Finally, we arrive at the Christ candle. As you gather with the family on Christmas Eve, invite the eldest child to light the white candle.
Explain: Explain that we light the white candle in the centre of our Advent Wreath in honour of Jesus, the light of the world
Tell:
Read John 1: 1-5
God has come to rescue us and make all things new. Jesus has come and he is coming again. God's deepest desire is to live amongst human beings, to turn our darkness into light. God's cry at creation, at the birth of Jesus, and in this moment right now is: "Let there be light!"
Other readings: Titus 2 and Revelation 22.
End with a time of prayer.
O God, you have caused this holy night to shine with the brightness of the true Light: Grant that we, who have known the mystery of that Light on earth, may also enjoy him perfectly in heaven; where with you and the Holy Spirit he lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
]]>For the fourth and final week of Advent, gather with the family to light the last coloured candle. This is the candle, and the week, of peace, in which we remember that the message of the angels is not only one of joy but of peace – God’s great shalom – when God puts everything back in its right place.
Explain: Explain that the fourth week of Advent is the week of peace and that during this week, we remember that God is still doing a great work of redemption in the world.
Tell:
Read: Revelation 21: 1-4
Shalom is when God has put everything back in its right place. It is the great end of the story. All of our spiritual practices and disciplines are to this end of God’s peace. This is the work that God is doing in the world. It is the undoing of all evil, brokenness, and disease in God's creation. The world is put to rights. This is what happens when Jesus arrives. This is what we’re getting ready for.
Other readings: John 3 and Romans 13 and Mark 13.
End with a time of prayer
]]>In the third week in Advent, gather with the family to light the third candle. This is the candle, and the week, of joy and it’s the week in which we remember the visit of the angels to the shepherds. It’s a subversive act of protest to shout for joy when the darkest night of the year is coming. But that’s what the angels do. We can lean into joy knowing with full confidence that the darkness does not have the final word.
Explain: Explain that the third week of Advent is the week of joy and it’s the time when we remember the good news that the angels brought to the shepherd.
Tell:
Read Luke 2: 8-20
The angel’s message to the shepherds is the joyful news that the Savior promised to Israel in its days of darkness is now a present reality: God is with us in the flesh. He is no longer a distant entity, known from afar, but truly close to us. The single angle was joined by many others who praised God and said, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
It's like God was making a peace treaty with humanity through the birth of His Son.
The proclamation that “a savior has been born for you” is a message that compels us to take a position. Benedict XVI tells us that “if it is true, it changes everything. If it is true, it also affects me. Like the shepherds, then, I too must say: ‘Come on; I want to Bethlehem to see the Word that has occurred there.’ The story of the shepherds is included in the Gospel for a reason: they show us the right way to respond to the message that we too have received”
Other readings: Luke 2 and Isaiah 61.
End with a time of prayer
]]>On the second Sunday in Advent, gather together with your family to light the second candle. This is the candle, and the week, of faith and it’s the week in which we remember the astounding faith of Mary and Joseph. We may find ourselves too comfortable and familiar with their story that we forget just how courageous their faith was, to believe and act on what God said. God is a God who makes promises and we can rest in the assurance that God keeps those promises. We know that faith is the first step of preparation. Jesus has come once, and he is coming again.
Explain: Explain that the second week of Advent is the week of faith and that during this week, we remember that if we are willing to partner with God through faith, He can do great things on the Earth.
Tell: Tell the story of how Mary and Joseph heard from God and had to choose to believe and act in faith.
Read Matthew 1: 18-2: 23 and Luke 1: 5-56
The story of Mary and Joseph is incredible. These faith these two displayed is inspiring and should cause us to pause and reflect.
Mary had her life planned out. She was young, about to be married and a virgin. She’s done all the right, God-fearing things and she knows what to expect in return. Instead, a curve-ball. An angel shows up and tells her she’s going to fall pregnant with God in the flesh, even though she’s never been with a man. Mary was greatly troubled. Imagine being in Mary’s shoes! She must have been very scared. Who will believe me? Imagine telling my parents? The village? Joseph?! Nevertheless, she submits to the will of God. When Joseph heard the news, of course he didn’t believe how it all happened but instead decided to break off their engagement. Then an angel visited him too – and he decided to work with God and marry Mary.
God asked an incredibly hard thing of both Mary and Joseph and they responded in self-sacrificing faith. The result? The Saviour of the world was born.
Other readings: Luke 3 and Micah 5.
End with a time of prayer.
]]>ADVENT FOR THE FAMILY
Have you heard about Advent? Advent is that season in the Christian
calendar when, for the four weeks leading up to Christmas Day, we
remember that God’s story is a rescue story. Usually, children get given
Advent calendars and open one door a day leading up to Christmas. But
there is another tradition that you may want to institute as a family – the
Advent Wreath.
