This video helps us see the true meaning of “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you“ (1Thessalonians 5:16-18).
Give God thanks today, it’s what He wants you to do.
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The Skit Guys challenge us guys on idol worship.
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Does God have favorites? Oh I know He loves everybody. John 3:16 settles that argument. We also know that He does not show partiality toward men but calls all of every nation (Acts 10:34). And yet, when we survey the annuls of scripture, we clearly see that God was drawn to certain individuals more than He was to others. And for those who God was drawn to He showed them favor by granting them certain blessings that were not given to others.
For example, who would argue that God wasn’t drawn to Noah and his family, favoring them more than all others during his time (Genesis 6:17-18)? Or what about Abraham? Didn’t he and God have a special friendship (James 2:23) that was not shared with others? Consider Joseph, is there any doubt that God was specifically working in his life (Genesis 39:2)? And, who would deny that God had special plans for an obscure shepherd boy named David (1 Samuel 16:12-13). Or that He didn’t favor Mary over all the young Jewish girls in Judea (Luke 1:26-28)?[i] So we see God has favored certain people above others. So what does it take to be one of God’s special people, to be favored by Him? To answer that question let’s look at another of God’s favored people, Caleb and learn from Him the traits that God looks for in a person with whom He will favor.
The key to understanding why God favored Caleb can be found in Numbers 14:24, where God said:
“But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it.” (ESV)
Embedded within this one statement is the three keys for being favored by God. Let’s learn them together so that we too may be one of God’s special people.
Caleb was a Servant
The first reason God favored Caleb was because he was a servant. We’re first introduced to Caleb in Numbers 13. There in verse 2 we learn that God commanded Moses to “send men to spy out the land of Canaan… From each tribe… you shall send one man, everyone a chief among them.” A few verses down in verse 6 we find that the chief that was selected from the tribe of Judah was Caleb. At the very outset of meeting Caleb we see his servant heart.
Not only was Caleb a member of an elite spy organization, (for kicks let’s call it the CIIA, Children of Israel Intelligence Agency) he was also a leader among the tribe of Judah. That’s enough to give anybody the big head is it not? Yet when God looked down and examined the heart of this man He said there’s “my servant.” Caleb was one of those special people who understood the power of a position didn’t come from lording over others; instead it came by serving others. He, unlike other leaders in the Old Testament (i.e. 1 Samuel 12:12-21), knew that being a leader first meant humbling yourself to serve those whom you lead.
Do you want God’s favor then be a servant leader. From Ephesians 5:23 we learn that the “Husband is head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church.” Husbands, do you want to be favored by God? Then be like Jesus and be a servant leader of your wife and family (Ephesians 5:25-27). Fathers, do you want to be favored by God? Then be a servant leader for your children humbly teaching them God’s word both verbally and by your actions (Ephesians 6:4). Elders, deacons, and preachers, do you want to be favored by God? Then be servant leaders to those the Spirit has entrusted you with, not lording over them but humbling yourself and serving as if you were their slave (Matthew 20:25-28). Ladies, do you want to be favored by God? Then be a servant leader in to your family (Proverbs 31:10-31; 1 Timothy 5:14). I think I have expressed this before, but women are to be the heads of the house (“keepers of home” (NKJV) “work at home” (ESV) literally means rule the house[ii]), or in the context of our lesson, servant leaders of the house. She is not to lord over her husband or children but serves them while she leads the house. (Men are head of the family, Ephesians 5:25-27; 6:4, while women are heads of the house affairs.) What do we seen? A servant leader is the kind of leader that is favored by God.
What’s the key then to being a servant leader? That can be found in Philippians 2:3-7. Here the apostle Paul said:
“Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look no only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
What’s the key to be a servant leader that is favored by God? Paul said humbly put others and their interest before yours, serving them like Christ has served us. How much better would our homes be if husbands and fathers, wives and mothers had this spirit of leadership? How much better would our congregations be if elders, deacons and preachers possessed this spirit of as the heart of their leadership? How much better off would our children be if we as parents lead them in this fashion? The answer is, it all would be so much better because it would receive God’s favor.
We see that Caleb was favored by God because he humbly served others as God’s servant leader.
Be sure to continue our study on Caleb with part 2 (Caleb was different) and part 3 (Caleb remained loyal).
[ii] Thayer – G3616 (1)to be master (or head) of a house. (2) to rule a household, manage family affairs.
