Shake Up

On August 27, 2019   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Matthew 27: 50 – 53

And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two form the top to bottom, and the earth shook; and the rocks were split, and the tombs were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many.

Try to wrap your mind around all of this for a moment. We generally accept that Jesus arose from the grave and appeared, in the flesh, to his disciples. Sometimes I think we don’t make enough out of that truth but at least there is general recognition of it. How about the rest of the manifestations? Don’t they boggle your mind just a little? How is it that when Jesus gave up his spirit, the earth reacted so violently?

I know, the unbelievers will chalk a great deal of this story up to a natural earthquake. I have no doubt the earth quaked. That’s kind of the point. Why, though, did it shudder? The answer, I think, is because the life force which had sustained it ever since it was created was yielded, released. For a brief time, Jesus was not the life (John 14: 6) and the earth trembled in response. The life, for a brief time, went out of it.

What about the veil in the temple? That is such a poignant fact. The veil separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple, and indeed, the rest of the world. Symbolically, this represents the reality that no longer is God hidden behind a veil from the ordinary person. The veil has been pierced, rended and ultimately abolished. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, God is available to every person without the need of an intermediary. Was it coincidental that the veil in the temple was torn in two when Jesus gave up his spirit? I wouldn’t agree that damage of that sort is a likely result of an earthquake.

But lastly, surely no seismologist would argue that bodies coming back to life and arising from their graves is an expected consequence of an earthquake. These people entered the city and appeared to many people. It is surprising to me that we don’t make more of this amazing consequence of the life of Jesus. He is resurrection life and those saints are the proof of it.

The world shook when Jesus gave up his breath. Never before in the history of the earth had there been a moment without “the life.” Jesus’ release of his spirit shook the earth to its foundation, literally to its core. Many who did not previously believe, including the soldiers who participated in the crucifixion, were instantaneously converted. Of course, the news of this Jesus spread throughout Asia. This was a big deal.

I think we forget how big this event was. It is so far away from us in time and experience that we have lost the measure of its importance. Jesus’ death, quite literally, shook the world. But hold on to your hat because he isn’t done. He is coming back and he is going shake up the world again. Many, so called, unbelievers will recognize the truth of his deity and will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

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The Throne Room

On June 29, 2017   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Hebrews 4: 16

Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need.

I do interactive journaling for www.bornofthespirit.today. I recently asked God about this verse and what He would like to reveal to me about it. Click on the link above to see what He said to me. As I pondered all that He said to me, I knew I wanted to use this same verse for a Word of the Day.

The Protestant Reformation was supposed to usher in a time of approachability to God. No longer do we need a priest to speak to God for us or to tell us what God says to us. This is not to minimize the operation of spiritual gifts; that is another topic entirely. This discussion focuses on the necessity of another human to facilitate the conversation between us and the Father. You can speak directly to Him and more importantly you can hear from Him yourself.

Before Christ, only the High Priest could go into the Holy of Holies where the presence of God resided. Even then, he could only enter at the appointed time and after the proper preparation. Jesus tore the dividing veil asunder, literally, and now each of us has an open invitation into the very presence of God. We have a pass which entitles us to enter into His throne room at any time of the day or night, weekdays and weekends. There is not one minute of one day when the doors of the throne room are closed to us. Don’t you find that amazing?

We all need more of God. We need Him morning, noon and night and this verse shows us that we have availability to Him. Whatever you are doing right now, pause and take a moment to see yourself walk through the giant doors, which equally gigantic angels hold open for you. See your Father on His throne, beaming with His smile of welcome. Go to Him. Enjoy His presence and return frequently.

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Crimson Veil

On May 20, 2015   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Hebrews 10: 19 -20

Since therefore, brethren, we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh.

In Old Testament times there was a tabernacle which housed the Ark of the Covenant. The ark was in a section of the tabernacle called the Holy of Holies. Only the high priest could enter this section of the tabernacle and then only once a year. The priest had to be sanctified and entered this holy place only by means of sacrificial blood. This Holy of Holies was the place where God’s presence met with humanity through the priest. This is the place referred to in today’s verse as “the holy place.”

There was a veil which separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the tabernacle. When Jesus died on the cross “the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom” (Mark 15: 38). No longer did the veil stand between humanity and God. Jesus removed the veil with his sacrifice so that we are free to enter into the Holy of Holies and commune with our Father. 

Now, re-read today’s verse in light of these thoughts. You can see that Jesus shattered religion and replaced it with relationship. He bought our entrance into the presence of God for all time with his blood. And think about it . . . the blood of God was shed for us and sprinkled over us so that we may forever enter into God’s presence. The veil has been lifted. God was released from the box but I would like to suggest that there is a new veil in place. This one is for our good though, and rather than separating us from God, it draws us to him. 

The new veil is the blood of Jesus our Christ. When God looks at us he sees us covered head to toe with the saving blood of Jesus. He doesn’t see our sins and short-comings. He sees his beloved son intertwined with us. He sees the communion of our souls. We are glorious in God’s sight because we have put on Jesus like a robe. He is the crimson veil through which our Father sees us. Today’s scripture tells us that Jesus has ushered us into the presence of God, right through the veil through the sacrifice of his flesh. He bought us our freedom; we are free to roam the halls of the citadel of God. We can freely and boldly enter into the throne room.

So, stop telling God about all of your weaknesses and sins. He sees you glorified in Christ. If you have “blown it” today, put on Christ. As a matter of fact, isn’t that what we want to do each day, don Christ? You are now God’s beloved. He sees you pure and sanctified. Don’t stand out in the parking lot when Jesus has purchased your ticket to the main show. Enter into the throne room with thanksgiving for you have a crimson glow all about you.

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