The Advent Wreath is a simple circle made of leaves and/or branches, and
5 candles. One of these candles, the candle in the centre, should be white
(representing Christ); the others can be any colour you like.
The idea of the wreath is to give your family a weekly place to gather and
contemplate the Christmas story afresh.
First Sunday in Advent: 27 November 2022
On the first Sunday in Advent, gather together as a family and allow one of
the children to light the first candle. This is the candle, and the week, of
hope and it’s the week in which we remember the voices of the prophets.
From Isaiah to John the Baptist, God raised up voices to announce that He
was never far away. Even in the darkest, most forsaken places, God is
there. And because of that, there is hope. We wait in the darkness with
expectant hearts. We may have every reason to despair, but God has
promised to do something about the suffering and injustice of Adam’s
world.
Explain: Explain what Advent is about and what the Advent wreath is there
for. Explain that the first week is the week of hope and that during this
week, we always remember that we have hope because God is a rescuing
God.
Tell: Tell the story of the Exodus and relate it to the coming, and the
second coming, of Jesus.
Exodus 2:23–25
The Israelites groaned under their slavery, and cried out. Out of the
slavery their cry for help rose up to God. God heard their groaning, and
God remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God
looked upon the Israelites, and God took notice of them.
Then YHWH said, ‘I have observed the misery of my people who are in
Egypt; I have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters. Indeed, I
know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them from the
Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad
land.’
God sees. God hears. God knows their suffering. God is coming to rescue.
When the Exodus begins, the people are groaning. God is somewhere out
there. When the book of Exodus concludes, God has entered the
tabernacle to live right among his people.
Notice how the gospel of John begins in The Message:
The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighbourhood.
Yes God came in person, in the person of Jesus and that is what we
celebrate at Christmas. But God will come once again to put everything
right again, this time for good.
Other readings: Isaiah 9 and Romans 15
End with a time of prayer.
]]>Read: Acts 17: 16-34
The denial of the bodily resurrection is a heathen doctrine. If you deny the doctrine of the resurrection of the body, your doctrine is, essentially, the doctrine of pagans. For the resurrection of the body is a Christian doctrine.
When Paul preached it among the pagans of his day, he received different types of responses. For example, in Athens, which was the intellectual capital of Paul’s day, he preached the doctrine of the resurrection by saying Because he had appointed the day in which he will judge in righteousness by that man, whom had ordained, whereof, he had given assurance unto all men in that he hath raised him from the dead. And then we read And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead some mocked. That was one response. Others said We will hear thee again of this matter. So some mocked. Some said We will give it reconsideration someday. Albeit, Luke adds in verse 34 Certain men clave unto him and believe.
So when Paul preached the resurrection, there was a lot of mockery. Some even so misunderstood what he was saying that they thought that the resurrection was a new god! Others said We will wait. We won’t say no at the moment. We’ll just hear you again about this. That is, they didn’t make any decision. But still others, believed. Down through the centuries, almost twenty of them now, there has echoed the mockery of the Aereopogus of Athens for men down through the centuries have laughed at the doctrine of the resurrection the body.
Prayer
Dear Lord, help me to believe every single thing You say in Your Word.
]]>Read: Deuteronomy 6: 10-13
Before we tackle all the details found in 1 Corinthians 15, let’s go back to the beginning of our Foundation Stones studies, because each foundational truth is built on the others.
There are two basic ideas that we have been working over: rescue from a lost estate and our establishment in a new estate. It is expressed in the Old Testament, when we see how the people of God came out of a state of bondage in Egypt. And then, ultimately, they came into the land that was promised to them, and that was their establishment in a new estate. And, as we’ve said, Israel’s experience is illustrative of our experience. As Moses put it in Deuteronomy 6: 23, And he brought us out from thence, that he might bring us in, to give us the land which he swore unto our fathers. So, He has brought us out that He might bring us in. And the same thing is true in the spiritual life except that now we’re talking about the reality. He has brought us out from sin and divine condemnation. And He has brought us into the possession of all of the blessings of salvation which are bound up in Jesus Christ.
Glorification, which is another way of stating the resurrection of the dead, is the consummation of our personal salvation. It is, therefore, the last stage in the application of Christ’s work to us. So it is not just about Christ’s resurrection, it is also about our resurrection.
Have you before realised that the doctrine of the resurrection of the body, is the necessary completion of the redemption of the cross of Jesus Christ?
Prayer
So much still to learn about the glories of Christ. Open my eyes Lord.
]]>Read: 1 Corinthians 15: 35-49
Not only did the apostles preach Christ’s resurrection in their early preaching, it went on to become a fundamental doctrine in all their correspondence to the early churches.
