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He is Risen! He is Risen, Indeed!

There is plenty of joy coming from Easter and the Easter season, and for good reason: our Lord lives, and his word was vindicated, giving great hope, joy, and confidence to all his followers, both then and now.

Not only did his death clear our slate of sins, but by his resurrection, we weren’t left in a “neutral” state as cleansed sinners who have no power to live faithfully. How so? Paul says in Romans 4:25 that Jesus was also “raised for our justification.” Because Jesus is alive, and we are united to him in baptism, we now have and share his resurrected life, and in him, are made right with the Father, even as he is right with the Father: “…just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in the newness of life” (Romans 6:4b).

Is there more to Jesus’ resurrection? Absolutely! One more obvious point is that Jesus was resurrected as a King, as our Lord. Kings and lords not only save their citizens, but they also judge them. In fact, in Israel, the King was the top “elder” in the gate; he helped all the elders judge the people according to God’s law (see Absalom’s rebellious story).

What does that mean for us? It means that we who share his resurrected life must also live faithfully lest we come under his judgment! In our joy and celebration we can’t forget we were raised for a purpose: a faithful life lived under the watchful eye of our Judge. For the Father has fixed a day when he will judge the world by Jesus, and he gave assurance of that by raising Jesus from the dead! (Acts 17:31).

“Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen” (Luke 24:5b–6a). We respond: “He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!”

The words above from Luke 24 were the first words spoken by the two angels to the women who had come to prepare Jesus’ body for burial. After telling the disciples, Jesus first appears to Mary Magdalene near the tomb while she is weeping. She supposes him to be the gardener, but after his speaking, recognizes him as the Lord, who then sends her to tell the disciples she has seen the Lord.

Have you ever wondered why Jesus appeared to a woman first? Why is that? The text doesn’t tell us, but we can learn something thinking about it biblically.

We could say that Jesus is the Seed of the woman. He’s crushed the serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15), fulfilling his promise to the Woman, and so daughters of Eve are the first to witness it/Him. A great biblical answer, as it honors the Bride.

Another answer is to realize that the first Adam needed a helpmeet, and that the first human person he meets in the garden is Eve. Now we have the Second Adam, Jesus, in a garden, and the first human person he meets is Eve’s daughter, Mary Magdalene, who had ministered to him throughout his ministry in Galilee, (Mark 15:40–41). She had been a “helpmeet” of sorts before his death, and now, after his resurrection, she is presented to him, and she helps! She carries a message to the disciples, as well as being a witness that he is alive! As the first Eve was the glory of Adam in the garden, so Mary is the glory of Jesus as she praises him in a garden, “Rabboni,” and helps by carrying a message. Further testimony, perhaps, that Jesus is the Second Adam, and that he loves and honors his Bride!

“He is Risen! He is Risen, Indeed!”

In the book of Ezra, Ezra the Priest is quite appalled to hear that the exiles had intermarried with Canaanites, one of the very sins that sent them into exile in the first place. They had broken faith by taking wives of the Canaanites, so that they mixed the holy race with the peoples of the lands (Ezra 9:1-2). They vowed then to put away their wives and the children of these unlawful marriages.

The people had jeopardized the seed line of the coming Messiah, for these were the remnants of Judah (and Benjamin) involved.

But is there any present day application for the church? For us as Christian couples and our children? At least two obvious ones.

First, Paul’s admonition in 1 Corinthians 7:39 is a reflection of Ezra: “free to be married…only in the Lord.” As Christians, we can only marry Christians. Couples need to keep this in mind, as death or divorce may break up an existing marriage, and Jesus gives his word on how to rectify that, should the remaining spouse desire to do so. That’s wisdom for us, our children, other believers, and believing relatives. We need to give a sure word to those who find themselves single again.

Secondly, Christians ought not to date non-Christians. That’s strong language, but why date someone you can’t marry? That’s only setting up a very strong temptation to disobey Jesus. Yet Paul’s admonition in 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 is strong! Paul directly says, “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers.” A dating/courtship relationship with an unbeliever is an unequal yoke, and setting oneself, or our children, up for an unequal yoke: marriage to an unbeliever.

