent from God. In my last 80 blogs I have tried to interpret the book of John, so that you who read them would see and accept that Jesus was the Christ.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him will not die, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Peter Restored (J78)
“Simon Peter, do you truly love me?”
Jesus asked, after they finished the meal;
“Yes, Lord, you know I love you,” answered he;
“Feed my lambs,” meaning, Return to the field!
Again, Jesus asked, “Do you love me true?”
The burly apostle was close to tears,
When he replied, “Lord, you know that I do!”
Conscious of the presence of all his peers!’
Once more He asked, for Peter denied thrice;
Peter was hurt, though he answered the same;
Thus was he restored in the trust of Christ,
Once more chief of believers in that name!
His lesson was learned, and his burden gone;
Jesus forgave him for what he had done!
Scripture Quoted: John 21:15-17 (NIV)
“When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, ‘Do you truly love me more than these?’ ‘Yes, Lord,' he said, ‘You know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Feed my lambs.’ Again Jesus said, ‘Simon son of John, do you truly love me?’ He answered, ‘Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Take care of my sheep.’ The third time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ He said, ‘Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Feed my sheep.’ “
Commentary on: John 21:15-17 (NIV)
Jesus waited until after they finished eating to solve Peter’s anxiety resulting from his denying that he knew the Savior the night that Jesus was being tried. When Jesus asked him, “Do you love me more than these?”, He meant more than fishing, home and family. The First and greatest commandment for the Christian is ‘to love the Lord with all his or her heart, all his soul, and all his mind’; nothing is to be put above Him. He asked Simon the same question three times, which hurt Peter; I think it was thrice because Peter had disclaimed knowing Jesus three times outside the house of the high priest. Peter"s denials that night undoubtedly hurt Jesus more than these questions hurt Peter. What bothered Peter so much was that he knew Jesus could read everything in all men’s hearts; to ask him the second and third times if Peter loved Him seemed like He didn’t believe his answer the first time. After all, Peter had denied knowing Jesus three times, and had uttered an oath the third time he was challenged. When Jesus said, “Feed my sheep,” He was telling Peter that if he really loved Him, he ought to go about the business of winning lost souls and teaching them the Savior’s way of life, rather than returning to his old ways. Jesus Christ is called the “good shepherd” (See Zechariah 11:7), and believers are called His “flock”.
Jesus restored Simon Peter to fellowship in His flock, and forgave his sin of denial. About two weeks later, on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was sent from heaven and descended upon and into the disciples, making such a great noise and attracting thousands of Jews to the house where they were; it was Peter that God allowed to preach the first sermon of the Christian churches; three thousand Jews accepted Jesus as their Lord and were baptized after the sermon. Gone was the bumbling impetuous Peter; now he was confident and bold and took the reins of leadership for which Jesus had trained him. God gave him the gift of miraculously healing people, even raising the dead back to life.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him will not die, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
Jesus asked, after they finished the meal;
“Yes, Lord, you know I love you,” answered he;
“Feed my lambs,” meaning, Return to the field!
Again, Jesus asked, “Do you love me true?”
The burly apostle was close to tears,
When he replied, “Lord, you know that I do!”
Conscious of the presence of all his peers!’
Once more He asked, for Peter denied thrice;
Peter was hurt, though he answered the same;
Thus was he restored in the trust of Christ,
Once more chief of believers in that name!
His lesson was learned, and his burden gone;
Jesus forgave him for what he had done!
Scripture Quoted: John 21:15-17 (NIV)
“When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, ‘Do you truly love me more than these?’ ‘Yes, Lord,' he said, ‘You know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Feed my lambs.’ Again Jesus said, ‘Simon son of John, do you truly love me?’ He answered, ‘Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Take care of my sheep.’ The third time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ He said, ‘Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Feed my sheep.’ “
Commentary on: John 21:15-17 (NIV)
Jesus waited until after they finished eating to solve Peter’s anxiety resulting from his denying that he knew the Savior the night that Jesus was being tried. When Jesus asked him, “Do you love me more than these?”, He meant more than fishing, home and family. The First and greatest commandment for the Christian is ‘to love the Lord with all his or her heart, all his soul, and all his mind’; nothing is to be put above Him. He asked Simon the same question three times, which hurt Peter; I think it was thrice because Peter had disclaimed knowing Jesus three times outside the house of the high priest. Peter"s denials that night undoubtedly hurt Jesus more than these questions hurt Peter. What bothered Peter so much was that he knew Jesus could read everything in all men’s hearts; to ask him the second and third times if Peter loved Him seemed like He didn’t believe his answer the first time. After all, Peter had denied knowing Jesus three times, and had uttered an oath the third time he was challenged. When Jesus said, “Feed my sheep,” He was telling Peter that if he really loved Him, he ought to go about the business of winning lost souls and teaching them the Savior’s way of life, rather than returning to his old ways. Jesus Christ is called the “good shepherd” (See Zechariah 11:7), and believers are called His “flock”.