One of the main Scriptures sections dealing with this subject is 1 Corinthians 15. So this will be the focus of our studies for the next few days. Are you aware that this is the lengthiest passage in all of the Bible, not just the New Testament, on any one particular subject? It is, and its subject is..the resurrection.
In the first part of 1 Corinthians chapter 15 the apostle sets forth the resurrection of Jesus Christ and argues from his resurrection that there is, therefore, a resurrection of the dead. That raises inevitable questions – how will that happen, when will that happen, what kind of body are we going to have. And so, Paul, taking up those questions, writes his response from verse 35 to 58.
Please go and read those verses carefully in preparation for the rest of the week’s studies.
Prayer
I’m excited to learn more about the kind of body I am going to have one day.
]]>Read: 1 John 5: 11, 12
When you were in High School or University, did you ever find yourself facing a literature exam not having read the book or play? There was only one thing that could possibly help – the abridged, study-guide version of the book.
Similarly, the Apostles’ Creed acts as a summary of fundamental Christian teachings found in our primary source, the Bible. The Creed does not replace Scripture or overpower Scripture. In fact, it can’t do this precisely because it is from Scripture. The Creed is a summary of Scriptural teaching and in no way replaces the Bible as the primary source in the life of the believer.
Therefore, we need to view the Creed as a summary. J.I. Packer in his wonderful little book Affirming the Apostles Creed relates the Creed to something akin to a “power-point declaration of the basics of the Christian message.” It’s not as if the Creed says, “this is everything you ever need to know in your walk with Christ” but it does say, “this is the minimum you need to affirm to walk with Christ.” As Albert Mohler puts it, “All Christians believe more than is contained in the Apostles’ Creed, but none can believe less.” The Creed is a summary of Scriptural teaching and in no way replaces the Bible as the primary source in the life of the believer.
For our purposes, it is surely very comforting to know that the doctrine we are studying this month, the resurrection of the dead, was deemed so essential that it was written in to the summary.
Prayer
Thank You for preserving these truths Father
]]>Read: John 15: 26; Galatians 3:26-29; Luke 7:48
Today we are continuing our more detailed appraisal of the second part of the Apostles’ Creed.
I believe in the Holy Spirit
God's supernatural presence working through us and the entire church to bring his kingdom to bear upon this present age with great power and wonder.
I believe in the holy catholic church
as both a beneficiary of his transforming grace and love as well as an agent of it for the sake of the world.
I believe in the communion of saints
a foretaste of the kind of community God promises for all those who seek first the kingdom of God.
I believe in the forgiveness of sins
sins that include personal bitterness, malice, and greed as well as systemic injustice, economic oppression, environmental exploitation, and religious arrogance.
I believe in the resurrection of the body
a resurrection not just to heaven, but ultimately, to a heaven and earth reunited, consisting of everything glorious in both the physical and the spiritual world.
I believe in the life everlasting
life as it should be, every human hope and desire amplified exponentially in the presence of God, among a flourishing people, and enjoying all of creation.
Prayer Thank You Lord for the unchanging truths of the Gospel
]]>Read: Genesis 1:1; John 1:1-3; Acts 14:15
Unlike the Nicene Creed from the fourth century, the Apostles’ Creed doesn’t explicitly state the nature of Jesus’ divinity or define the relationship between members of the Trinity, which left room for heresies to slip into Christian churches. But it did play an important role in understanding baptism in the early church, and helped Christians establish orthodoxy.
The Apostles’ Creed isn’t just a statement of Christ’s past, present, and future life—it’s a reminder of our present and future lives too. It’s been used in more churches across more denominations and traditions than any other creed. You can also hear its influence in multiple Reformation-era catechisms, such as Martin Luther’s Small Catechism and the Heidelberg Catechism.
Let’s go through it in more detail, looking for the foundational truths as we go.
I believe in God the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord;
who was conceived by the Holy Ghost . . .
The first thing you notice from that opening is how Trinitarian it is. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. You see Christ the Cornerstone here.
. . . born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried;
He descended into hell.
The third day He rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven . . .
And then you begin to see that the focus of the Apostles’ Creed is on the headline facts of Jesus’ earthly life, atoning death, and His glorious resurrection and ascension. We see Christ’s humanity on display here, as well as the doctrine of the resurrection.
...He ascended into heaven,
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.
But the creed isn’t just about what Jesus has done in the past. It also considers the present situation of Jesus and his Lordship. looks ahead to what Jesus will do in the future. John Calvin explains what “sitting at the right hand of the Father” means. It means that “Christ was invested with lordship over heaven and earth, and solemnly entered into possession of the government committed to him—and that he not only entered into possession once for all, but continues in it.” That means that Jesus rules over all things today and will one day be seen by everyone to be ruling over all things.
From where He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
“The quick” here simply means “the living.” In other words, when Jesus returns, He will judge all those who are living at the time of His return and all those who have already died, across the entire span of human history.