From part 1 we learned the God favored Caleb because he was a servant. From our text Numbers 14:24, let’s learn the second reason God favored Caleb and if we have this God-favoring quality as well, His favor will be upon us.
“But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it.” (ESV)
Caleb was Different
A second quality of Caleb that brought about God’s favor was that he had a “different spirit.” Flash-forward from where we started in Numbers 13:2, 6 to Numbers 14:5-9. The spies have already gone through the land and have come back to give their report. You’ll remember that ten of the spies disheartened the people by giving them a bad report (Numbers 13:30-33). Following the “bad report” the Children of Israel wept all night, grumbling against Moses and Aaron, ready to select new leaders and return to Egypt (Numbers 14:1-4). In an effort to stop the people from sinning, Caleb stood up and said to the people:
“The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord delights in us, He will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey. Only do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread to us. Their protection is removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them.” (Numbers 14:7-10)
It was with this statement that Caleb exhibited his God favoring trait of being different. What is it about this statement that’s so special? Let’s compare him to the 10 spies who gave the bad report. They were all chief’s from their tribes. They had all gone on the mission together and all it entailed. And they both started their speeches talking about how great the land was (compare Numbers 13:27 to 14:7b). What separated him from the rest? What was it that made Caleb different? It was that he brought God into the conversation of taking the Land. Aside from Joshua, Caleb is the only person in this whole scene who is talking about God. Because God was in Caleb’s heart, God was on Caleb’s lips. This is what made him different from the rest.
There’s no doubt we as Christian are to be different people. Our outlook on life is to be different from the rest of the world. Because our outlook is different, our priorities are to be different. Since our priorities are different then our activities are to be different. These differences lead to our moral and ethical standards being different from the world as well. This is nothing new. If you’ve been in a church for any length of time you have heard countless sermons on these subjects, especially about how we’re to be different by refraining from the doing the things the world does. But may I submit to you that if we are to be favored by God then we need to be different, not by merely refraining from certain behaviors, but also by engaging in God-favoring behaviors. That’s why Caleb was different. He was different because he was engaging in a God-favoring behavior that was different from those around him. And if we’re going to be people who are favored by God then we need to be different like Caleb by doing something different, and that is bring God into the conversation of our lives.
How do we bring God into the conversation of our lives? First, talk about Him at home. God’s words in Deuteronomy 6:6-9 are quite clear. God wants to be a part of the conversation of our lives at home. Hear what He said:
“And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and you shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and your gates.” Deuteronomy 6:6-9
I was talking to a good friend of mine the other day. He was lamenting a remark made by one of his students in Bible class. My friend said, “One of my students told me that his parents don’t talk about God at home. They are just too busy.” That’s sad. That’s sad that God is not spoken of in this supposed Christian home. Will God favor this home? He won’t unless they begin to be different and bring God into the conversation of their home.
The second area we need to bring God into is the conversation of our plans. That’s what James is teaching in James 4:15 where he said, “Say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.’” Bring God into the conversation of our plans. Recognizing that “in Him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 18:28). Do you want to be favored by God? Recognize that you live for His will, and at His good pleasure He allows you to do this or that. But just don’t think it in your heart, express it with your lips to God, to yourself and to others. Let everyone know that you’re different, that you freely submit to the will of the God for your life.
Finally, we need to bring God into the conversation of our thanksgiving. We recognize that God’s will for us is to be people who “give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18) and “[give] thanks always and for everything to God the Father” (Ephesians 5:20). We do a good job with that when it comes to thanking God in private but what about in front of others? Caleb wasn’t different because he kept God in his heart. He was different because God was on his lips. We need to bring God into the conversation of our lives by giving thanks in front of others. Let me give you two passages to consider. The first is Psalm 35:18, “I will thank You in the great congregation; in the mighty throng I will praise you.” Here David says I will thank You in the assembly of Your people. Friends it is so very important that we thank God in the assembly, it will go a long way in stirring up love and good works (cf. Hebrews 10:24-25). The second is Psalm 18:49 (NKJV), “I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among the Gentiles.” Again David is giving God thanks but not in front of believers, but in front of Gentiles, those who were outside the fellowship of God. If we would do the same, if we would give thanks to God, bring Him into the conversation of our lives and do it in front of non-Christians, then it would go a long way in prompting them to ask “for a reason for the hope that is in” us (1 Peter 3:15).
It takes courage to be different from a world that worships conformity. But if we are to be people who are favored by God, we’re going to have to be different by bringing God into the conversation of our lives. And if we have the courage to do that, His favor will be upon us.
