Believing the Truth - John 20:1-9,14-18

The most of us are sports fans, and have played or had loved ones that played in games. Many games have ‘one particular play’ that either won or lost the game. Think about it! Was it a home-run in the last of the 9^th; or a strike-out? Maybe it was A 3-pointer, when 2 down in the last seconds; or a steal when ahead by only one point with a few seconds to go. Or it may have been a kick-off return all the way when the game was tied with only seconds left. Were you excited? We should be excited about the greatest and least expected play ever made. The game was LIFE, and man had definitely lost—until Jesus arose as winner over death, hell and the grave. DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE THAT JESUS AROSE FROM THE DEAD?

Last Sunday our lesson was entitled ‘Knowing the Truth’ and I did not think to tell you that although that was a very important recommendation, it only contained one third of the necessary ingredients to make life everlasting and glorious. Today we will examine the second step in the process of performing a miracle; which is ‘Believing the Truth.’ To complete this process, I would entitle the final step by saying that you must also; ‘Act on the Truth’ or ‘Personally Accept the Truth.” What is the subject? Salvation. How is one saved? It is so simple that many will overlook the importance of; 1. Know the truth. 2. Believe the truth. And three is to receive or act on the truth. You see; it is as simple as one, two, three. Please do not be one of those that miss the way. I often wonder why more people will go to hell than heaven; you see, the bible says that wide is the way that leads to hell and many will enter; but narrow is the way to heaven and few there be who will enter therein.

You may never have thought about it, but I really believe that it is very difficult for some people to believe the bible to be total truth. Here are some of the stumpers that cause people to doubt.

1. God always has been. 2. God created everything that is from nothing. 3. He made man from dust. 4. He made woman from a rib. 5. The flood. 6. Sin entered the world and all have sinned. 7. God loves unconditionally. 8. Mary, the mother of Jesus, was a virgin. 9. The many miracles such as water turning to blood, Noah’s three days in the seminary—‘what a lesson he learned,’ and many others like the resurrection. 11. The ascension. 12. A hell that burns with fire and brimstone forever and that people will be there. I would list thirteen, but still wonder if it is an unlucky number.

I have close friends [and relatives] that I love very much that have expressed doubts that cause them problems. I think that we would really be surprised if we knew how many of our neighbors have some serious doubts about things that true believers take for granted. Some just don’t believe that Balaam’s donkey talked to him; or that a pile of wood soaked in water can create spontaneous combustion as it did when Elijah challenged Baal. The bible says that Elijah called fire down from heaven…well, that’s much like spontaneous combustion, isn’t it? You would think that people exposed to extensive bible teachings would have no problems, but this is not so. Should you be disturbed or bothered by this? Yes, but don’t despair because, if you will remember, the disciples that had walked and talked with Jesus for three and one half years, and seen Him perform miracles were all skeptical when they heard of His resurrection, and one, Thomas, just did not believe it had happened. Believing the truth is not always easy—even for an eye-witness.

Do you realize that not a single one of the disciples stuck with Jesus all the way to the Cross? Ever wonder why? I think it was because they sincerely believed very strongly that he was truly the promised and real Messiah. They were all Jews, and they thought the Messiah would be the ‘Super Human’ ‘New King of Israel” and that no man or nation would be able to destroy him. When He died, they were dumfounded; disappointed, gave up and went fishing. Even though they had observed all of his miracles, they were not able to comprehend his having the ability to die and, being physically dead, still have the spiritual life and power to restore his own life. The truth is that he did.

The author of our commentary on this date tells us that “The good news for any who doubt the resurrection or who are looking for effective ways to share the story of Jesus’ resurrection, is that Scripture provides sound answers and guidance. First-person accounts of Jesus’ resurrection appearances provide a firm and trustworthy foundation for believing this central truth of our faith.” Unfortunately, some just do not believe; and true belief can only come through your simple faith. I believe the reporters [writers of scripture] told the truth. However personally, I can and do, just view the wondrous universe and all of the handy work of God and see enough to believe that God is real and completely in charge. How can you watch the changes that take place as the four seasons come and go; as you watch plants borne anew each spring; grow, mature and furnish food during the summer; wither and die in the fall and winter; only to arise and repeat the cycle the following year—and not believe in a Higher Power? God and His handy-work are so obvious that even the most infantile mind has no problem seeing Him at work every day of our lives.