As you can see, just this first part of the Apostles’ Creed is a brilliant summary of the Gospel. Tomorrow we’ll continue looking at the remainder of the creed.
Prayer
Thank You for preserving these deep truths for us Lord.
]]>Read: 1 Corinthians 15
The Apostles' Creed, like the Nicene Creed, is widely accepted as a statement of faith among Western Christian churches and used by a number of Christian denominations as a part of worship services.
While Christianity as a religion is greatly divided, the Apostles' Creed affirms the common heritage and basic beliefs that unite Christians around the world and throughout history. And as we’ve said earlier, essentially, it’s another form of the seven Foundation Stones, which is why we often refer to Foundation Stones as the apostles doctrine.
It is the simplest of all the creeds, the three great creeds of the ancient Christian church the others being the Athanasian Creed and the Nicene Creed.
As we said before, the creed summarizes the apostles’ teachings concerning the gospel of Jesus Christ even though it was not written specifically by them. As such, it is the oldest, simplest and least developed of all the creeds, the three great creeds of the ancient Christian church, the others being the Athanasian Creed and the Nicene Creed.
Prayer
Thank You Lord
]]>Read: 1 Corinthians 15
Did you spot the seven Foundation Stones in the Apostles Creed? We’ll go through it together over the next few days but first, let’s find out more about this Creed.
Legend adopted the belief that the 12 apostles were the original authors of the Apostles’ Creed and that each contributed a special section. While this isn’t actually true, it is completely true to say that the Apostles’ Creed accurately represents their teaching as they passed it on to the next generation. Today biblical scholars agree that the creed was developed around the second century – and this is, of course, not very long after the last apostle died. The oldest form of the creed that we have is from approximately AD 340.
The Apostles' Creed held an important place in the early church. It is believed that the creed was originally formulated to refute the claims of Gnosticism and protect the church from early heresies and deviations from orthodox Christian doctrine.
The creed was used to summarize Christian doctrine and as a baptismal confession in the churches of Rome. It also served as a test of right doctrine for Christian leaders and an act of praise in Christian worship.
And right there, as large as life, is the doctrine of the resurrection of the flesh/body/dead.
More about the Apostles Creed tomorrow, but for now, just take this on board – resurrection lies at the heart of what Jesus and the apostles taught, and that they carried over to the next generation.
Prayer
Thank You Lord, my eyes are open and so are my ears. Tell me more.
]]>Read: 1 Thessalonians 4:16; John 6:39
Have we given the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead enough airtime in our modern preaching, teaching and general Christian understanding?
We realize how important it was not only to the early apostles but also to the Church fathers who followed them. They wrote everything that the apostles had taught them into what later became known as the Apostles Creed.
Look out for the seven foundational doctrines, including the resurrection of the dead, as you read through 3 versions of the Apostles Creed. Tomorrow, we’ll talk further about this important document.
The Apostles' Creed in Modern English
(From the Book of Common Prayer)
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate
was crucified, died, and was buried;
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic* Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
The Apostles' Creed in Traditional English
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic* Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting.
Old Roman Creed
I believe in God the Father almighty;
and in Christ Jesus His only Son, our Lord,
Who was born from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary,
Who under Pontius Pilate was crucified and buried,
on the third day rose again from the dead,
ascended into heaven,
sits at the right hand of the Father,
whence he will come to judge the living and the dead;
and in the Holy Spirit,
the holy Church,
the remission of sins,
the resurrection of the flesh,
[life everlasting].
*The word "catholic" in the Apostles' Creed refers not to the Roman Catholic Church, but to the universal church of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Prayer
Father, thank You for this intense focus on the resurrection of the dead that is helping me to see how important it is – and inspiring me to learn more.
]]>Read: Acts 21-23
Peter and John were not the only ones to fall foul of the religious authorities because of preaching and teaching about the resurrection. Paul did too.
In our reading for today, we follow the story of Paul’s arrest in Jerusalem and subsequent hearing before the Sanhedrin. Paul himself was a Pharisee, of the sect who did believe in the resurrection. The Sanhedrin (Jewish Council) was divided between Pharisees and Sadducees and so Paul decided to divide them even further by raising the issue of resurrection.
This caused such a huge dissension that it actually became violent and the Romans had to remove Paul from the Sanhedrin hearing for his own safety.
Then, as now, the resurrection is a controversial issue – yet crucial to the testimony of Christ.
Prayer
I never realised before how vital the truth of the resurrection is to a true testimony of God. Thank You for revealing this to me.
]]>Read: Acts 4
It wasn’t just the resurrection of Jesus that the early Christians preached. It was the resurrection of believers.