Paul is not hard to interpret here. He goes on: “what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? What portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?” He strongly states the principle in verse 17: “be separate from them.” At least in marriage. In short, don’t jeopardize yourself or your faithful line.

One of the recurring themes that the apostle James returns to several times in his epistle is the sinful nature of the human tongue.

In 4:11–12, he specifically deals with brothers who speak evil of one another. This tendency to speak evil of each other has deep roots in mankind’s sinful nature. Adam spoke evil of his wife, Cain spoke evil of his brother, Miriam and Aaron spoke evil against Moses, Korah spoke evil against Moses and Aaron, Sanballat and Tobiah Slandered Nehemiah… you get the idea. James is addressing a deep-rooted sin within the body.

James says that, “He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.” (4:11b). And so in judging the law, they have ceased to be doers.

What is the summary of the law that Jesus gives? Love the Lord your God, and love your neighbor as yourself. But when speaking evil of a brother, a Christian is speaking evil of this law, of Jesus’ words and Jesus’ commands — his is not loving his neighbor, his brother. And so in setting themselves up as judges of the law over and against each other, they have failed to do the law.

James goes on to say: “There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?” (4:12). This should make believers very fearful of sitting in judgement of brothers, of speaking evil against those for whom Jesus has died.

So when you are tempted to speak evil of your brothers, remember instead that Judgement is Jesus’ job, not ours. We would be wise to keep this in mind and not attempt to usurp the role of God.

2 Timothy 3.1-9 is another one of those “last days” passages that our Christian brothers often take as applicable here and now, as if we are in the last days. But as I showed in the last Weekly Perspective, “last days” has a wide pedigree in the Bible, such as in Joel 2, Acts 2, Hebrews 1, and it is clear from Acts 2 and Hebrews 1 that Peter and Paul are talking about events in “their” day.

The same is true here in 2 Timothy 3. Paul says that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. Is he warning us, 2000 years later? Well, no he isn’t; he is warning Timothy about their day and time so that Timothy is a better pastor and won’t be caught off guard. Again, the context alerts us to the faithful reading.

Paul mentions in verse 2 that people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, etc. What does he say about such people in verse 5? Avoid them! Avoid them because they will mislead you, Timothy, and pervert your ministry! Then Paul goes on to judge these men, saying they won’t get very far, for their folly will be plain to all. How so? Because these men oppose the truth, men who are disqualified regarding their faith. Paul is speaking in the present tense about these men, warning Timothy to avoid them. In contrast to the men of verse 1-9, Paul praises Timothy for having followed his teaching, conduct, faith, patience, etc. in verses 10-11. Timothy is contrasted with the living wicked of his day who suffer shipwreck of faith.

How do we apply these passages today? Well, there are still wicked people around and they still can and do attack pastors and spoil their ministries. Present day pastors, and their flocks, should avoid them!

1 Timothy 4:1-5 is another one of those passages that Christians often get snookered by, because they don’t know the context. Paul is talking about the later times, how bad things will be, and other Christians read that and turn to you and say, “We are in the last days; this passage sounds just like what is happening today. Start looking for the rapture or the antichrist! The Spirit says so!”

But is Paul talking about our day, or future days? How do we answer that question? By reading the context! Paul does say that in later times some will depart from the faith by failing to be faithful. So he warns Timothy to mention those things to his flock. Verse 6: “If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed.”

Notice what Paul directs Timothy to do: tell and explain to the brothers alive in that day in Timothy’s ministry, about what the Spirit says would happen in the later times. Why? Because Timothy and Paul are living in the later times! Paul is clear that those things are happening in Timothy’s day, and he needs to warn his hearers. The warnings are not really for our day, but for Timothy’s day. Yes, our culture does look like that somewhat, which means we can learn to apply the passage today in our situation. But we aren’t living in the “later times” as they did.

So what are the “later times”? Based on the similar phrase “last days” in Joel 2, Acts 2, Hebrews 1, etc., and Jesus’ discussion of the end of the old covenant temple and worship in Matthew 24, the “later times” are referring to the days of the end of the old covenant around 66-70 AD. Days long gone for us!