If you missed it you’ll want to read part 1 (Caleb, my servant) and be sure to continue the study with part 3 (Caleb remained loyal).
So far we have considered two God-favoring qualities that Caleb possessed, first, he was a servant (part 1) and second, he was different part 2). From our text Numbers 14:24, let’s learn the third reason God favored Caleb and if we have this God-favoring quality as well, His favor will be upon us.
“But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it.” (ESV)
Caleb Remained Loyal
So far we have considered two God-favoring qualities that Caleb possessed, first, he was a servant, and second, he was different. The third God-faoving quality that Caleb possessed was that he remained loyal. You’ll recall from our original text, Numbers 14:24 that God said of Caleb, “He… had followed Me fully.” That’s another way of saying, “He has remained loyal.” For Caleb being loyal to God, following Him fully would have been easy in the camp of the Israelites. It would have been easy to be loyal when he spied out Canaan with his “band of brothers.” But God didn’t favor Caleb because he was loyal, or because he followed Him. He favored Caleb because he remained loyal, because he fully followed God. He remained loyal despite the fortified cities, in the face of the giants, even with the strong nations they would have to fight and he remained loyal even when his fellow Israelites were ready to stone him (Numbers 14:10). God favored Caleb because Caleb stood out from the rest, while their loyalty was failing, his loyalty to God remained intact.
The real challenge of this lesson is to remain loyal. For the vast majority of the time, being loyal to God is no problem. We all know too well that the moment we think life’s going good, then Murphy moves in and everything crumbles. All of us from time to time will face our proverbial strong cities, our towering giants, and our mobs rock wielding brethren. For you it might be financial woes that you’re fighting against. Do you want to be favored by God in that struggle? Then don’t waver, remain loyal. It might be sickness and the consequences of old age that you’re facing. Don’t give in embrace God’s favor by remaining loyal. It might be the temptations of Satan that you’re fighting against. Don’t budge, instead resist him, remaining loyal to God and He will give you His favor to overcome. You can do it friends you can remain loyal. Will be hard at times? Sure but just like Caleb you can do it.
Finally, in Joshua 14:6-15 we have the last scene of Caleb’s life. By this time he’s eighty-five years old. And what is he doing? He’s getting ready to take the land that God promised him when they came back from their spy mission (Numbers 14:24). What do we see here? We see a man who in the twilight of his life of who has remained loyal to God. The text goes on to say that he conquer Hebron in Judah and from there he conquered Debir (Joshua 15:13-19). Why was he able to accomplish this feat at such an age? Because God favored him. Why did God favor Caleb? Because he was a servant, he was different and because he remained loyal. And therein lies the true incentive for possessing these God-favoring qualities; if we will be servants, be different and remain loyal then God will give us our promised land in His time, just like He did for Caleb.
I have no doubt that you want to do great things for the Lord as well; that you want to receive His favor just as He has bestowed on others throughout the scriptures. I’m here to tell today that you can. You can be favored by God when you’ll be like Caleb and possess the God-favoring qualities that we have discussed. Will it be hard? Sure, but I know you’re up for the challenge because God wouldn’t call you to it accept it if He first hadn’t empowered you to accomplish it.
Thank you for taking this journey with me into the life of Caleb. I hope that you’ll give consideration to the lessons we have discussed that you too will work to possess the God-favoring qualities that Caleb had.
If you missed it, you’ll want to read part 1 (Caleb, my servant) and part 2 (Caleb was different).
Who killed Jesus?[i] It seems to be an innocuous enough question doesn’t it? And yet it’s one of those questions that have perplexed Christendom for more than two millennia. In today’s socio-political environment to even attempt to answer this question requires one to wade into the treacherous waters of political correctness. We want worry with that today because we’re simple going to open our Bibles and learn that truth behind the killing of Jesus.
The Jews Killed Jesus
Many would answer our question by saying the Jews killed Jesus. Let’s examine the evidence.
A superficial reading of the gospels clearly reveals the tension that existed between Jesus and the religious rulers of His day. Early in His ministry, Jesus’ clashes with the Pharisees prompted them to seek how they might destroy Him (Mark 3:6). This lead them to repeatedly question Jesus, attempting to discredit Him by entangling Him in His own words (Luke 11:54). Finally, after Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, the Jewish leadership decided that death was the only solution to rid themselves of Jesus once and for all (John 11:47-54, 57).