Jesus restored Simon Peter to fellowship in His flock, and forgave his sin of denial. About two weeks later, on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was sent from heaven and descended upon and into the disciples, making such a great noise and attracting thousands of Jews to the house where they were; it was Peter that God allowed to preach the first sermon of the Christian churches; three thousand Jews accepted Jesus as their Lord and were baptized after the sermon. Gone was the bumbling impetuous Peter; now he was confident and bold and took the reins of leadership for which Jesus had trained him. God gave him the gift of miraculously healing people, even raising the dead back to life.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him will not die, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Breakfast In Galilee (J77)
The apostles returned to Galilee,
Not knowing what the Lord would have them do;
Peter was unsure what his role would be,
After denying that Jesus he knew!
They fished all night, but nothing had they caught;
At daybreak they saw a figure on the shore;
They answered His hail that their catch was naught;
“Drop your net on the right,” He spoke once more;
They did, and the catch was too heavy to raise!
John cried, “It is the Lord!” In Peter splashed,
Swimming toward Jesus and His small blaze;
Those left towed the net in which fist were stashed!
The Christ cooked their breakfast of fish and bread;
They all ate, e’en the One that once was dead!
Scripture Quoted: John 21:3-6 (NIV)
“ ‘I’m going out to fish,’ Simon Peter told them, and they said, ‘We’ll go with you.’ So they went out and got in the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore but the disciples did not realize it was Jesus. He called out to them, ‘Friends, haven’t you any fish?’ ‘No,’ they answered. He said, ‘Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.’ When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.”
Commentary on: John 21:1-14 (NIV)
Although the apostles were overjoyed that Jesus was resurrected from the dead, He did not stay with them continuously, and they had large amounts of free time, spent mostly in hiding behind locked doors, After a couple of weeks they walked back to Peter’s home in Capernaum of Galilee. It was a time of indecision and great fear of the Jews. There was a chance that they would return to their former occupations. I’m sure Christ Jesus was not very happy with them for the unauthorized trip home. Peter, the chief apostle, had denied knowing Jesus outside the house of the high priest. Although he had wept bitterly over his great sin, he was still uneasy in his mind about whether he would be “booted off the team” or not. Peter had been a fisherman on Lake Galilee when Jesus first called him to be a disciple; it was only natural that he turned back to his old occupation. Jesus had called him to be a “fisher of men”, but Peter didn’t know which way to turn next.
Jesus appeared to them the third time on the shore of Lake Galilee. They had caught nothing all night, which was probably caused by Jesus, but when they cast the net on the right side of the boat. they caught 153 large fish and were unable to lift it into the boat. It was His way of showing them that following His instructions would be more successful than doing things their way. John was the first to realize that the man on the shore was Christ Jesus. The Lord had a small fire, on which He was cooking fish and bread. Peter was so excited to see Jesus that he jumped in the water and splashed his way to reach Him first. Jesus ate with them; in His eternal spiritual body He did not have to eat, but He did so in fellowship. The new body that He had when He arose was like our resurrected bodies are going to be; we can assume that when we reach heaven, we, too, will eat, not because we have to, though.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him will not die, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
Not knowing what the Lord would have them do;
Peter was unsure what his role would be,
After denying that Jesus he knew!
They fished all night, but nothing had they caught;
At daybreak they saw a figure on the shore;
They answered His hail that their catch was naught;
“Drop your net on the right,” He spoke once more;
They did, and the catch was too heavy to raise!
John cried, “It is the Lord!” In Peter splashed,
Swimming toward Jesus and His small blaze;
Those left towed the net in which fist were stashed!
The Christ cooked their breakfast of fish and bread;
They all ate, e’en the One that once was dead!
Scripture Quoted: John 21:3-6 (NIV)
“ ‘I’m going out to fish,’ Simon Peter told them, and they said, ‘We’ll go with you.’ So they went out and got in the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore but the disciples did not realize it was Jesus. He called out to them, ‘Friends, haven’t you any fish?’ ‘No,’ they answered. He said, ‘Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.’ When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.”
Commentary on: John 21:1-14 (NIV)
Although the apostles were overjoyed that Jesus was resurrected from the dead, He did not stay with them continuously, and they had large amounts of free time, spent mostly in hiding behind locked doors, After a couple of weeks they walked back to Peter’s home in Capernaum of Galilee. It was a time of indecision and great fear of the Jews. There was a chance that they would return to their former occupations. I’m sure Christ Jesus was not very happy with them for the unauthorized trip home. Peter, the chief apostle, had denied knowing Jesus outside the house of the high priest. Although he had wept bitterly over his great sin, he was still uneasy in his mind about whether he would be “booted off the team” or not. Peter had been a fisherman on Lake Galilee when Jesus first called him to be a disciple; it was only natural that he turned back to his old occupation. Jesus had called him to be a “fisher of men”, but Peter didn’t know which way to turn next.
