When they drew near Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, He sent out two of His disciples and said to them, “Go into the village opposite you. As soon as you enter it, you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say ‘The Lord has need of it,’ and immediately he will send it here.”
They went their way and found the colt tied by the door outside on the street. And they untied it. Some of those who stood there said to them, “What are you doing untying the colt?” They answered just as Jesus had commanded. And they let them go. They brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments on it. And He sat upon it. Many spread their garments on the street. And others cut down branches off the trees and scattered them on the street. Those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:
“Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is coming in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”
Mark 11:1–10 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)
Month: April 2019
There is an End
Then comes the end when He will deliver up the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.
1 Corinthians 15:24 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)
The time will come when all rule, authority, and power will end. This is a reference to the demonic kingdom that works behind the scenes of the governments and authorities in this world. Those powers are used to subdue and enslave people.
When Jesus delivers up the kingdom to God, it is freely done. Those that are of the kingdom have freely chosen to be a part of it.
Yet for those who oppose Him and the kingdom, those will be subdued.
For He will reign until He has put all enemies under His feet.
1 Corinthians 15:25 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)
There is also an end to death. Death was introduced into this world by interference from those demonic powers.
The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. For He “has put all things under His feet.” But when He says, “all things are put under Him,” it is revealed that He, who has put all things under Him, is the exception.
1 Corinthians 15:26–27 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)
Paul changes the focus slightly. Jesus is portrayed as the conquering hero and the One Who put an end to the enemies of God. Yet here Paul is pointing out His position still as a Servant doing the bidding of God. It’s not that Jesus is a lower or lesser part of God. He has placed Himself in the role of Servant. As such the One He serves has placed all things under Jesus.
When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.
1 Corinthians 15:28 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)
There we have it. That God may be all in all. That is, the Godhead is above all things… The kingdom is given to God, enemies are the footstool of Jesus. There will be no other power or authority but God Himself.
Firstfruits of the First Resurrection
But now is Christ risen from the dead and become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came by man, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the first fruits; afterward, those who are Christ’s at His coming. Then comes the end when He will deliver up the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.
1 Corinthians 15:20–24 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)
Jesus is Firstfruits of the resurrection of the dead. As Paul continues to explain the resurrection, we’ve understood from that context before, it is bodily. It is to a new type of body that isn’t subject to sin. (This idea is elaborated upon later in the text.) In his continuing instruction, there is something more for us to understand. Rightly, it points to Jesus. He is the Firstfruits, but of what?
The term firstfruits is significant. But first, let’s explore the significance of this term from one perspective; the feasts established in the Torah, The law is called a schoolmaster.
But before faith came, we were imprisoned under the law, kept for the faith which was later to be revealed. So the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Galatians 3:23–24 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)
It was to bring us to Christ. Therefore the feasts established for Israel in the law would also be a tutor. These feats are patterns to help us identify the Messiah. There were seven established, some of which have been fulfilled by Jesus on Earth.
The first is Passover. In the first Passover we learn that the blood of an unblemished lamb protected the household where it was applied to the doorposts from the death of the firstborn. In the same way, Jesus fulfilled this by shedding His own blood. That when properly applied by the believer, metaphorically on the doorposts of the heart. It protects the firstborn of that house, the believer himself from sudden death. This isn’t protection from any death, but the death that comes as a judgment from God.
The second is The Feast of Unleavened Bread. Biblically, leaven is a typification of sin. The idea conveyed is the haste to escape Egypt. They had no time to leaven their bread. It is also at this time that leaven is also removed from houses. In the same way, Jesus takes away the leaven in our lives. In a sense… We also ought to hurry to believe when we are confronted with the truth.
The third is The Feast of Firstfruits. This is a celebration of the firstfruits and is done at the beginning of the spring harvest. It was signified by waving a sheaf of the first grain harvested to the priest. He would then wave this before the Lord in an offering. In like manner, Jesus also had to be presented before God.
Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father. But go to My brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.’ ”
John 20:17 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)
These are the spring feasts, the first three of seven ordained for Israel. All three have been fulfilled by Jesus just as the Old Testament patterns indicate. The fourth feast Pentecost, is also one said to be fulfilled, but I will leave for another time.
I want to talk about firstfruits. Just as the pattern is established in the feasts, this was the first of the entire harvest. What then is the significance?
Paul shows the order of the harvest. “Christ the firstfruits; afterward, those who are Christ’s at His coming. Then comes the end when He will deliver up the kingdom to God the Father.” I think that’s inclusive of the harvest. What I mean is, we have the beginning of the harvest given and the end when Christ comes, which is not the rapture. This is clearly explained to us in another place.
I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and the authority to judge was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness of Jesus and for the word of God. They had not worshipped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection.
Revelation 20:4–5 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)
Jesus has to come again to reign on Earth. At His coming, those who died justified (Acts 24:15) will be raised up to reign with Him. “Then comes the end.”