In our main reading for today, we find Peter and John teaching people about the resurrection of the dead. This was so disturbing to the authorities that they actually arrested the apostles. Yet the message of the resurrection was so compelling that the number of disciples grew to around 5000. What a scurry this caused!
“The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. 7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?””
Peter’s whole response, which the Bible tells us was inspired by the Holy Spirit, centered around the resurrection of Jesus. Far from causing them to back off and back down, the arrest of Peter and John motivated them to become even more bold in their assertion of the truth of the resurrection.
Prayer
I see now how important the resurrection is to the overall preaching of the Gospel. Grant me even greater revelation I pray, Lord.
]]>Read: Romans 8
We must remember that ‘resurrection’ does not mean being “raised to heaven” or “taken up in glory.” Neither Elijah nor Enoch had been resurrected in the sense that Daniel meant it.
Resurrection will happen only to people who are already dead. To speak of the destruction of the body and the continuing existence, however blessed, of something else (call it a “soul” for the sake of argument) is not to speak of resurrection, but simply of death itself. Resurrection is not simply death from another viewpoint; it is the reversal of death, its cancellation, the destruction of its power. And thus it is so important to fully grasp that God is the living God who has no truck with death.
Earliest Christianity simply believed in resurrection, that is, the overcoming of death by the justice-bringing power of the creator God. For early Christians, resurrection was seen to consist of passing death and out the other side into a new sort of bodily life. As Romans 8 shows, Paul clearly believed that God would give new life to the mortal bodies of Christians and indeed to the entire created world: “If the Spirit of the God who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised the Messiah Jesus from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit who lives in you” (Romans 8:11).
Resurrection hope turned those who believed it into an alternative society that knew the worst that tyrants could do and knew that the true God had the answer. But the Christians had an extra reason for this hope, a reason which, they would have said, explained their otherwise extraordinary focus on, and sharpening of, this particular Jewish belief. For the Christians believed that the Messiah had already been raised from the dead.
Prayer
Thank You Lord for allowing me the revelation of the resurrection
]]>Read: Mark 1: 14, 15
The question of Jesus’ resurrection lies at the heart of the Christian faith. There is no form of early Christianity known to us that does not affirm that after Jesus’ shameful death, God raised him to life again.
As we’ve said before, it’s the main reason why Christianity arose and took the shape that it did. Christianity began as kingdom-of-God movement. Early Christians said that the Kingdom of God had been brought to earth in Christ. Early Christianity thought of itself as a Kingdom of God movement (Mark 1: 14, 15). As N T Wrights puts it, “They (early Christians) engaged in a praxis that affirmed there was a different way of being human, a way that answered to the claims of this kingdom.”
For a second-Temple Jew, the coming of the kingdom was not about a private existentialist experience but about public events. At its narrowest, it was about the liberation of Israel. At its broadest, it was about the coming of God’s justice and liberation for the whole cosmos.
It is clear that, whatever the early Christians said, the kingdom of God had not come in the way that first-century Jews had been imagining. Israel had not been liberated, the Temple was not rebuilt, and—looking wider in the cosmos—evil, injustice, pain, and death were still on the rampage. The question presses, then: Why did the early Christians say that the kingdom of God had come?
The early Christian answer was that Jesus had been raised from the dead. That was why they said that the kingdom had come and that the new age had dawned.
Prayer
Lord, it’s amazing to think that your resurrection actually inaugurated a whole new era for the world.
]]>
Read: Acts 2: 14-40; Acts 17: 22-32
As we saw yesterday, when the first Christians called people to faith in
Jesus, they hinged their message on the resurrection. When Peter gave
that first Pentecost sermon, fully one-third of it concerned the
resurrection.
It wasn’t only Peter who preached the resurrection; Paul did too.
Interestingly, when speaking to the philosophical Greeks in Athens, Paul
told them that God had proven that Jesus was the end-time judge of the
world by raising him back to life – in Greek, ‘anistemi’, resurrect, stand
someone up again.
So, from this we can see that not only does Jesus’ resurrection give us
hope for our own resurrection, but it in some sense proves that he is
God’s chosen judge. And that God has appointed a final day of judgment
for all men.
Think about that for a bit. Jesus’ resurrection is a powerful proof from
God, from Heaven, a strong statement, regarding the end times.
Prayer
Father, help me to consider the Day of the Lord whenever I think about
Jesus’ resurrection.
Read: Acts 2
Jesus not only taught about resurrection, he actually confirmed his
teaching by rising from the dead himself.
One of our favourite quotes ever is found at the start of Chapter 1 of the
book written by our University principal, Dr David Seccombe, The King of
God’s Kingdom. He says “It is doubtful there would be any such thing
today as Christianity apart from the belief that Jesus came alive again
after he was killed.”