Jesus appeared to them the third time on the shore of Lake Galilee. They had caught nothing all night, which was probably caused by Jesus, but when they cast the net on the right side of the boat. they caught 153 large fish and were unable to lift it into the boat. It was His way of showing them that following His instructions would be more successful than doing things their way. John was the first to realize that the man on the shore was Christ Jesus. The Lord had a small fire, on which He was cooking fish and bread. Peter was so excited to see Jesus that he jumped in the water and splashed his way to reach Him first. Jesus ate with them; in His eternal spiritual body He did not have to eat, but He did so in fellowship. The new body that He had when He arose was like our resurrected bodies are going to be; we can assume that when we reach heaven, we, too, will eat, not because we have to, though.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him will not die, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Thomas' Doubts Vanish (J76)
“I will not believe Jesus has been raised,”
Said Thomas, “unless I feel with my hand!”
Christ appeared again when His name they praised;
Thomas felt, then said, “Lord, I understand!”
“Bless’ed be the ones who will never see,
Yet believe,” said Jesus, speaking of those
In years to come; “great is their faith in me;
Your vanished doubts furnish proof I arose!”
John included His miracles but few,
Naming those that might help you believe,
That eternal life will be given you,
And heaven’s glories free you would receive!
His resurrection was the greatest one
Of all the wonders Jesus ever done!
Scripture Quoted: John 20:26-29 (NIV)
“A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here, see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.’ Thomas said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Then Jesus told him, ‘Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen me and yet have believed.’ “
Commentary on: John 20:24-31 (NIV)
Thomas the apostle has been maligned as “doubting Thomas” since his hesitancy to accept the word of his fellow disciples who saw the risen Jesus first. Yet, his story through the centuries since has helped many who never saw Jesus believe, for he touched the actual scars on His body. That is strong evidence Jesus’ resurrection from the dead is not fabricated. The disciples were meeting again on the next Sunday when Jesus appeared in their midst, having passed through the solid wall. During the 40 days between the resurrection Sunday and His ascension back to heaven, Jesus did not remain constantly with His disciples; He appeared occasionally. He ate with some on a couple of occasions, but apparently He did not need food or rest. He was now a supernatural being in His permanent eternal body.
It is harder for us 2,000 years later to believe, because we did not see Jesus during His life or after He arose. Our trust lies in our belief that the Bible is true. It helps us to believe when we learn that many of the world’s most renowned scholars have scoffed at the truth of the Bible, but no one has ever been able to prove any part of it to be untrue. The Bible was written by about 40 different authors over more than 1500 years; most of them never met any of the others, yet instead of contradicting each other, the Bible is consistent throughout. Another evidence of its truth is the many prophecies in it that have already come true; not one has yet been disproved. There were 340 specific prophecies about the future life of Jesus of Nazareth in the Old Testament, and every one was fulfilled when He lived on earth. Many other prophecies are contained in the Bible, including several that Israel would return and be one nation again, which came true in 1948 when the UN gave them back a portion of the Promised Land. The continual conflict between the Arab nations and Israel , which began in 1948 and still goes on today is prophesied in the Bible )See Psalm 83). There is also a prophecy that when Jesus returns to earth for the Second time, He will pour out His grace on Israel, and as a nation they will accept Jesus and mourn for their killing of Him the first time He came (See Zechariah 12:10)
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him will not die, but have everlasting life.” )John 3:16)
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
Said Thomas, “unless I feel with my hand!”
Christ appeared again when His name they praised;
Thomas felt, then said, “Lord, I understand!”
“Bless’ed be the ones who will never see,
Yet believe,” said Jesus, speaking of those
In years to come; “great is their faith in me;
Your vanished doubts furnish proof I arose!”
John included His miracles but few,
Naming those that might help you believe,
That eternal life will be given you,
And heaven’s glories free you would receive!
His resurrection was the greatest one
Of all the wonders Jesus ever done!
Scripture Quoted: John 20:26-29 (NIV)
“A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here, see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.’ Thomas said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Then Jesus told him, ‘Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen me and yet have believed.’ “
SPECIAL NOTE: New series on "God's Master Plan For The World begins November 17th. Did God change His plan when Adam disobeyed and all human beings became condemned? A new sonnet and commentary every other day! Answers to questions never before given! Don't miss one! William J. B. Crittenden
Commentary on: John 20:24-31 (NIV)
Thomas the apostle has been maligned as “doubting Thomas” since his hesitancy to accept the word of his fellow disciples who saw the risen Jesus first. Yet, his story through the centuries since has helped many who never saw Jesus believe, for he touched the actual scars on His body. That is strong evidence Jesus’ resurrection from the dead is not fabricated. The disciples were meeting again on the next Sunday when Jesus appeared in their midst, having passed through the solid wall. During the 40 days between the resurrection Sunday and His ascension back to heaven, Jesus did not remain constantly with His disciples; He appeared occasionally. He ate with some on a couple of occasions, but apparently He did not need food or rest. He was now a supernatural being in His permanent eternal body.