The Pharisees were so consumed with killing Jesus that they put out word that if anyone saw Him they should inform the authorities at once so He could be arrested (John 11:57). Judas, one of Jesus’ chosen disciples, decided to take the Jewish leaders up on their offer, and for the bounty of thirty pieces of silver He would lead them to Jesus (Matthew 26:14-16). And this he did, leading the chief priest, elders and a band of soldiers to the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus was praying (Matthew 26:47-56).
Immediately upon His arrest, the Council (Sanhedrin) was assembled for the purpose of trying Jesus for crimes against the Jewish Law. The trial was a farce. Matthew gives us an insight into the Council’s intentions when He records, “Now the chief priest and the whole Council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death” (Matthew 26:59). Finally Jesus was condemned to death on the bases that He claimed He was the “Son of God” (Matthew 26:63-66).
Following His mock trial before the Council, Jesus was bound and delivered to the Roman governor Pontius Pilate (Matthew 27:2). Pilate listened to the chief priest’s complaint but under his own examination found Jesus to be innocent of any crimes (Luke 23:4). He knew the Jewish leaders wanted Him killed because they were envious of Him (Matthew 27:18). However, Pilate gave into their demands to kill Jesus when the chief priest and elders stirred up the people of the city to demand that Jesus be crucified, shouting to the top of their lungs, “Let Him be crucified, let Him be crucified” (Matthew 27:22-24). Pilate literally washed his hands of the matter to which the people replied, “His blood be on us and on our children!” in essence they were saying let us and our children be responsible for His death (Matthew 27:24-25). And so Jesus was lead away and crucified.
One last piece of evidence to consider is the testimony of Peter. In Acts 2:23, 36 he squarely says that the Jews killed Jesus. And again in Acts 3:13-15 Peter says, “You [Jews] killed the Author of Life [Jesus], whom God raised from the dead.”
So it seems from this evidence that the Jews killed Jesus. But there’s more…
The Romans Killed Jesus
The Romans were involved in the killing of Jesus from the very beginning. When Judas agreed to betray Jesus (remember nobody knew where He was staying except His inner circle of disciples John 11:53-57) he was given the use of a band of Roman soldiers (John 18:3[ii]). It is with this band of soldiers that Judas marched into Gethsemane and had Jesus apprehended. But the involvement of the Romans doesn’t stop there.
As Jesus stood before Pilate, he reminded the Savior that he had the authority to release Jesus and the “authority to crucify” Him (John 19:10). Even though Pilate attempted to avail himself of the blame for killing Jesus, the facts are plain as day; because of the pressure he received from the crowd, it was Pilate, Roman governor, who had Jesus scourged and delivered up to be crucified (Mark 15:15).
From this point forward, it is the Romans who are controlling the situation. It was the Roman band of soldiers that lead Him away. It was the Roman soldiers who mocked Him with the purple clock, the crown of thorns, and the profane salute. It was the Roman soldiers who struck Him on the head and who spit in His face (Mark 15:16-20). It was the same Roman soldiers who paraded Him through the streets of Jerusalem on the way to Golgotha (John 17:16-17; Matthew 27:32). Once they arrived at Golgotha it was the Roman soldiers who affixed Jesus to the cross and set watch over Him there (Matthew 27:35-36).
One last piece of evidence to consider in determining if the Romans killed Jesus is the disciples prayer for boldness in Acts 4:24-30. In verse 27 they make Herod, Pilate and the Gentiles willing accomplices of the Jews in the killing of Jesus.
So it seems from this evidence that the Romans killed Jesus. But there’s some more…
We Killed Jesus
We have seen evidence that would seem to point us to believe that the Jews and the Romans were solely responsible for the killing of Jesus. But there’s one more group that we must consider before we make our final decision, and that’s us. Is there evidence that we killed Jesus? Let’s consider a few passages.
The prophet Isaiah, in his great passage that depicts the suffering Savior said:
“Surely He has borne our grief and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:4-5)
Isaiah says that Jesus carried our grief and our sorrows. That He was wounded for our transgressions and iniquities. Only through His stripes are we healed.
The apostle Peter echoes this same theme when he said, “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sins and live to righteousness” (1 Peter 2:24) Couple this with Paul’s words in Romans 3:23, 6:23, “for all have sinned,” and “the wages of sin death.” With these verses as a backdrop to the killing of Jesus, a picture begins to form that we are responsible for Jesus’ death – that we should be lumped in with the Jews and Romans as being guilty parties to His death.