Jesus’ own resurrection is the historical fact on which the doctrine of the
resurrection of the dead is based. Not only that, Jesus’ resurrection was,
in fact, the impetus for the start of Christianity. We see this in Peter’s
announcement in Jerusalem in Acts 2.
He made the incredible statement that Jesus, publicly executed seven
weeks earlier, had been raised from death by God and in this way, had
opened a door of hope to all who would trust in him. Those early
Christians were promised that, if they put their trust in the one sent by
God, Jesus the Messiah, they too would share in this death-defying
experience.
This early preaching was all based on the fact that Jesus had risen, an
event that had far-reaching meaning, beyond even the incredible promise
of eternal life and bodily resurrection.
Over the next few days we will look in detail at Jesus’ resurrection and the
stupendous implications that it has for you and I. Until then, consider
what the Apostles Creed says:
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
A belief in the bodily resurrection of Jesus is absolutely fundamental to
Christianity. It is not sufficient to believe that Jesus was a good man, a
prophet sent by God or even that he was God in the flesh and that he
died on the cross. Without a belief in his bodily resurrection, you cannot
really call yourself a Christian.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, as I gather knowledge over the next few days, please bless
with me illumination and revelation from your Spirit.
Read: John 5; John 6; John 11
Our living God abhors death and is Himself the God of the living, not the
dead. This is the consistent witness of Scripture. And for people who live
cheek by jowl with death every day, it is quite a mind-shift to make.
Death is simply not God’s way at all. It is an aberration, not ‘a natural
part of life’. Indeed, it is a very unnatural intrusion into life.
As we move in to gathering New Testament witness and revelation, let’s
begin with what Jesus taught about resurrection, most of which is found
in the Gospel of John.
Apart from our main Scripture for today, Jesus also said in John 5: Do
not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their
graves will hear His voice and will come out - those who have done good,
to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the
resurrection of condemnation (John 5: 29).
What is interesting about this statement is that Jesus is not referring to
himself in this passage, but nevertheless, very definitely making a clear
statement about the resurrection.
Another interesting conversation occurs between Jesus and Martha when
Martha’s brother, Lazarus, dies. We read about it in John 11.
When Jesus arrived in Bethany, Lazarus had been dead for four days. The
following conversation then occurred. Jesus said to her, "Your brother
shall rise again." Martha said to Him, "I know that he will rise again in the
resurrection on the last day" (John 11:23,24).
This statement of Martha indicates quite clearly that she believed there
would be a time when the dead are raised. She obviously gained this
knowledge from the Old Testament itself. Jesus not only agreed with
Martha’s worldview but added to her knowledge the revelation that he,
Jesus, was the key to this resurrection life. Jesus said to her, "I am the
resurrection and the life. Those who believe in Me, even though they die,
will live (John 11:25).
Prayer
Wow Lord, we are only 4 days in to this study and already I am amazed
at how much You have to say about resurrection.
had to say about resurrection.
]]>Read: Genesis 22: 5; Hebrews 11: 19; Isaiah 26; Hosea 13
Yesterday we looked at just a few Old Testament scriptures that speak
very clearly and directly about the resurrection of the dead. Before we
move on I would like to cement and consolidate this very important
foundation by looking at just a few other Old Testament verses that speak
prophetically and symbolically about the resurrection.
In Genesis 22: 5, one of our readings for today, Abraham, who had been
asked by God to sacrifice his son, Isaac, makes a statement that seems to
indicate a belief in God’s ability to bring the dead back to life. Stay here
with the donkey, the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will
come back to you.
The writer to the Hebrews comments upon this event. He considered that
God was able even to raise him (Isaac) from the dead, from which,
figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.
Two incredible prophecies come from Isaiah and Hosea. Your dead shall
live; together with my dead body they shall arise. Awake and sing you
who dwell in dust; for your dew is like the dew of herbs, and the earth
shall cast out the dead (Isaiah). And, I will ransom them from the power
of the grave; I will redeem them from the earth. O Death, I will be your
plagues! O Grave, I will be your destruction (Hosea). Again, we see
Yahweh, God of Israel, fully committed to life and the living and to
bringing life out of death.
I’m sure by now you are quite surprised at how much the Old Testament
had to say about resurrection. Let’s clinch our study for today with the
words of Jesus, related back to the prophet Jonah and showing that he
was a symbolic type of the resurrection of Christ. Then some of the
scribes and Pharisees said to Him [Jesus], "Teacher, we wish to see a sign
from You." But He answered them, "An evil and adulterous generation
asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the
prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the
belly of the sea monster, so for three days and three nights the Son of
Man will be in the heart of the earth. (Matthew 12: 38-40).
Prayer
Father, thank You for the overwhelming evidence You are supplying to me
that life, not death, is what You are all about.