John is not the only reporter that wrote about the resurrection, all four gospels tell the same story and with no contradictions; Paul and many others confirmed the fact. If you believe God’s Word—and you must—it happened as it is written. Oh, dear friends, please believe! Your faith does not have to be great. If it is only the size of a mustard seed, it is big. You can use it and move mountains; you can move anything that stands in your way as you seek to live and die in Christ.

Verses one through 8 tell us that He arose on the first day of the week, Sunday to us because the Sabbath ended at sundown on Saturday. Mary Magdalene visited the tomb early while it was dark but she was able to see that the grave was open and that Christ was missing. Devastated at her finding, she immediately reported to others who hurriedly went to see for themselves and they verified this great truth. John and all of the other writers told the same story and about how hundreds of others saw Him, talked to Him, ate with him, even felt of his scars left from the nails in his hands and spear that pierced his body. For forty days they listened to his final message to mankind and then stood in amazement and watched Him disappear from physical sight into the heavens.

There is no doubt that his death on the Old Rugged Cross is the one and only sacrifices that substituted for our sins—by his stripes we are healed—but neither death, hell nor the grave could defeat Him. His resurrection is the one and only event that separates him from others that have claimed to be God. They died and are still in their graves. He arose! He lives! Christians trust in a risen Savior who is alive, sitting at the right hand of God, on the throne in heaven today, and is now interceding for each one of us. What does this mean? It means that He is the one that will be present at our death and tell God to either accept us into heaven or reject us forever—depending on whether or not we believed in Him. Surely by now you can understand that your belief in Christ and acceptance of Him is the most important thing in your life. I hope you can understand why I have discussed the importance of your faith; why I have listed things that may cause you to doubt; and assured you that the bible is true. Here again are the three essentials to gain heaven and shun hell. 1. Know the truth. 2. Believe the truth. 3. ACCEPT THE TRUTH. HALLELUJAH, CHRIST AROSE FROM THE DEAD!

Celebrating Easter's Significance - John 20:1-18 and I Corinthians 15:1-28

Every time spring follows the cold winter days, trees start budding and the Jonquils are in bloom we know that Easter is just ahead. It has come very early this year, and the weather is not as warm as it usually is, but the opening buds always remind me of the open tomb in the Holly Land. My days of travel have come and gone leaving me with one desire unfulfilled. I have always wanted to make a trip to the land where Jesus was born, lived, died and was buried; but most of all I would enjoy walking from the open tomb to the mount from which He ascended. I have faith to believe that just as the apostles watched him go up into Heaven so I might be there at the moment of fulfillment of his prophesy. “So as you see me go, I will come again.”

I want you to look specifically at the seventh verse of John 20, and read it carefully examining each word and thought. Read also the corresponding passages in the other gospels. Christ moved out of his burial clothing, leaving them uncluttered as further witness that some outsider did not remove the body. A thief would probably have taken the clothing along with the body. But if the thief had removed the body, he would not have taken the time to replace the garments to their exact position.

In a movie based on the series of books “Left Behind” there is a scene on a plane that shows clothing from those who were “taken up into heaven” left on the seat of the plane in the position that indicated that the person wearing the clothing had evaporated from the scene and left all the clothing as it would appear un-touched. The shoes were there on the floor, in them were the socks, and then the pant legs dangling from the seat above, with the belt still hooked in the pant loops, and the shirt tail on top of the pants with the neck up and the shirt still buttoned. The scene indicated that the person became a spirit and moved out of the clothing leaving nothing disturbed. I believe this to be a man-made picture of how Christ’s burial clothing appeared Peter and the other apostle first looked in the open tomb. However, but…

There was one thing different. The napkin had been folded and lay conspicuously to one side. Why? According to Jewish history, all of the high archery, especially kings and lords of great honor all lived in luxury and enjoyed the service of maids and servants. It was their custom to eat in privacy and when they left the table they used their napkin as a signal to the servants. First, if the king had finished his meal with no intention of returning to the table he simply wadded the napkin and left it on his plate. But if he was not finished, and if he planned to RETURN to the table to complete his meal, he FOLDED the napkin and placed it at the side of his plate. The folded napkin was a message plain and clear to the servants; BE ALERT AND AWARE…FOR I WILL RETURN to the table.

Why did Jesus fold his burial napkin? [Only the napkin was folded and not the grave clothes.] Christ had left one more sign, one more proof, that told his disciples not to worry because he WOULD RETURN TO THEM. He did return to them as he walked in unannounced and through the walls…he needed no door. The eleven apostles and Paul the twelfth apostle saw him, touched him, talked and ate with him, and the Bible says that there were at least five hundred eyewitnesses that attested to his return.