We express this sentiments in the song, “I’m the One.[iii]”
I was not in the garden when He knelt to God and prayed,
I did not kiss Him on the cheek when Jesus was betrayed;
I was not at the trial when the crowd jeered at His name,
I did not make Him bear a cross or walk a road of shame;
I was not on the hillside when He gave His life that day,
I did not nail His precious hands or take His robe away;
I could not do a single thing to hurt God’s only Son,
But every time I sin on earth I feel that I’m the one.
[Chorus]
I’m the one who shouted ‘crucify,’
I’m the one who made that cross so high,
I’m the one who stood and watched him die,
What have I done I’m the one.
And so it would seem that we too killed Jesus. The evidence seems to support it, we even sing about it. But may I suggest one more thing?
As we have sought to answer the question, “Who killed Jesus?” We have considered that it was the Jews, the Romans, and that we too are responsible for the killing of Jesus. May I suggest to you that all those answers are wrong? It seems somewhat absurd to me, and I suspect to you as well, that the all powerful God of the universe would allow Himself to be killed. That being the case then maybe we should look at our evidence again.
First, we said the Jews killed Jesus but from John 18:31 we know that the Jews did not have the power to put anyone to death. Then we said the Romans killed Jesus but Jesus Himself told Pilate that ultimately he didn’t have any power over Jesus (John 19:11). Finally, we said we killed Jesus because of our sins. Sometimes we can be so self-centered and arrogant without even knowing. There was nothing about our sins that forced Jesus to go to the cross. He didn’t owe it to us. He wasn’t obligated to die for us. And so it is that these three answers fall short woefully short in helping us sufficiently answer our question, “Who killed Jesus?” So where does that leave us then? I would submit to you that it only leaves us with one answer, with one solution. Jesus freely laid down His life for us.
Jesus Freely Laid Down His Life For Us
While it may have been the Jews who arrested Him; while it may have been the Romans that nailed Him to the cross; while it may have been our sins that put Him there, Jesus’ life was not taken from Him; instead He freely laid down His life for all of humanity because He loves us. That’s the force behind the words of Jesus in John 10:17-18:
“For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from My Father.”
No one took Jesus life, no one forcibly killed Jesus; He freely laid His life down for us. At any moment while He was on the cross Jesus could have called 12 legions of angels to come and fight for Him (Matthew 26:53). Do you realize that’s 72,000 angels? Jesus could have called 72,000 angels and they would have taken Him off the cross and fight for Him, no one took Jesus life by force, He freely gave His life for us. And while He hung there on the cross the text says, “When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished,’ and He bowed His head and gave up His spirit” (John 19:30). He was in control of His life until the end when He freely gave up His spirit.
Why did He lay down His life? Because He loves us. That’s the theme of John 3:16 is it not? “For God so loved the world, that He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” Paul repeats that same theme in Romans 5:6, 8 where he says, “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. But God shows His love for us in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us.” I guess the old saying then is true, “It wasn’t the nails that held Him to the cross… it was His love.”
What did we see? Jesus’ life wasn’t taken from Him. While the Jews, the Romans, and we had a part to play in His killing it was all part of God’s eternal plan and purpose so that those who would believe on Him would be saved. The saddest part of it all is that for too many Jesus’ death will be in vain. They’re not willing to love Him like He loved us. They’re not willing to dedicate their lives to serving Him. Is that you? Are you going to let your Savior die in vain for you? Or would you look up at the cross and see His great love for you and allow it to move your heart to die with Him in baptism (Romans 6:1-11) so that God can raise you up to walk a new life, just like He did for Jesus? I beg you, by the mercies of God, obey Him today.
If there’s any way I can help you please don’t hesitate to contact me at clay@claygentry.com. God bless.
[ii] The Greek word translated “band of men” (KJV, ESV), “detachment of soldiers” (NKJV) and “Roman cohort” (NASB) is G4686 which means “a military cohort, or a band, company or detachment of soldiers.” A close examination of G4686’s usage in the New Testament reveals that Judas was given a Roman detachment. G4686 occurs in Matthew 27:27; Mark 15:16; John 18:3, 18:12; Acts 10:1, 21:31, 27:1. In all these passages Roman soldiers are under consideration.