It is harder for us 2,000 years later to believe, because we did not see Jesus during His life or after He arose. Our trust lies in our belief that the Bible is true. It helps us to believe when we learn that many of the world’s most renowned scholars have scoffed at the truth of the Bible, but no one has ever been able to prove any part of it to be untrue. The Bible was written by about 40 different authors over more than 1500 years; most of them never met any of the others, yet instead of contradicting each other, the Bible is consistent throughout. Another evidence of its truth is the many prophecies in it that have already come true; not one has yet been disproved. There were 340 specific prophecies about the future life of Jesus of Nazareth in the Old Testament, and every one was fulfilled when He lived on earth. Many other prophecies are contained in the Bible, including several that Israel would return and be one nation again, which came true in 1948 when the UN gave them back a portion of the Promised Land. The continual conflict between the Arab nations and Israel , which began in 1948 and still goes on today is prophesied in the Bible )See Psalm 83). There is also a prophecy that when Jesus returns to earth for the Second time, He will pour out His grace on Israel, and as a nation they will accept Jesus and mourn for their killing of Him the first time He came (See Zechariah 12:10)
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him will not die, but have everlasting life.” )John 3:16)
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Jesus Appears To His Disciples (J75)
The temple was buzzing about the news
Of the empty tomb; where was Jesus now?
Had He risen, as predicted to the Jews,
Or was His body stolen? If so, how?
The Sanhedrin induced the guards to say,
“While we slept, His disciples moved the stone;
They took the body and hid it away!”
That He arose, Jews wanted not be known!
When the disciples gathered that same day,
They locked the doors, fearing Jewish arrest,
Glad that in the tomb their Lord did not lay;
Through the wall He appeared and joined the fest!
They knew Him, though the fresh wounds were all healed;
Such would be those their graves would some day yield!
Scripture Quoted: John 20:19-23 (NIV)
“On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’ After he said this he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.’ And with that, Jesus breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone their sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.’ “
Commentary on: John 20:19-23 (NIV)
There were approximately 120 disciples, men and women, in a large upper room late on the Sunday that Christ was resurrected. They were rejoicing that Peter and John told them that Jesus had risen, but they feared what the Jews might do; they had heard the rumor started by the Sanhedrin that it was they who had removed and hidden Jesus’ body. They had locked and barred the doors, which in that day were formidable to break open. They really had nothing to worry about, for their Jewish enemies had no desire to arrest them—there was no body for them to produce, and the priests knew they didn’t have it. The rumor was a lie, intended to stop any talk of resurrection. Roman soldiers didn’t sleep on watch; the penalty for doing so was death; divine power had so hypnotized them when Jesus walked out of the tomb that they saw and heard nothing; they must have been bribed to say openly they had fallen asleep.
For Jews the Sabbath day began at 6 p.m. on Friday and ended at the same time Saturday. Since Jesus arose on Sunday, the believers chose the first day of the week—that is, Sunday—on which to worship Christ. In their belief every Sunday is Easter Sunday, the day of His resurrection.
Lord Jesus Christ arose in a new imperishable body, yet He was recognizable as the former Jesus of Nazareth. To believers this was evidence of the spiritual heavenly bodies they would receive when they are resurrected at Christ’s return to earth the second time. The fresh wounds were completely healed, although He had been in the tomb slightly more than 36 hours. The “three days” are Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, although the hours for Friday and Sunday are very few. Jesus Christ appeared in their midst in the upper room, having passed through the wall. He let them feel His scars, and proved to their satisfaction that He was the same as the Jesus buried late Friday.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him will not die, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
Of the empty tomb; where was Jesus now?
Had He risen, as predicted to the Jews,
Or was His body stolen? If so, how?
The Sanhedrin induced the guards to say,
“While we slept, His disciples moved the stone;
They took the body and hid it away!”
That He arose, Jews wanted not be known!
When the disciples gathered that same day,
They locked the doors, fearing Jewish arrest,
Glad that in the tomb their Lord did not lay;
Through the wall He appeared and joined the fest!
They knew Him, though the fresh wounds were all healed;
Such would be those their graves would some day yield!
Scripture Quoted: John 20:19-23 (NIV)
“On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’ After he said this he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.’ And with that, Jesus breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone their sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.’ “
SPECIAL NOTEL I start my new series, GOD'S MASTER PLAN FOR THE WORLD on NOV. 17th! See how God made His entire plan for Man and his history before znything existed. Watch Him create this expanding universe, earth, and man. See Him as Adam commits the sin that changed the world, dooming all mankind to Hell. Was God's plan ruined? How had God anticipated the loss of all men and women? Don't miss even one blog. New ones posted every two days. William J. B. Crittenden
Commentary on: John 20:19-23 (NIV)
There were approximately 120 disciples, men and women, in a large upper room late on the Sunday that Christ was resurrected. They were rejoicing that Peter and John told them that Jesus had risen, but they feared what the Jews might do; they had heard the rumor started by the Sanhedrin that it was they who had removed and hidden Jesus’ body. They had locked and barred the doors, which in that day were formidable to break open. They really had nothing to worry about, for their Jewish enemies had no desire to arrest them—there was no body for them to produce, and the priests knew they didn’t have it. The rumor was a lie, intended to stop any talk of resurrection. Roman soldiers didn’t sleep on watch; the penalty for doing so was death; divine power had so hypnotized them when Jesus walked out of the tomb that they saw and heard nothing; they must have been bribed to say openly they had fallen asleep.
