Matt Jones' Random Acts of Verbiage

This is my first attempt at posting my notes during an All Saints gathering as a blog… bear with me!

April 4th, 2010: Easter Gathering: “What Could Be Better” Hebrews 11:32-40 – Bill Berger

How do we get relief from life’s brutalities?
If you have “this”, you can handle anything life throws at you.

Faith to hold on to: What is it? What is it about? “Heroes” of the faith? Two divisions: v32-35: weakness turned to strength. Climax in v35 – raised back to life. If we end here, we will be lacking because it doesn’t always end happy. If our faith is based on the happy ending, we are doomed. Life has its brutality, even if we “pray hard enough” it cannot be overcome. It is unstable faith. But it doesn’t end in v35. v36: others suffer. Even with their faith and obedience, they suffered, they lost. We want “divine room service” – the happy ending.

How did they keep going? Looking toward a better life. Actually looking toward a better resurrection. Belief that death will be reversed some day, a completeness, Shalom. Having a hope filled with assurances. We can face anything with the faith and hope of the coming resurrection. Not just faith that this life will have happy endings or faith the still produces loss, but a faith that look forward to the resurrection.

We are to rest in God whether living or dying, comforatable or in pain. We have the hope and can handle anything.

v39-40: what gave them the faith? Even if not given what was promised in faith: God provided something better! We are made perfect in Christ’s resurrection! They were great because they were not afraid of death, they had assurance through hope in God.

How can we be so sure? How can we be sure? Certain? We find it impossible to be happy because we don’t know what death will bring. How can we be so sure? The answer: Christianity gives something besides stories; the person, the man, God in the flesh who died and rose again for us.

There is no possible explanition for the Early Church inless the resurrection was true. The evidence supports the claims. The people that witnessed the risen Jesus knew it was reality, would die for their beliefs. They had the assurances.

If we are sure Christ rose, we can say “Jesus lives and so can I.”

Jesus showed up with his wounds still intact. God knows us and knows what our rational minds need. The reality of the nails through Jesus wrecked his followers’ agenda for him. To believe in Jesus will lead to eternity.

What ultimately will defeat evil is that faith that has assurances in Jesus and his resurrection. We can hope for a future that is sure.

Shalom and happy Easter!
He is risen!

Χριστός ἀνέστη! Ἀληθῶς ἀνέστη!

Χριστός ἀνέστη!

I love theology; discussing Theos and any and all ideas relating to Him. But it annoys me when many Christians feel we need to go “deeper”. Yes, I am a proponent of deep theological studies. But I think most of the time we need to focus on what is quintessential to our lives: The Gospel. Really, why would we ever need to go deeper than that? We are broken, we cannot make up for our shortcomings, God in his infinite mercy and grace sends his only Son to atone for us, to be the innocent slain lamb. We are truly justified by grace. His resurrection was the final blow; God reigns. That is deep. The Gospel. Simple yet crucial and beautiful.

On Friday, we saw the beautiful tragedy. There, Jesus’ work was finished and the effects of that work are still being felt. We live in the post-Easter world. Jesus returned and holds the priesthood forever. He is calling us to be a part of his Kingdom, his family. That is an offer that no other religion can offer; I think it is worth checking out.

Previous posts:
The Resurrection including Updike’s Seven Stanzas at Easter:

Let us not seek to make it less monstrous,
for our own convenience, our own sense of beauty,
lest, awakened in one unthinkable hour, we are
embarrassed by the miracle,
and crushed by remonstrance.

The Passion of Jesus Christ
The Seven Words of Jesus on the Cross – from the Good Friday gathering at All Saints.
The Reality of Easter
Τετέλεσται: Some thoughts on John 19:30

Happy Easter! He is Risen!

Χριστός ἀνέστη! Ἀληθῶς ἀνέστη!

Tonight’s Good Friday gathering at All Saints was a perfect reminder of what we have been waiting for during the Lenten season. It was contemplative and thoughtful. Bill, along with a number musicians and artists, brought us through Jesus’ final words on the cross. I wanted to share them with you for your Good Friday’s edification.

John 19.26-27: When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

Luke 23.34: And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.

Luke 23.43: And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

Matthew 27.46: >And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

John 19.28: After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.”

Luke 23.46: Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.

John 19.30: When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Thank God for the beautiful tragedy of Good Friday. I look forward to the resurrection and Easter Sunday.