[iii] I’m the One. Written by Roy Overholt. Copyright 1963 by Singspiration, Inc. From Hymns for Worship (Revised)
On the day that Jesus died on the cross, it seems that the hopes and dreams of His disciples were crushed. Their teacher had been killed. Judas, one of their own, had betrayed Him and now he was also dead. The crowds that once had flocked to Jesus were no longer around. The events of the last few days had been traumatic, perplexing, and trying for the disciples. And yet on the first day of the week following His death, word began to circulate among the faithful few that certain women had gone to Jesus’ tomb and had found the stone rolled away, an empty tomb, and the burial clothes lying on the floor (Luke 24:22-23). Most the disciples felt that the words of the women were nothing more than nonsense (Luke 24:11). But two of the disciples wanted to see for themselves and so they ran the tomb and there they found it to be just as the women had said it would be… empty (John 20:1-10).
The empty tomb of Jesus holds great promises for us. A promise is simply an assurance that statements that have been made are sure and true. By faith we are assured of the promises of an empty tomb:
1. An Empty Tomb Promises Fulfilled Prophesy – An empty tomb promises to compel us to trust Jesus’ claim that He is the Messiah (Luke 24:44; Psalms 16:8-11). No other person can make this claim. Mohammad’s tomb in Medina is not empty. Buddha’s ashes are still in various temples thought Asia. Lenin’s body is still in Red Square. And Madelyn O’Hair is still somewhere in Austin, TX. And yet the tomb of God’s chosen is empty because He is the Messiah, the Christ.
2. An Empty Tomb Promises Jesus Is Deity – An empty tomb promises that Jesus is deity. Only deity can raise themselves from the dead. In John 10:17-18 Jesus says that He had the power to raise Himself from the dead. Beginning with Acts 2:32 the apostles (15 times throughout the epistles[i]) said that God raised Jesus from the dead. When we couple these two passages together we see that the empty tomb promises us that Jesus is deity.
3. An Empty Tomb Promises Hope Of Being With God – An empty tomb promises to comfort us with the hope of being with the Lord. In John 13:31-35, Jesus tells His disciples that He will be leaving them soon. You can imagine how this troubled them. But He comforted them with these words, “I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:3) In his letter to the Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18), Paul urged them to comfort one another with the hope of the resurrection of the dead and the ascension of the living to meet Jesus in the air. Even today it brings us great comfort that the promise of the resurrection remains because of the empty tomb.
4. An Empty Tomb Promises Death Has Lost Its Sting – An empty tomb promises to relieve our fears of death because death has lost its sting. “The sting of death is sin” (1 Corinthians 15:56). Without sin there would be no death. Without death we would not feel the sting that comes with dying. When I think about the sting of death I think about the fear that people have of dying. I think about the anxiety that comes with separation from loved ones and the panic of crossing the bar into the unknown depths of eternity. But Paul says that death has lost its sting because Jesus was raised from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:55) and if Jesus was raised from the dead then we will be raised also. Because we are raised in the same manner as He was (1 Corinthians 15:15-19) then the Christian has nothing to fear because of the empty tomb.
5. An Empty Tomb Promises Victory Over The Grave – An empty tomb promises to give us victory over the grave. Paul reminds us that “Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” (Romans 8:11) My friends the grave could not contain the Savior, and it cannot contain us. The power that raised Jesus from the grave is the same power that will raise us from the grave at the last trumpet call (1 Corinthians 6:14, 15:52).
The promises of an empty tomb are only for those who by faith partake of the grace of God through baptism. Paul teaches us in Romans 6:3-5 that through baptism we unite ourselves in His death and as we arise from that water grave we unite ourselves in His resurrection. And in Romans 6:13 he says that we should “present ourselves to God as being alive from the dead…” as being resurrected to walk in the ways of righteousness, not in lives of sin. Let’s do that together starting today that we all may enjoy the promises of an empty tomb.
God’s hand of providence and protection on behalf of His people is evident throughout the book of Esther, though His name does not appear even once in this great book. Hamman’s plot to annihilate God’s people brings grave danger to the Jews and is countered by the courage of beautiful Esther and the counsel of her wise cousin Mordecai, resulting in a great deliverance of God’s people. The pivotal passage in the book of Esther comes when Mordecai challenges Esther to see the possibilities of why she might have been blessed with her position of queenship:
“Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, ‘Do not think to yourself that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?’” Esther 4:13-14
This passage offers five suggestions to bear in mind as we consider the phrase “such a time as this…”
God’s Providential Working
Mordecai correctly recognized that perhaps God’s hand had brought Esther to the king’s palace. He said “Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom…” He is motivating her to understand the broader blessings that were involved in her being raised from relative obscurity to being the king’s wife. Mordecai wanted Esther to see that God had a plan and a purpose for her. Her coming into the kingdom was no accident nor was it any fluke, but she was an instrument for bringing about God’s divine purposes.