For Jews the Sabbath day began at 6 p.m. on Friday and ended at the same time Saturday. Since Jesus arose on Sunday, the believers chose the first day of the week—that is, Sunday—on which to worship Christ. In their belief every Sunday is Easter Sunday, the day of His resurrection.
Lord Jesus Christ arose in a new imperishable body, yet He was recognizable as the former Jesus of Nazareth. To believers this was evidence of the spiritual heavenly bodies they would receive when they are resurrected at Christ’s return to earth the second time. The fresh wounds were completely healed, although He had been in the tomb slightly more than 36 hours. The “three days” are Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, although the hours for Friday and Sunday are very few. Jesus Christ appeared in their midst in the upper room, having passed through the wall. He let them feel His scars, and proved to their satisfaction that He was the same as the Jesus buried late Friday.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him will not die, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
Friday, November 5, 2010
Mary Magdalene Was In Love With Jesus (J74)
Mary Magdalene loved Jesus the man;
Her acts showed how very much she was fond;
Righteous in thought and deed, Jesus did stand;
His will forbade His flesh to respond!
That firm a will should all Christians portray,
For lust aloose destroys many a pair;
Jesus had the whole world’s sin-debt to pay—
To respond in kind would His task impair!
He loved lost men more; Mary did, too;
She knew her passion was forever vain;
Agape love* does eros love** eschew,
So her agape did reign, and eros wane!
Some women since are forced to do the same;
Eros does start, but agape must tame!
*Agape love = divine platonic love, that wishes the best for the recipient **eros love = sexual attraction that requires physical intimacy to be gratified; the world’s idea of love
Scripture Quoted: John 20:10-17 (NIV)
“Then the disciples went back to their homes [after examining the empty tomb; they had not seen the risen Jesus, or know where His body was], but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look inside the tomb, and saw two angels in white, sitting where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They asked her, ‘Woman, why are you crying?’ ‘They have taken my Lord away,’ she said, ‘and I don’t know where they have put him.’ At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. ‘Woman,’ he said, ‘why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?’ Thinking he was the gardener, she said, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’ She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, ‘Rabboni!’ (which means Teacher). Jesus said, ‘Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to my Father.’ …” [brackets added]
Special Note: Begin reading my new series, God's Master Plan, on November 17th; don't miaa a one! The History of Man looking over God's shoulder!
Commentary
The actions of Mary Magdalene toward Jesus indicate that she was deeply in erotic love with Him as a man, and I believe that she was. I hasten to add that I do not believe that He returned or responded to her as most any man would, although He felt the invisible attraction between them. There is enough evidence to motivate a Hollywood screen writer or fiction novelist to write a film play or novel that they had a scandalous love affair, as was done in The Da Vinci Code. The non-believing world has an insatiable appetite for entertainment media that casts doubt upon the truths of the Bible. Her passion for Him is not surprising, nor is it threatening enough to destroy His credibility as living a completely sinless life, throwing His eligibility for an atoning death for the sins of men into jeopardy.
The risen Jesus appeared Himself to her first, for she was the first griever at the tomb on Sunday morning; while it was still dark, she came alone to the tomb. Seeing it open and empty, she ran to Peter and John to tell them the tomb was empty, and ran back with them. They departed after examining the empty tomb, not knowing what had happened, but she remained at the tomb and saw two angels inside. Then He appeared and called her name tenderly. When she realized it was Jesus, and He was alive, she must have thrown herself upon Him, for He asked her to let Him go; He was in His new spiritual body. His tenderness for her was apparent, but His love was agape, divine love which the world does not understand. Modern obsession with eros love requires its consummation in physical intimacy, that is, sex. There is no physical intimacy in agape love, and no mental lust for it either. In fact, our heavenly bodies will be like those of angels, with no flesh and no sexual desire or intimacy.
There are several significant lessons to be learned from this all-too-common occurrence for believers today. We need strong will powers. Jesus had the same fleshly feelings and desires that all men have. Yet, He controlled His own flesh and the thoughts and images in His mind and did not let lust command; had He been as weak in will power as most of us, He surely would have committed sin. Another lesson for us is that learned by Mary. A woman in the throes of a massive passion for a man with whom she could never consummate her love, she wisely let the Holy Spirit guide her vain passion from eros to the more enduring, satisfying and constructive agape love for the Lord. In modern times our popular culture engulfs us daily in eros love so that many who investigate coming to Jesus Christ confuse worldly love with the love we have for our Lord and Savior. I believe the praise chorus music practiced in modern churches immerses young worshipers into a similar hypnosis as that of rock star concerts, resulting in erotic love, not for the star, but for Jesus. If, like Mary Magdalene, the new believers gain in their spiritual maturity, diverting the deadend eros love into magnificent agape love, there is no harm with beginning your Christian pilgrimage with eros love.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes upon him will not die, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him fr om the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
Her acts showed how very much she was fond;
Righteous in thought and deed, Jesus did stand;
His will forbade His flesh to respond!
