Easter
He Has Risen, Just As He Said
04/08/2007 00:28 Filed in: Faith & Reason
After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. (Matt 28:1-8 TNIV)
Illustration: The Resurrection of Jesus by Gustave Doré (1832–1883). Source: Accordance Gallery of Bible Art. Edited and Written by David Lang. Copyright © 2006 OakTree Software, Inc.
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Easter & the Renewal of Spring
04/17/2006 01:21 Filed in: Faith & Reason
I was sitting on the back patio this afternoon--first time to do that this year. As I was sitting there, I noticed something new. There was green on the trees! Now, I know that they didn't just turn green today. But over the past few weeks, I've spent six days of the week at the library working on my prospectus, with my nose in books or behind my laptop screen. It seems like the last time I really looked at the trees behind my home (picture below taken today), there wasn't one sign of green--just the dead, leafless look of winter.
These trees have only started to turn green. Soon they will be so full of leaves, the branches won't even be seen at all. I also saw bats after it began to turn dark. We have lots of bats out here where I live. I often like to sit on the back swing on a summer night and watch their sonic-induced erratic flight.
With it being Easter Sunday, my thoughts moved to Jesus' resurrection. Obviously, there was great theological significance for Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection to take place during Passover, since Jesus was the lamb of God, come to take away the sin of world (John 1:29). However, as I looked at the trees beginning to bloom, I thought to myself that even the trees were giving witness to the resurrection. Is it not also fitting that the resurrection of Christ took place during the springtime of the year?
“Let the fields and everything in them exult.
Then all the trees of the forest will shout for joy
before the Lord, for He is coming—
for He is coming to judge the earth.”
(Psa 96:12-13 HCSB, emphasis added)
Even the pagans recognize the promise of new life that comes with the spring. But they miss the point. Eternal life comes through Christ. We will live because he lives. As with the new life of spring, we have the promise of renewed life through Him.
“But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man. For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.”
(1Cor 15:20-22, HCSB)
Happy Easter.
Happy Spring.
Happy New Life.
Happy Eternal Life.
These trees have only started to turn green. Soon they will be so full of leaves, the branches won't even be seen at all. I also saw bats after it began to turn dark. We have lots of bats out here where I live. I often like to sit on the back swing on a summer night and watch their sonic-induced erratic flight.
With it being Easter Sunday, my thoughts moved to Jesus' resurrection. Obviously, there was great theological significance for Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection to take place during Passover, since Jesus was the lamb of God, come to take away the sin of world (John 1:29). However, as I looked at the trees beginning to bloom, I thought to myself that even the trees were giving witness to the resurrection. Is it not also fitting that the resurrection of Christ took place during the springtime of the year?
“Let the fields and everything in them exult.
Then all the trees of the forest will shout for joy
before the Lord, for He is coming—
for He is coming to judge the earth.”
(Psa 96:12-13 HCSB, emphasis added)
Even the pagans recognize the promise of new life that comes with the spring. But they miss the point. Eternal life comes through Christ. We will live because he lives. As with the new life of spring, we have the promise of renewed life through Him.
“But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man. For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.”
(1Cor 15:20-22, HCSB)
Happy Easter.
Happy Spring.
Happy New Life.
Happy Eternal Life.
An Easter Sonnet
04/16/2006 00:01 Filed in: Faith & Reason
Still early in the morning they drew
Before the tomb, their minds consumed with stone
Inertia their absorption, they bemoaned
His death, and pondered dully what to do.
Could messianic claims be so askew?
Could words of promise shrink to froth and foam?
Was God's own remnant once more left alone?
Could hatred swallow love so wholly true?
No stone to bar them, nor a corpse to see
No special seal, no purpose in perfume,
No stalwart soldiers in full panoply--
But angel presence and an empty tomb
"He is not here; he's risen, as he said.
Come see the place where once cold lay the dead."
"Sonnet 26"
D. A. Carson, Holy Sonnets of the Twentieth Century
Sunrise over the Sea of Galilee from the Accordance Bible Lands Photo Guide
Happy Easter!
“He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said.”
(Matt 28:6, NASB)
Before the tomb, their minds consumed with stone
Inertia their absorption, they bemoaned
His death, and pondered dully what to do.
Could messianic claims be so askew?
Could words of promise shrink to froth and foam?
Was God's own remnant once more left alone?
Could hatred swallow love so wholly true?
No stone to bar them, nor a corpse to see
No special seal, no purpose in perfume,
No stalwart soldiers in full panoply--
But angel presence and an empty tomb
"He is not here; he's risen, as he said.
Come see the place where once cold lay the dead."
"Sonnet 26"
D. A. Carson, Holy Sonnets of the Twentieth Century
Sunrise over the Sea of Galilee from the Accordance Bible Lands Photo Guide
Happy Easter!
“He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said.”
(Matt 28:6, NASB)