]]>Read: Job 19; Psalm 16; Psalm 17; Daniel 12; Mark 12: 27
In case you were wondering what the unequivocal statement of the Bible is regarding the resurrection of the dead - the Bible, in both testaments, promises that the dead will rise.
Before we unpack all that this means for us, let’s take a brief look at what the Old Testament says about the dead rising. Our main Scripture for today was spoken by Hannah, the mother of Samuel. She clearly had the hope of a future resurrection.
A very well-known reference to a future resurrection of not just human beings, but of Jesus himself, was said by Job: For I know my Redeemer lives and he shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God. What an incredible verse. Job clearly had a strong belief in a personal resurrection that was closely linked to his belief in a personal Redeemer.
A number of Psalms, some of them Messianic, speak of a bodily resurrection. For example, Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; my flesh also will rest in hope. For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your holy one to see corruption.
Let’s look at one final example of Old Testament teaching on the resurrection, this time from the book of Daniel. And many of those who sleep in the dust shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt. This amazing verse might just as well have been spoken directly out of the mouth of Jesus Himself.
It's very important that we lay the understanding that resurrection of the dead is not purely a New Testament teaching but is fundamental to the worldview that the Lord has always given His people – from the very beginning. This is, of course, because He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living. Think deeply about that. You are so accustomed to death, but God is not. He is always moving to life.
Prayer
Dear Lord, help me to understand that death is so foreign to you.
]]>Read: Genesis 3
This month we’re going to be having a deeper and more devotional look at a fundamental Christian doctrine, the resurrection of the dead. Of all the doctrines, this is the one that we are most likely to struggle with, both in our understanding of the doctrine and in our ability to fully make it part of our worldview.
And yet, as you are going to see this month, this doctrine cannot be allowed to be sidelined – it is front and centre to the Gospel. And it is very much the question on every human being’s mind. After Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, and the sentence of death was handed down to them and their descendants, humanity began to face the question, "Is there life after death?" As we see in our main Scripture for today, Job put it this way. “If a person dies, will they live again?”
The answer is not a mystery, not a philosophical conundrum. Actually the Bible answers this question unequivocally. But it’s up to us to actually believe what it teaches.
As you prepare your heart to meditate upon the resurrection of the dead this month, consider what you currently know and believe about this doctrine. Write it down. Then you will be able to track your growth in faith and knowledge as you go.
Prayer
Lord God, I don’t want any worldly deception to remain in my mind. Please give me revelation of the truth.
]]>Extra reading: Mark 6: 7 - 13, Luke 10: 1 - 4
So we’ve jumped from early in in Jesus’ ministry with yesterday’s passage, to His ascension with today’s reading. But, as you can see if you’ve had a look at the extra readings, throughout Jesus ministry He encouraged His disciples to perform the ministry the He was doing. And today’s passage goes even beyond that. Not only could the original followers who Jesus sent out heal people in His name, but now everyone who hears the gospel becomes part of a group called “those who believe.” And certain signs accompany “those who believe.” Specifically: “they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”
The laying on of hands is not just a good idea. For those who have put their faith in Jesus it is literally proof of that faith. If someone claims to be a believer but forsakes this practice, I start to doubt whether they actually do believe.
Our good Heavenly Father always wants to heal. Sometimes He does it suddenly. Sometimes He does it gradually. Often it is accompanied by some counselling, but it is always the right thing for the children of God to exercise faith in their good Heavenly Father by practising the laying on of hands as an expression of agreeing with our Father’s good will.
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for saving me. Thank you that the good news was preached to me and that I have been adopted into your family. Today I commit myself again to Your ways: specifically the laying on of hands for healing. Thank you in advance for the opportunities that you are going to send me to so that I can bring your healing.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for always wanting to bring healing. Help me to be brave enough to lay hands on sick people and see then be made we’ll.
Amen
Not only did Jesus lay hands on people for the purpose of blessing, but also for the purpose of healing. And what an example we have today: Jesus starts healing people at sunset and he continues healing people through the night until, at daybreak, he understandably sought some quiet time! Jesus was so passionate about the laying on of hands for healing that he wouldn’t stop until the morning - he carried on healing all night.
What I will show you in the coming days is more examples of laying on of hands for healing, but for today can you take on board that just because Jesus did this then you as his follower also can and should? Tomorrow is Sunday and maybe you have an opportunity to lay hands of fellow believers for healing and blessing. Or maybe you even have a more urgent need right in your own home. Maybe you can do both. Either way, spend some time asking God for opportunities to lay on hands for healing and blessing.
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, I long to be passionately devoted to the things that you are passionately devoted to. Will you please send me opportunities to bless others by laying on hands for blessing and healing.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Jesus to meet all our needs and making us well. Thank you that we can also lay hands on people and ask You to heal them and make them well. Help me to be someone who brings your healing wherever I go.