We all realize the importance of the cross and the blood shed thereon, because without the shedding of blood there is no salvation—there is no remission of sin. After salvation, obedience is just as important because it proves that we LOVE our master. He told us that “If you LOVE me you will keep my commandments” and that simply means ‘you will obey me.’

I also submit to you the fact that the resurrection is just as important to all who are born again as was the crucifixion because it established the fact that we have life after death. Christians die and are buried and we would spend eternity in that grave if Christ had not been resurrected. It is because he was resurrected and returned to heaven, that we too will be resurrected and will ascend into heaven.

I grieve with passion when anyone indicates that they do not believe in the resurrection of our Lord—but would never condemn them. They are human just as Peter and John, who had walked with Him, talked and broke bread with him, and had heard him say that he would die and be resurrected, I am amazed that neither of these men really believed in the resurrection until they saw the empty tomb and the conditions of his clothing. John says that they finally believed—as they remembered what he had told them would happen.

Dear friends, when you are able to accept the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead—then, and only then, have you found the key to Christian faith. He arose as he promised he would, and this is our proof that he will keep every single promise that he has made regarding our life, death, resurrection and ascendance. His resurrection proves that he was not a false profit. No other of the many gods worshipped my man has accomplished this fete. Ours is a LIVING SAVIOR; still at work and carrying out the plan of His Father our God.

This account tells us that Mary tarried at the tomb and that Christ appeared to her yet she did not recognize him. There may be more reasons than the two that I will mention here. She was a woman in sorrow and shedding tears at the time. Tears are blinding and could have prevented her immediate recognition. However, the one that seems more likely is that she was looking in the door of an empty grave. She was looking in the wrong place. He was not in the tomb. This explanation reminds me of sinful man who for all time have looked in the wrong places to find Him. He is always where you do not expect him to be.

Now we will go to Paul’s letter to the Corinthians 15: 1-28 where we will find that his followers were having trouble believing in the resurrection. Paul was not one of the original twelve chosen apostles and was not involved in the event that took place over this three day week-end. However, Paul places a heavy emphasis on the fact that he met God face to face and experienced a very special kind of conversion that caused him to dedicate his life more completely than any other disciple and compelled him to work harder than any of the others to advance the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Let us stop and start again right here; if you refuse to believe that the Holy Bible is the word of God, written by inspired authors, that contains truth and nothing but the truth—then there is no way that any number of witnesses can convince you that Christ arose and that you also will arise to meet your judgment. If you truly believe God’s word, then the more witnesses you have who are authorities regarding his word, the easier it is to totally believe. There is no greater witness in this Bible than Paul the Apostle.

Next to Christ, Paul was the greatest teacher, he was the most outstanding evangelist and he worked with more people, and in more churches than any other man. His audience was made up primarily of Jews and Gentiles, and the Greek people had their own philosophy which they were always trying to impose on anyone connected to his missionary work. According to the Greek philosophers—the soul was the real person—and the soul was imprisoned in a physical body—and at death the soul was released from the body. They did not believe in the immorality of the body and only the soul would enter into an eternal state. This part of the letter to Corinth was to combat the Greek philosophy, and in so doing it confirms the resurrection story. Christianity, by contrast, teaches that the body and soul will be united after the resurrection and that both the soul and body will be caught up to meet Christ in the sky.

The Christian church at Corinth was located in the center of this Greek culture. Converted Greek people had a difficult time believing in a bodily resurrection. Paul wrote this part of this letter to clear up the confusion that had arisen. However, his writing pertains just as much to Christians in the 21st century and we are using it today as solid proof of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Paul tells us that the resurrection of Christ is the center of Christian faith. Christ arose as he had promised. Because he arose we know that he is God, and we know that he represents each one of us to his Father.

Paul is so emphatic in his belief and teaching that he told them and us that if Christ did not arise from the dead, then all of his preaching was in vain, and that men were still in their sin, and that there is no other way out. All that we claim from the promises of God hinges on this one fact. To nail it down hard and fast, Paul told us that if Christians will not arise from the grave—then God did not raise his Son from the dead. How then, can there be any doubt in our minds when we are compassed about over five hundred eye-witnesses that have proclaimed this mortal truth.