This same principle can be found in the words of Joseph when he said to his brothers:
“But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.” Genesis 45:5 (also note 45:7-8)
How much more effective would we be in our lives if we would be willing to recognize that perhaps we have been brought to this place for such a time as this?
Opportunity to do Good
Esther had been presented with an opportunity to do good for God and His people. She could choose to act or to turn a blind eye but she could never say that she did not have opportunity. Many times people will only seize upon opportunity when it benefits them but that should not be the case for God’s people. Just like Esther when we are presented with opportunity to do good we should take hold of these occasions remember the words of Paul to the Galatians:
“Therefore, as you have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” Galatians 6:10
As opportunity to do good presents itself we are to act upon it, giving thanks to God for blessing us with the privilege of serving Him and His people through the opportunities He provides.
Responsibility to do Good
Opportunity + Ability = Responsibility. Someone had to act and Mordecai urged Esther to go before king on behalf of the Jews and plead their case. Mordecai knew that the Jews would be delivered from death whether it was by the hand Esther or from another place but this did not excuse Esther from the responsibility to do good. We should remember the words of Paul as he wrote to Titus:
“The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devout themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.” Titus 3:8 (ESV)
To devote one’s self to good works means to “take the lead” in doing good works. Paul wants Titus and all of us to recognize that we, as those who “have believed in God”, have an overwhelming responsibility to do good.
Courage to do What Was Required
If Esther was going to seize upon the opportunity to save the Jews she was going to have to muster all the courage she had to go before the king uninvited. She recognized that her life was would be on the line (Esther 4:11) but Mordecai was not willing to allow her fear of dying to keep her from doing what was required. The Psalmist recognized that our courage comes from the Lord when he said:
“Wait on the LORD; Be of good cheer, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!” Psalm 27:14
Sometimes the hardest thing to do is to wait. We must learn to trust in God, rely on Him, and to come to God in time of weakness. He will give us the courage and the strength that is needed to act upon the opportunities that he has blessed us with.
Faith to Carry Out Her Work
Esther sees the providential hand of God in her life; she recognizes the blessed opportunity the lies before her; the responsibility to act weighs heavy on her heart; the courage to act will be come from the Lord by waiting on Him and she will act in faith. But she will not act alone. Esther calls for a three day fast (traditionally coupled with prayer) before she goes before the king. She surmised that if she perished, she perished but she would faithfully carryout her work. We too must be willing to faithfully carryout the work of the Lord. Jesus spoke of one who valued his life more than his faithful work when He said:
“For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” Luke 9:24
We may not live in a time when people seek to take our lives because we faithfully carryout the Lord’s work. But one of the principles that we can take away from this verse is that if we seek to keep not only our lives but the lives that we have built we will lose it in the end. But if our lives are built around Jesus Christ our lives will be saved in the end.
Let us recognize that these five suggestions also apply to all of us; perhaps we have been brought into this moment “for such a time as this.” Let this phrase spur us to action recognizing God’s providence, His opportunities, your responsibility, and the courage and faith that will be needed.
There is no doubt about, our God is a great God. Need proof of that? Let’s take a quick look through Ephesians 1-3 and learn how He has “blessed us with every spiritual blessing” through Jesus Christ (1:3):
What was God’s goal in giving us all of these spiritual blessings? So often our answer, so we could be saved and go to heaven. While this might be the outcome of all that God has done for us it is not God’s goal.
The answer is repeated three times in Ephesians 1.
“Having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.” (Ephesians 1:5-6)
“In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.” (Ephesians 1:11-12)
“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” (Ephesians 1:13-14)
Did you catch that? God’s goal in accomplishing all of these spiritual blessings for us was so that we would be to the praise of His glory. Don’t miss that. God’s goal in blessing us with all of these spiritual blessings is not accomplished when we are forgiven instead it is accomplished when we glorify Him because of the spiritual blessings He has given us. That’s a shift from our normal way of thinking about but it’s a shift that we need to take. Let’s focus less on ourselves as recipients of God’s blessings and let’s focus more in God as the giver a all things and praise His glory.