]]>Extra reading: Acts 8: 14 - 20, Acts 19: 1 - 6, Joel 2: 28, 29
Today’s passage was a bit on the long side but quite exciting, right? Imagine God sent you to go to someone who was famous for murdering your people! Oh, sure, everyone loves Paul and his letters now, but at the time that this happened Paul (then called Saul) was the poster-boy for ridding the world of Jesus followers; Ananias was probably one of the bravest men in the New Testament.
What makes this story seven more amazing is that we see Ananias laying hands on Paul and not only is blessing imparted as Paul receives the Holy Spirit, but he is also healed. In our last devotions we have looked extensively at the laying on of hands for blessing, but from today onward we’re going to look at the second reason for the laying on of hands, namely healing.
And who was Ananias? The answer is that we don’t really know. This is the only time he is mentioned in the bible and all that the writer tells us is that he is a disciple. Ananias is just a normal guy who follows Jesus. Not an apostle or a prophet. Not someone who wrote scripture. Just a follower of Jesus like me and you. Sure, Paul was a great and impactful apostle, but where would he be without the obedience of Ananias? He’d probably have died as a blind guy who once used to be passionate about killing Christians instead of someone who ended up writing half the New Testament!
In the same way you and I have the opportunity to have massive impact through our obedience in practising the laying on of hands. It may be very risky and scary. It may require great boldness and courage. But when God says go don’t you say no. Is God asking you to go and impart blessing and ugh the laying on of hands?
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, today I thank you for people like Ananias who was instrumental in blessing many by being obedient to you and laying hands on Paul. I ask that You would help me to also be obedient to you and go where you send me to glorify your name.
Thank you, Heavenly Father, for your blessing of the Holy Spirit in my life. I ask you for the opportunity to lay my hands on someone else and pray for them so that they may also receive this gift.
]]>Extra reading: Acts 9: 17, Acts 19: 1 - 6, Joel 2: 28, 29
What a blessing! I don’t know where I would be without the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit in my life. And how does a believer receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Though there are exceptional examples where the baptism in the Holy Spirit happen without the laying on of hands, by and large we see that the way God chooses to give His people His spirit is by having them participate in the action that signifies agreement: the laying on of hands.
So we lay on hands to give people the blessing of God’s words and promises, and we also lay on hands for people to receive the baptism in the Spirit. How generous our Heavenly Father is with His children - He gives us all that we need for life and for godliness!
And this text emphasises it so well: even though this is an in credibly valuable blessing no money can buy it. If that were the case then there would be discrimination: the rich would be able to have the Spirit and the poor would go without. God makes it clear when He speaks through the prophet Joel that there should be no discrimination with this baptism: rich, poor, old, young, lowly, and lofty - all have access to the Holy Spirit by faith. That is why Peter is so angry with Simon for wanting to pay for the gift.
Have you received the baptism in the Spirit? If you’ve been following with this devotional series, you would have gone through the baptisms and have had an opportunity to seek the baptism in the Holy Spirit. But in case you missed it, how about now? Can you get to another believer who can pray for you and lay on hands for baptism in the Holy Spirit?
If you have received the Spirit, then why don’t you see if there is a friend or family member who can receive this blessing from you?
Prayer:
Thank you, Heavenly Father, for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Today I ask again for an outpouring of the Spirit on me, and that I may be one to bless others by laying my hands on them for the purpose of receiving your Holy Spirit.
Thank you, Heavenly Father, for your blessing of the Holy Spirit in my life. I ask you for the opportunity to lay my hands on someone else and pray for them so that they may also receive this gift.
]]>“People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’ And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.”
Mark 10: 13 - 16, NIV
Most of us have probably heard some iteration of this story, but what is often underplayed is this part: when Jesus saw that the disciples rebuked the parents who were bringing their children to be blessed he was indignant. The words means that you are so grieved that it makes you a wild and prone to violence, actually even that definition is trite but I’m writing to a mixed audience so I’ll be sensitive. Bottom line: Jesus hates it when people, especially those who are His followers, prevent the laying on of hands for blessing.
So far I have been gentle and whimsical about my suggestion that you should practise the laying on of hands. Now I need to tell you what the Bible clearly shows: Jesus is not happy when the laying on of hand for blessing is prevented. In the last couple of days we’ve investigated a lot about what the Bible has to say about the laying on of hands for the specific purpose of blessing. Today I want to encourage you: do not be the person who prevents this practice, be the person who does this practice.
Prayer:
Thank you Heavenly Father that your desire is to bless, not to curse, to prosper your people, not to hinder them. This is my testimony of your work in my life. I also ask that you make my someone who dispenses your blessing and ushers them to relationship with you, and never hinder them.
Thank you Heavenly Father that I can be a blessing bringer. Help me to be the best blessing bringer I can be
]]>