Unbelieving archeologist will continue to scratch, dig and search for the bones of Christ in some undiscovered tomb somewhere around the Holy City…but they will not succeed! Some body needs to tell them that HE AROSE! AND BECAUSE HE DID—WE WILL.

Look at the title of this lesson again. Why should we CELEBRATE EASTERS SIGNIFICANCE? Because it simply tells us that one day soon we will conquer death, hell and the grave and enjoy the rest of all life [eternity] in heaven.

The Most Important Decision You Will Ever Make - John 1:1-18

THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISION YOU WILL EVER MAKE IS TO
“ACCEPT GOD’S PROMISED SAVIOR”

Every day of the week, including Sunday, a publisher in every major city in this country publishes a newspaper. Millions of American citizens read their favorite part of the paper, and some read all or most of it. Daily papers can not be absolutely correct in everything that is written, but for some reason, a majority of the readers believe the predominance of what they read to be truth. Carnal man or woman is always the author of articles written, and none are inspired by a higher power that enables them to be truthful. I believe, as you do, that most write what they think to be truth, but we all know that the author’s personal opinion often overrides in news casting, and it is subject to scrutiny. Never-the-less, readers believe what they read in the paper, and accept it with greater confidence than they have in the inspired word of God. I just can not understand how this is possible.

The reason [or excuse] given by many for not believing the Bible is that they do not believe that biblical writers were inspired by a higher power that prevented error. If any unbeliever will honestly analyze and answer one question they surely will change their mind. That question is: “How were the prophets of old able to predict [thousands of years before it happened] the exact circumstances regarding the birth of Christ? They knew the linage of his family tree; they predicted the exact time, place and circumstances surrounding his birth; they knew his life would be threatened and that his parents would escape into Egypt; they knew and wrote about his ministry, his rejection [by his own people] and all about his death, burial and resurrection. They knew—and predicted with almost unbelievable precision—yes, the question is: “how is this possible for mere man to do without being ‘inspired’ by a higher power…God almighty?

It is Christmas, 2007 and we are taking time out of our busy schedules to recognize and praise our wonderful Savior. The title of our lesson today is a profound offer and suggestion that every one should: “ACCEPT GOD’S PROMISED SAVIOR.” Matthew, Mark and Luke all approach the Christmas story as it starts in Bethlehem with the Babe in the manger and wise men traveling from afar to adore him. But John had something different in mind that would stretch our imaginations all the way back to the Genesis story that tells us that “in the beginning was God; Christ; Holly Spirit; and THE WORD. Dear readers, this is no accident, because this class has been in a new study beginning with Genesis, which is the beginning, and this is another example of the way God works his way into the lives of believers in order to help them understand his will and way for their lives. {Oh, yes, I believe that God had a hand in planning this very lesson we are studying today. He knew that we would be studying the beginning in Genesis, and he knew that John’s explanation of the Birth of Christ would be the best lesson for today, because it fits in with the study of Genesis.} Radical? Extreme? Say what you will, but I believe that my God is involved in every moment of my life. If one hair falls from my head, he knows the exact count of those that are left. If this is true, then why would he not make sure that I am teaching the lesson he has for his people on this twenty-third day of December, 2007? Oh dear ones, nothing else is as important as the fact that you must ACCEPT GOD’S PROMISED SAVIOR.

The striking difference in the Christmas story as recorded by the first three apostles and the story by John is nor meant to cause confusion, but it is presented to strengthen our understanding of the beginning of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As you read [and diligently study] the first five verses of John, you are made to understand the true identity of our Savior. The next four verses in John deals with the witness of our Savior. Make very sure that you do not miss-understand verses 10 to 13, for it is herein that you are to be encouraged to receive the gift he has for each of us. Finally, as you come to a full understanding of what the Savior’s GRACE really means…be sure you are open minded and willing to place your faith in the only power on earth that can save you from your sins.

Both of the books, Genesis and the gospel of John, start with the same words—“In the beginning.” This phrase, ‘in the beginning’ refers to the very first mini-second of time. In the beginning time was! In the beginning God was! In the beginning Christ was! In the beginning the Holy Spirit was! We worship a triune Master, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Moses asked God, “Who shall I say is the one who sent me?” The answer from God was—“Tell them that “I AM” sent you”

In the first verse, John called Christ the WORD. Then he said, the word [Christ] was with God, and the Word was God. He [Christ] was with God in the beginning. Remember that God spoke [he used a word] things into existence. Then when he got to man, God said: “Let us make man. Who were “us”? It was God and God the son, for they were both present in the beginning. Why did John call Christ the word? I will tell you why. John is writing to the Greek population and explaining a Jewish concept. The Greek had no idea who the Jews were referring to when they spoke of the Messiah. The Gentile world did not know about Jewish history and had never heard that there would be a coming savior—Messiah. John found a term which was “word” that had the same meaning to both Greek and Jew alike.