Matthew 7:1, “Judge not, that you be not judged” is one of the most misquoted passages in the bible, and used often against Christians by unbelievers when the subject of sin or obedience or faithfulness comes up. “Don’t judge lest you be judged!” They quote it to shut down any judgment at all. “You’re being judgmental; the bible says to ‘judge not.’ You Christians are all hypocrites.”

Then the witnessing moment ends because the believer doesn’t know what to say.

But let’s look at the context; is Jesus really saying, Don’t judge at all? Not at all! In fact, in the following verses He tells you to judge. He tells you to “see” the speck in your brother’s eye, but to first make a judgment and take out the log in your own eye. Yes, Jesus is against hypocrisy. But he is not against judging correctly.

In fact, Jesus goes on to command several more instances of judging (6): don’t give to dogs what is holy, and don’t throw pearls before pigs. You have to make assessments of situations and how to act in them.

In verse 13 Jesus commands you to make a judgment about gate size, so you don’t end up in destruction: enter by the narrow gate. In verses 15ff, Jesus also mentions being aware of false prophets, and that you are to “recognize” them by their fruits. You are to judge their fruits, whether it is good or bad; He doesn’t want you to get eaten up by those ravenous wolves dressed in sheep’s clothing!

So Christians are to follow the Lord in making judgments; but we are to make sure we do so in truth and not hypocritically.

Reading the context around a particular verse makes all the difference in its interpretation, and will keep you from being misled by popular false opinions..

For instance, I Timothy 2.1-7 includes the phrases “who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” and “…Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all…” Most evangelicals think this a great foundation for believing in universal salvation: “God desires all people to be saved! God is loving and caring! What God desires, He gets,” so they say. And, Jesus died for everyone!

But not all are saved, such as Lamech who boasted taking ten-fold revenge over God, King Saul, and Judas. A real dilemma appears: God is not able to save everyone, being weak, and the blood of Jesus is not strong enough to save everyone. But maybe the passage isn’t about universal salvation in the first place!

In fact the passage isn’t speaking about the salvation of all people who have ever lived. We know this by looking at the context. First of all, verse 6 mentions that Jesus was “the testimony given at the proper time.” Secondly, Paul goes on to mention that he was “appointed a preacher and an apostle, a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.” Paul was brought on the scene at the appropriate time in biblical history to bring the Gentiles into the kingdom (cf. Ephesians 2). So the passage is not talking about universal salvation, but about God extending the Good News of the gospel to the whole world in Paul’s day, and not just to the Jews! So “all people” means not just Jews, but also Gentiles, which is everyone at that time. God desires people saved of all the nations, both of Jews and Gentiles; it doesn’t mean every soul who ever lived. Hey, that’s in line with the Great Commission!

“Male and Female”: where have you heard that phrase before? Well, in Genesis 1 when God creates man and woman, male and female, Adam and Eve. Also, in Matthew 19 when Jesus responds to the hard-hearts of the Pharisees regarding divorce, reminding them that the Creator “from the beginning made them male and female.” The Apostle Paul notes in Galatians 3 that in our baptisms we have “put on Christ” and are all Sons of God such that there is “neither slave nor free, nor male nor female, for you are all one in Christ.” Definitely a biblical phrase!

But this phrase, “Male and Female;” where have you heard that lately? From none other than President Trump when he ended federal support for transgender sports and all the other nonsense uses of transgender ideology. This past week, Health and Human Services revised their definitions: two sexes, male and female.

President Trump said his decision was based on “common sense” and “science.” Which is true because we live in God’s world. Look around, and you only see two sexes: male and female.

But when we as Christians discuss this issue with fellow believers and unbelievers (and our kids), let’s be honest and truthful and witness for Jesus Christ — it’s his Created standard! It’s God’s design for the world, and always has been.

Adam and Eve are just the type; “male and female” picture also Jesus and his bride, the church. Jesus and his love for his bride sets the standard for husbands, males, loving their wives, females (Ephesians 5:25ff). If we equivocate on this, we lose our very salvation: Jesus dying for his bride to save her. Let’s not abandon the Greatest Love Story ever told!

Finishing out our short look at Psalm 16, we find that David is not only making requests of the Lord while trusting in him, he is also celebrating his security of being in the Lord’s care: “Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.” David is glad; he is merry of heart. From his bowels to his hairline, he is in a joyful mood and acknowledging to himself what a favored position he enjoys. He is, as we say, a happy camper!