That firm a will should all Christians portray,
For lust aloose destroys many a pair;
Jesus had the whole world’s sin-debt to pay—
To respond in kind would His task impair!
He loved lost men more; Mary did, too;
She knew her passion was forever vain;
Agape love* does eros love** eschew,
So her agape did reign, and eros wane!
Some women since are forced to do the same;
Eros does start, but agape must tame!
*Agape love = divine platonic love, that wishes the best for the recipient **eros love = sexual attraction that requires physical intimacy to be gratified; the world’s idea of love
Scripture Quoted: John 20:10-17 (NIV)
“Then the disciples went back to their homes [after examining the empty tomb; they had not seen the risen Jesus, or know where His body was], but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look inside the tomb, and saw two angels in white, sitting where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They asked her, ‘Woman, why are you crying?’ ‘They have taken my Lord away,’ she said, ‘and I don’t know where they have put him.’ At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. ‘Woman,’ he said, ‘why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?’ Thinking he was the gardener, she said, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’ She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, ‘Rabboni!’ (which means Teacher). Jesus said, ‘Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to my Father.’ …” [brackets added]
Special Note: Begin reading my new series, God's Master Plan, on November 17th; don't miaa a one! The History of Man looking over God's shoulder!
Commentary
The actions of Mary Magdalene toward Jesus indicate that she was deeply in erotic love with Him as a man, and I believe that she was. I hasten to add that I do not believe that He returned or responded to her as most any man would, although He felt the invisible attraction between them. There is enough evidence to motivate a Hollywood screen writer or fiction novelist to write a film play or novel that they had a scandalous love affair, as was done in The Da Vinci Code. The non-believing world has an insatiable appetite for entertainment media that casts doubt upon the truths of the Bible. Her passion for Him is not surprising, nor is it threatening enough to destroy His credibility as living a completely sinless life, throwing His eligibility for an atoning death for the sins of men into jeopardy.
The risen Jesus appeared Himself to her first, for she was the first griever at the tomb on Sunday morning; while it was still dark, she came alone to the tomb. Seeing it open and empty, she ran to Peter and John to tell them the tomb was empty, and ran back with them. They departed after examining the empty tomb, not knowing what had happened, but she remained at the tomb and saw two angels inside. Then He appeared and called her name tenderly. When she realized it was Jesus, and He was alive, she must have thrown herself upon Him, for He asked her to let Him go; He was in His new spiritual body. His tenderness for her was apparent, but His love was agape, divine love which the world does not understand. Modern obsession with eros love requires its consummation in physical intimacy, that is, sex. There is no physical intimacy in agape love, and no mental lust for it either. In fact, our heavenly bodies will be like those of angels, with no flesh and no sexual desire or intimacy.
There are several significant lessons to be learned from this all-too-common occurrence for believers today. We need strong will powers. Jesus had the same fleshly feelings and desires that all men have. Yet, He controlled His own flesh and the thoughts and images in His mind and did not let lust command; had He been as weak in will power as most of us, He surely would have committed sin. Another lesson for us is that learned by Mary. A woman in the throes of a massive passion for a man with whom she could never consummate her love, she wisely let the Holy Spirit guide her vain passion from eros to the more enduring, satisfying and constructive agape love for the Lord. In modern times our popular culture engulfs us daily in eros love so that many who investigate coming to Jesus Christ confuse worldly love with the love we have for our Lord and Savior. I believe the praise chorus music practiced in modern churches immerses young worshipers into a similar hypnosis as that of rock star concerts, resulting in erotic love, not for the star, but for Jesus. If, like Mary Magdalene, the new believers gain in their spiritual maturity, diverting the deadend eros love into magnificent agape love, there is no harm with beginning your Christian pilgrimage with eros love.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes upon him will not die, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him fr om the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Jesus Is Resurrected From Death (J73)
Hallelujah! Jesus has risen indeed!
God has broken human death’s hopeless grip!
No longer is the grave man’s final need!
Earth is but prelude to heav’n’s endless trip!
New hope has come to the children of men,
For Jesus of Nazareth’s just the first!
Since He arose, death for all’s not the end—
Thus will we come forth, for better or worse!
He dispelled our darkness with gospel’s light,
Abolished the grave’s eternal embrace,
Redeemed us from torment in hell’s long night,
Sanctified believers with gifts of grace!
What more can He do than He’s freely done,
For creatures who’re worse than when we begun?