The Greek author, Plato and other Greek philosophers used the term [logos] which means [word] to refer to the spoken word, but they also used it to refer to the unspoken word—that is the word that is still in the mind which they referred to as reason. When they applied it [the term logos, or word] to the universe, they meant the rational principle that governs all things. Jews said that God governs all things. Listen to me now! The Jews said God Governs. The Greek said that a logos [the word] governs. Therefore, John found a term that both nationalities would understand because it had the same meaning to both Jew and Greek—the terms were WORD AND CHRIST or GOD, the one that governs. And so John wrote that in the beginning was the WORD OR CHRIST, OR GOD.

Open your Bible to John, first verse. Compare to the following: “In the beginning was the Word” [with a capitol W] and could have been Christ. “And the Word [Christ] was with God, and the Word [Christ] was with God in the beginning.”

Verse 3: “Through Him [Christ] all things were made.” Therefore Christ and God, both in one, created all things. They were both there. Just remember that God could have told Moses that God, Christ, and The Holly Spirit were three in one, and you can tell the Egyptians that we are I AM.

Verse 4-5: “In him [Christ] was life, and life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” Christ is the life, the light, the way, and there is no other way. One of the laws of nature is that everything has its opposite. Electricity has a positive and negative force; cold is the absence of heat; and there is male and female; regarding this lesson there is light which is Christ and perfection and darkness which refers to the world without Christ and imperfect. The word darkness refers to the sinful world that can not see without light…and when Christ came in flesh the world did not understand and therefore they rejected him.

The first three gospels started their books dating it from Christ’s birth in a manger, and this is the moment in time when he became a man, flesh and blood as we are. It was good news and the first holy Christmas. John started when God, Christ and the Holly Spirit WAS…IN THE BEGINNING. They just WERE and no man knows for sure when that moment in time really was.

I do not read the original language, Greek, in this instance, and therefore I have to accept the word of my commentaries regarding the meanings of words. I have at least three sources that tell us that “the Greek verb tense found in the verbs used by John in the first verse denotes continuous existence. If this is true [and I believe it is true] then in that very first instant of time the Word [God, Christ] already existed continuously.

I personally believe that they were and are total SPIRIT, and I doubt that there was ever a moment anywhere in the past eons of time [as we know time] that they were ‘born’ or ‘created’…They WERE, they ARE, and they WILL ALLWAYS BE. If I am wrong, and they did have a beginning, then will someone tell me WHO CREATED THEM? It is by my faith that I accept, love, and worship GOD. Remember that ‘faith’ is the evidence of things unseen, and impossible to fully understand with mortal mind.

John agreed with and wrote in full agreement with Genesis. Then later on even in the very next verse of our lesson today, he agreed with Matthew and the others. There is no contradiction here, only a new perspective that helps us understand the total lordship of the one we know as the Christmas child.

Verse 6; announces the coming of John the Baptist, who was sent from God. John came as a witness to tell the people around Jerusalem that the Messiah was on his way. John says that John the Baptist came to his people to tell them about the LIGHT that would soon appear. The Baptist came to call men to repentance [Mark 1; 4], and to prepare the way for the coming Messiah [1:24]. The OT has many occasions where God sent a prophet to warn people of coming disaster and issue a call to repentance. The Baptist is the last of these great prophets. He was the advance courier making the way clear for the new coming King. His message was very simple…he called on the people to get ready for the coming Christ.

Verse 10; told his listeners that actually Christ was already in the world—he said Christ made the world—but had not been recognized. He will come here to you [his own people] but you will not believe and receive him. John condemned the Jews for their unbelief, and then told them that if they would believe in Him that Christ would adopt them into his family, and they would be his children, not by natural birth, but by being born again spiritually.

Verse 14: tells the Christmas story as told by John in today’s lesson, and as the other gospels told it when they said Christ was born in a manger. John said: “The word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only who came from the Father…no one has seen God, but you will see his One and Only and through him you can know what God is like.”