With that through firmly planted in our minds we then can understand better why we are too:
We must not take God’s glorious blessings for granted. Instead let us glorify Him in praising His name for all that He has done. Let us give Him thanks for all the blessings He has given us. And let His glorious grace motivate us to live our lives to the glory and honor of His name.
Remember, it’s not about us, it’s all about Him.
On your first day of orientation for your new job what was the first thing the HR rep gave you? That’s right, it was an employee hand book. Let me ask you this, when was the last time you looked at your employee handbook? Well if you are like most folks, the last time you looked at it was your first day of orientation. While the information it contained was value, it really did not get down to the nuts and bolts of how to interact with your co-workers, or deal with the stresses of work, or how to be a success in the workplace.
However, in Romans 12:9-21 the apostle Paul gives us seven practical insights into how a Christian should conduct him/herself in the workplace. We might think of this passage as the Christian’s Employee Handbook for success in the workplace. Listen to what Paul had to say:
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. Therefore ‘If you enemy is hungry feed him, if he is thirst give him something to drink and in so doing you will heap fires of coal upon his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:9-21)
Be Kind (vv. 10-11) – The demands of the pressure-cooker workplace have a way of stripping us of the decencies we would normally possess such as being kind to and considerate of others. It’s the rare jewel of a person, who can rise above burdensome production schedules, over flowing in/out boxes and harsh customer complaints, and still be kind and considerate to others. But this is the type of person Paul wants Christians to be in the workplace. Christians who rise above their circumstances and treat others the way they want to be treated by being kind and considerate. Do you want to be successful at work? Then be kind to others, no matter what.
Be Prayerful (vv. 12, 14) – The workplace has a way of trying our patience, our integrity and our faith like nowhere else. What is Paul’s answer then to the pressures of work? Be prayerful. Whether it is the stress brought on from a heavy workload, or the hurtful actions of a co-worker, or the blessing of a new account, Paul wants us to be workers who are constantly praying to God. Praying that God would bless our companies with continued business and good leadership. Praying that co-workers will be safe during the workday and taking their concerns to God through prayer. Praying for blessings on the co-workers or supervisors who are mean and rude. And also Paul desires us to be prayerful that God will help us do our work with joy and with thanksgiving. Work is a busy, hectic place, but let’s slow down and pray. Remember this; no Christian has ever been successful at any endeavor without first being prayerful.
Be Hospitable (v. 13) – For most people the workplace is their second home and if that’s true then we need to be hospitable at work. We might think of it as being inviting or welcoming to others. Paul said to “seek” to be hospitable and by extension, “seek” to meet the needs of others. He is saying look for hidden opportunities to be hospitable and to do good for others. It might be that you invite someone to lunch with you, or contribute to someone’s fund raiser, or have someone to your home. Being hospitable at work is a great way to open doors of opportunity to share Jesus with someone. Paul said, the successful Christian seeks out hidden opportunities to be hospitable to others at work.
Be Humble (vv. 15-16) – Humility can be rare commodity in the workplace. But you can change that. Paul’s desire for all Christians is that they be humble, and especially at work. He wants Christians to be humble by “Rejoicing with those who rejoice and weeping with those who weep.” In addition he says be humble by associating with humble people and by not thinking you have all the answers all the time. The truly successful Christian knows that in order to rise up one must be humble.
Be Peaceable (vv. 17-20) – Let’s just face it, office politics is just a way of life in most workplaces. It is amazing that anybody can get any work done for all the bickering, jockeying, and infighting that goes along with office politics. What is Paul’s advice for avoiding office politics? Be peaceable. The workplace is a place to work not war. This is why Paul said, “Repay no one evil for evil,” and “as much as depends on you, [work] peaceably with all men.” While we are not responsible for other’s actions, we are responsible for our own. And if we are going to be successful Christians at work we will need to seek to be peaceable with those we work with.
Be Vigilant (v. 21) – The workplace is fraught with dangers for the Christian to be overcome by evil. It could come in the form of material success which chokes out the Word. It could come in the form of a forbidden relationship that steals not only the heart but the soul as well. It could be something as simple as pilfering the supply closet, or as serious as embezzlement. Around every corner is a trap that Satan has set to try to overtake us. Paul wants us to know that the successful Christian will be vigilant in the workplace. Always watchful for her soul. Ever mindful of temptations. Constantly seeking to overcome Satan’s evil with God’s goodness.
Paul’s seven insights, if taken to heart, will make us not only better employee but also successful Christians who serves as a shining light for God in our workplaces.