Scripture Quoted: John 20:1-9 (NIV)
“Early on the first day of the week [Sunday], while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved [John], and said, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!’ So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus’ head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (They still had not understood from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)” [Brackets added)
Commentary
The parentheses in the Scripture quoted above means that the enclosed sentence was not in the earliest manuscript; the brackets mean that the items enclosed were added by this commentator. It is certainly true that the disciples had not really understood Old Testament prophecies predicting that the Messiah would arise from the dead, as well as the words of Jesus to them. His resurrection came as a joyful surprise to them; furthermore, it proved His words to them were true. The “good news” of the gospel is that salvation from the condemnation resulting from sin is freely given to all who believe that Jesus was God’s Messiah; it means that the believer will live again after physical death, and live forever with God. Salvation is offered to everybody, but it is given only to believers in Jesus. What good would be our belief in Jesus Christ if He had remained in the grave? If He could not overcome physical death, how can we expect to overcome it? Not only believers will be resurrected; ALL people will be raised at the end of time, some for heaven, but most for hell (1 Corinthians 15:22).
Your eyes do not deceive you—you will live again after you die physically in this present life. Death on earth is not the end of life for anyone. The fact that Jesus lived again and continues to live today, 2000 years later, proves it. You may have doubts about it, not having seen it with your own eyes, but there is too much credible evidence that it really happened for it to be false. There were hundreds of eyewitnesses; if their testimony is false, then the whole Bible is untrue. Yes, it does require a measure of faith. Personally, the strongest prop to my faith is reading in the Old Testament 340 prophecies giving specific details about the actual life of Jesus of Nazareth, every one of which has proven true, despite determined efforts by skeptics to find an untruth. Every word of the Old Testament was written at least 400 years before the birth of Jesus. The odds that Jesus was not the Son of God are so slight as to be slim or zero, to borrow a common expression for non-existent.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him will not die, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
God has broken human death’s hopeless grip!
No longer is the grave man’s final need!
Earth is but prelude to heav’n’s endless trip!
New hope has come to the children of men,
For Jesus of Nazareth’s just the first!
Since He arose, death for all’s not the end—
Thus will we come forth, for better or worse!
He dispelled our darkness with gospel’s light,
Abolished the grave’s eternal embrace,
Redeemed us from torment in hell’s long night,
Sanctified believers with gifts of grace!
What more can He do than He’s freely done,
For creatures who’re worse than when we begun?
Scripture Quoted: John 20:1-9 (NIV)
“Early on the first day of the week [Sunday], while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved [John], and said, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!’ So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus’ head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (They still had not understood from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)” [Brackets added)
Special Notice: I will complete my series on the gospel of John November 15th. I start a new series of poems and commetaries on November 17th; it is God's Master Plan For The World. You will see everything from God's perspective, beginning with Him before Time, when there was nothing but God---no angels, no other life, no universe, no matter, no energy; all was void. You won't want to miss one! Everything is new!
Commentary
The parentheses in the Scripture quoted above means that the enclosed sentence was not in the earliest manuscript; the brackets mean that the items enclosed were added by this commentator. It is certainly true that the disciples had not really understood Old Testament prophecies predicting that the Messiah would arise from the dead, as well as the words of Jesus to them. His resurrection came as a joyful surprise to them; furthermore, it proved His words to them were true. The “good news” of the gospel is that salvation from the condemnation resulting from sin is freely given to all who believe that Jesus was God’s Messiah; it means that the believer will live again after physical death, and live forever with God. Salvation is offered to everybody, but it is given only to believers in Jesus. What good would be our belief in Jesus Christ if He had remained in the grave? If He could not overcome physical death, how can we expect to overcome it? Not only believers will be resurrected; ALL people will be raised at the end of time, some for heaven, but most for hell (1 Corinthians 15:22).
Your eyes do not deceive you—you will live again after you die physically in this present life. Death on earth is not the end of life for anyone. The fact that Jesus lived again and continues to live today, 2000 years later, proves it. You may have doubts about it, not having seen it with your own eyes, but there is too much credible evidence that it really happened for it to be false. There were hundreds of eyewitnesses; if their testimony is false, then the whole Bible is untrue. Yes, it does require a measure of faith. Personally, the strongest prop to my faith is reading in the Old Testament 340 prophecies giving specific details about the actual life of Jesus of Nazareth, every one of which has proven true, despite determined efforts by skeptics to find an untruth. Every word of the Old Testament was written at least 400 years before the birth of Jesus. The odds that Jesus was not the Son of God are so slight as to be slim or zero, to borrow a common expression for non-existent.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him will not die, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
Monday, November 1, 2010
The Burial of Jesus (J72)
What Jesus had come to do was now done;
Surrounded by soldiers, His body lay;
Two were permitted to bury God’s Son,
Near the end of that significant day—
Nicodemus, who questioned Him by night,
And Joseph; in secret did both believe,
But this evil deed drew them into light,
Caring not what hazards they might receive!
His body these two lovingly prepared,
And placed it in a nearby borrowed tomb,
Closely watched by a few who His life shared:
Mary, John, and she who lent Him her womb!
Jesus was buried, Christ Jesus came out—
Proving we, too, will live, beyond a doubt!