And why shouldn’t he be? For he knows that, “my flesh also dwells secure.” God’s presence with him means he is secure in his person, in his status before God and man, in his pursuits, and even in the eternal future.

We know this because he pens the phrase spoken of Jesus in Acts 2 and 13: “For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.” God won’t let Satan or the Serpent have him; no, the Lord will keep his embodied soul forever as one! Paul makes that point in Acts 13:34: “corruption” was being dead; but God raised Jesus from the dead, ending that “corruption.” In faith, David “sees” not death eternally, but life with Yahweh, Jesus being Yahweh in the flesh.

We know David is thinking this because of the last phrases, which all interpret each other: “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” The path of life is in the Lord’s presence. At the Lord’s Kingly right hand are pleasures forevermore.

This is true of you today, as you dine with Jesus, uniting yourself to him in faith as you eat the bread and drink the wine. Like David, you say repeatedly to Jesus, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you” (vs 2). In fact, every time you eat at Jesus’ table, you embody David’s faith: “The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup” (vs. 5). How wonderful is that? So be glad in Jesus, and let your whole being rejoice, because in him you dwell secure (vs 9).

Continuing in Psalm 16, we find that David is not shy about where he places his trust: “The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.” David is, out loud, saying he has consciously chosen to follow Yahweh. In fact, Yahweh is his food and drink, his portion and his cup. His chosen fellowship is with Yahweh himself, tasting that He is good; he is not out running after other gods. But while affirming his choice, he is also submissive and respectful: Yahweh holds me in his hands. My fate is in his hands.

Is David upset or dismissive of the Lord holding his lot? Not at all; he is quite grateful and thankful. “The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places, indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.” Would that we would all follow David’s lead! When he surveys his life and his planting, he is happy where God has led him and placed him. It is beautiful. When was the last time you praised the Lord for where he has led you and planted you? Do you agree that your inheritance is beautiful? How can it not be, having been orchestrated by He who brings you all good (vs. 2)?

This Psalm is suffused with God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility (“I chose the Lord, and he holds my lot”), and we see that again in the next two phrases or verses, in an ABAB pattern. “I bless Yahweh who gives me counsel…I have set Yahweh always before me.” David is actively living by faith in Yahweh; he blesses him and keeps him front and center in his thoughts and actions. At the same time, he is reliant upon Yahweh for counsel and for confidence: “in the night also my heart instructs me…because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.” Using Hebrew poetic parallelism, we understand that the night instruction comes from Yahweh who is at his right hand. David is faithful, and Yahweh gives comfort of presence (“right hand”) and confidence in the task or battle (“I shall not be shaken”).

May you follow David’s example this week! (to be continued).

Everybody has a favorite Psalm, and for most Christians, that is Psalm 23. It does a lot of heavy lifting, for sure. Others prefer the Messianic Psalms, (2, 72, or 110). But Psalm 16 is like the 18-wheeler of Psalms: highly encouraging.

It opens with a request and a statement of faith: “Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.” That should get your faith juiced right from the beginning: I’m in God’s hand, and I am trusting Him!

The second phrase again elicits a statement of faith, as well as focusing the believer’s trust in God’s good care and love: “I say to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.’” Expressing your faith in Jesus is good to do, of course, but so also is recognizing that in Him rests all the goodness you’re going to find in life. That’s an encouraging and truthful reaffirmation of faith.

The third phrase opens the corporate vista to your eyes of faith: “As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.” The Christian faith and life is more inclusive and broader than just you and Jesus; it includes the church; your brothers and sisters as well. And they are the ones you look to for examples of faithfulness and delight! Have you been doing that lately? Are you delighting in the wonderful, Jesus-bearing, light-bearing, loving saints around you?

In contrast to the faithful and excellent family that surrounds you in the corporate body of Christ, you have the foolishness and wickedness of those who pursue idolatry: “The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply; their drink offering of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips.” This is a clear statement of differentiation, of judgment: I will not be hanging out with those people, nor considering them the excellent ones. In fact, I won’t even be mentioning them! The hymn “Who is On the Lord’s Side” comes to mind! (to be continued).