Easter Morning

What else is there to say?  We serve a risen Savior!

John Calvin on the Objection Against Moses and the Prophets

"I am aware of what is muttered in corners by certain miscreants, when they would display their acuteness in assailing divine truth.  They ask, how do we know that Moses and the prophets wrote the books which now bear their names?  No, they even dare to question whether there ever was a Moses. Were any one to question whether there ever was a Plato, or an Aristotle, or a Cicero, would not the rod or the whip be deemed the fit chastisement of such folly?  The law of Moses has been wonderfully preserved, more by divine providence than by human care; and though, owing to the negligence of the priests, it lay for a short time buried - from the time when it was found by good King Josiah (1 Kgs 22:8; 2 Chr 34:15) - it has continued in the hands of men, and been transmitted in unbroken succession from generation to generation.  Nor, indeed, when Josiah brought it forth, was it as a book unknown or new, but one which had always been matter of notoriety, and was then in full remembrance.  The original writing had been deposited in the temple, and a copy taken from it had been deposited in the royal archives (Deut 17:18, 19); the only thing which had occurred was, that the priests had ceased to publish the Law itself in due form, and the people also had neglected the wonted reading of it.  I may add, that scarcely an age passed during which its authority was not confirmed and renewed.  Were the books of Moses unknown to those who had the psalms of David in their hands?  To sum up the whole in one word, it is certain beyond dispute, that these writings passed down, if I may so express it, from hand to hand, being transmitted in an unbroken series from the fathers, who either with their own ears heard them spoken, or learned them from those who had, while the remembrance of them was fresh" (John Calvin, Institutes of Christian Religion).

Believing Jesus

Well, it’s political season.  That time of the year when politicians say what the voters want to hear in hopes of getting elected.  In reality, though, it truly is a crapshoot whether they can or will deliver on their promises once they are elected.  But people like what they hear and so they vote with high expectations.

In the times of Jesus the Jews were no different.  Many within the Jewish community followed leaders who promised big because that is exactly what the people wanted to hear.  These leaders promised easy victory and political and material power.  So, many rallied behind these leaders with high expectations.

But Christ came promising a cross, not political and material power.  And the victory he promised was not easy, but very difficult and self-sacrificing.  This is not what the people, especially the religious leadership, wanted to hear.  So, Christ was rejected.

What are our expectations of Christ?  What are Christ’s expectations of us?  What does true discipleship and Christian belief look like when it comes to glory and faith?  Join us this week as we hear the words of Christ in John 5:41-47 and learn from the example He made of those who opposed Him.

Striving to know Christ and make Him known,

Mark

Three Witnesses to Jesus

“Any responsible legal system is based on the validity of witnesses.  When Elijah Baptist was convicted for murdering Sam Blue outside his Chicago grocery store, it was on the testimony of just one eyewitness, Leo Carter.  Because he was such a credible witness, that was enough, and Elijah was sentenced to life in jail.  Leo was credible because of his clean record and because, while playing basketball with a friend right beside the store, he had seen it all.  He was even more credible because the murderer had tracked him down and put a bullet into his head just as he did to the other witness.  Leo survived, with terrible wounds. It was more than high drama when he sat in the courtroom, looked directly at Elijah Baptist with his scarred face and its missing eye, raised his finger, and slowly said, ‘That’s him.’  That was enough to secure a quick ‘guilty’ verdict” (Lee Strobel, The Case for Christ).

In any court of law the witnesses must be reliable.  In John 5:30-40 the Jewish leaders are still struggling with the words that Jesus proclaims about Himself.  Especially when he claims to be equal to God the Father.  So, though the words of Jesus should be enough, He provides three extra and reliable witnesses to the truth of His words, but these witnesses are not what the Jews expect.

Please join us this week at ElmCreek Community Church as we worship Jesus as the Savior and Messiah, striving together to understand the Word of God and His will for our lives.

Striving to know Christ and make Him known,

Mark