COMING! New Series! Beginning Nov. 17: GOD'S MASTER PLAN FOR THE WORLD. Don't miss a single blog!
Commentary on: John 19:38-42 (NIV)
In flesh as the man, Jesus of Nazareth, God had come to earth and lived 33 years a completely sinless life; He voluntarily died, to offer all men and women a way to escape condemnation for sin. The way to accept His offer is that you must believe He was sent from God; if you do believe, He will impute His righteousness to you. There is no other way for you to to be saved (See John 14:6).
Joseph of Arimethea, a wealthy Jew and perhaps a Pharisee, was a believer in Jesus who had kept it secret for fear of the Jews. He was given permission by Pilate to take charge of the body of Jesus; he planned to bury it in his own tomb that was near the cross. Nicodemus, the Pharisee who had come to question Jesus at night, came with Joseph. Nicodemus had believed Jesus was sent from God, but he had kept it secret, also. He was a member of the Sanhedrin, the council of 23 Pharisees and priests that governed religious matters of the Jews. He, too, was very rich, but after it became known that He was a follower of Jesus, tradition reports that Nicodemus was severely persecuted and lost his wealth.
The Sabbath began at 6 pm, and the day was called “Preparation” day for the Passover meal that night. Jesus had to be buried by that time. They brought linen strips and spices to wrap around His body and a cloth to cover His face. I assume His mother Mary, the apostle John, Mary Magdalene, and a few others closely accompanied the two men until the stone was rolled into place to cover the entrance to the cave. We are told in the other gospel books that the Jews had Pilate assign soldiers to guard the entrance, to make sure the disciples did not steal His body, conceal it, and claim His resurrection.
The priests and Pharisees that hated Jesus so much must have enjoyed their Seder meals that night, thinking they had successfully rid Israel of Jesus of Nazareth. However, they had not. “The Way” was about to explode, covering Israel, and the entire Roman Empire, the “known world” in the first century. Not only that, they had brought upon themselves the judgment of God; 38 years later, in 70 A.D., Roman general Titus destroyed Jerusalem, killing one million Jews and sending the rest into slavery. They cut down all the trees and plowed up the land of all Israel, sowing the ground with salt. To this day, modern Israel has not finished restoring fertility to much of the land.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in him will not die, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
Surrounded by soldiers, His body lay;
Two were permitted to bury God’s Son,
Near the end of that significant day—
Nicodemus, who questioned Him by night,
And Joseph; in secret did both believe,
But this evil deed drew them into light,
Caring not what hazards they might receive!
His body these two lovingly prepared,
And placed it in a nearby borrowed tomb,
Closely watched by a few who His life shared:
Mary, John, and she who lent Him her womb!
Jesus was buried, Christ Jesus came out—
Proving we, too, will live, beyond a doubt!
COMING! New Series! Beginning Nov. 17: GOD'S MASTER PLAN FOR THE WORLD. Don't miss a single blog!
Commentary on: John 19:38-42 (NIV)
In flesh as the man, Jesus of Nazareth, God had come to earth and lived 33 years a completely sinless life; He voluntarily died, to offer all men and women a way to escape condemnation for sin. The way to accept His offer is that you must believe He was sent from God; if you do believe, He will impute His righteousness to you. There is no other way for you to to be saved (See John 14:6).
Joseph of Arimethea, a wealthy Jew and perhaps a Pharisee, was a believer in Jesus who had kept it secret for fear of the Jews. He was given permission by Pilate to take charge of the body of Jesus; he planned to bury it in his own tomb that was near the cross. Nicodemus, the Pharisee who had come to question Jesus at night, came with Joseph. Nicodemus had believed Jesus was sent from God, but he had kept it secret, also. He was a member of the Sanhedrin, the council of 23 Pharisees and priests that governed religious matters of the Jews. He, too, was very rich, but after it became known that He was a follower of Jesus, tradition reports that Nicodemus was severely persecuted and lost his wealth.
The Sabbath began at 6 pm, and the day was called “Preparation” day for the Passover meal that night. Jesus had to be buried by that time. They brought linen strips and spices to wrap around His body and a cloth to cover His face. I assume His mother Mary, the apostle John, Mary Magdalene, and a few others closely accompanied the two men until the stone was rolled into place to cover the entrance to the cave. We are told in the other gospel books that the Jews had Pilate assign soldiers to guard the entrance, to make sure the disciples did not steal His body, conceal it, and claim His resurrection.
The priests and Pharisees that hated Jesus so much must have enjoyed their Seder meals that night, thinking they had successfully rid Israel of Jesus of Nazareth. However, they had not. “The Way” was about to explode, covering Israel, and the entire Roman Empire, the “known world” in the first century. Not only that, they had brought upon themselves the judgment of God; 38 years later, in 70 A.D., Roman general Titus destroyed Jerusalem, killing one million Jews and sending the rest into slavery. They cut down all the trees and plowed up the land of all Israel, sowing the ground with salt. To this day, modern Israel has not finished restoring fertility to much of the land.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in him will not die, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