The harvest that Jesus is Firstfruits of began with His resurrection. It will end with the beginning of His Millennial reign. The harvest will continue, meaning there will be multiple resurrections in between. All of which is part of the First Resurrection of the just (Luke 14:14) to life (John 5:29.)
It’s the Resurrection
Now if Christ is preached that He rose from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
1 Corinthians 15:12–19 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)
This is a perfect subject to discuss given this time of year. Just as Paul transitions from demonstrating his own credentials as an apostle born at the wrong time and his preaching of the authentic Gospel, he points to the main thing in that Gospel.
Now, I am going to say something that may seem controversial yet nevertheless important. I do not intend to offend. We Christians (I include myself chiefly) love the cross. We sing if it. It adorns our churches. I am wearing one around my neck right now. The cross is great! By what happened there is bloody and gruesome. It was a transaction involving death. One where our death burden was laid on Another. It was satisfied completely giving all of us a respite from certain death. In a sense, the cross saves all of us.
It’s the resurrection!
That will be made very plain. Pay close attention to how Paul explains it to the Gentiles in Corinth. They were Greeks. Grecian ideas of the afterlife didn’t include bodily resurrection and only spoke of the immortality of the soul. That idea came from Gnosticism which held that all of the human weakness, sin, and death were in the body. Death was freedom from that bondage. Therefore, the idea of a resurrected body meant a return to the bondage of weakness and death.
Paul is correcting the error and explains the reality of a bodily resurrection and most important, the real hope that comes with it.
If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not risen.
1 Corinthians 15:13 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)
It’s simple… No resurrection… No risen Jesus. The risen and living Savior is essential to the Gospel. It is as essential as the cross, but more important.
If Christ has not risen, then our preaching is vain, and your faith is also vain.
1 Corinthians 15:14 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)
The resurrection is of utmost necessity to the Gospel. If it weren’t real, the Gospel Paul preached would be in vain. It could offer no real hope.
It’s a simple progression of logic:
No bodily resurrection, no resurrected Jesus.
No resurrected Jesus, no hope for anyone.
No hope, the Gospel Paul taught would really be a false witness. It quickly progresses to the real problem at the end of denying the resurrection.
Yes, and we would then be found false witnesses of God, because we have testified that God raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up, if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ has not been raised. If Christ is not raised, your faith is vain; you are still in your sins.
1 Corinthians 15:15–17 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)
There is where the canker gnaws. (If I may borrow the line.) Paul is teaching that our sins are not washed away in the resurrection!
If Christ is not raised, your faith is vain; you are still in your sins.
There is a clear difference between what happened with the Savior’s death… And what happens after His resurrection. It is necessary to have an alive and resurrected Savior to take away our sins.
Don’t get me wrong. The cross is necessary for every human. We need the time it gives and that rest from execution, to seek the living offering and confess our sins. Only then are our sins removed.
It’s the cross, yes. But it’s the resurrection. It’s a living Savior Who can remove sin.
Deny Yourself
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
Matthew 16:24 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)
I love how Jesus speaks plainly to His followers. Consider this in light of what was given in yesterday’s post about Esther. We all have to come to a point where we must count the cost (Luke 14:28.)
Those who want to follow Jesus must first deny themselves. What does that mean?
A bit of context is necessary. There is much of what we consider ourselves that is learned behavior. We pick up mannerisms and behaviors as a result of those around us and perhaps the careers we have chosen. Sometimes those behaviors are profitable, other times they are detrimental.
When Jesus said to count the cost, we are to take inventory and weigh what is important. Is what we do going to have any real lasting value?
For some of us, the cost to follow Jesus is just too steep like the rich young ruler. Denying ourselves is awkward, and even scary. It seems as in doing so, we would become lost.
Listen… We are not what we do. That is what the culture I posed upon us from almost every angle. Our identity without Jesus is intricately intertwined with what we do and how we behave. The baggage that comes with that is what keeps us from God. It also keeps us from true freedom.
In denying self is how we love. We do it when we meet someone new and want to please them. We do it for newborns who cannot tend to themselves. We do it for significant others.
This is what Jesus is saying, love Him.
Deny yourself and take up your cross. In other words, stop taking your identity from what you do. Instead, take up your cross. Identify in what He did. Follow Him. That is where our identity changes to Him.
We sing that refrain, I am who You say I am.
If you want to know… He says that we’re forgiven, not forsaken, a child of God, a joint-heir with Jesus, His own people, among other things.
That’s the identity change, denying ourselves and taking on Him. There is salvation and freedom there. Freedom from the bondage of whatever you may have done.
Don’t believe me, believe Him…
For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Matthew 16:25–26 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)
For Such a Time as This
For if you remain silent at this time, protection and deliverance for the Jews will be ordained from some other place, but you and your father’s house shall be destroyed. And who knows if you may have attained royal position for such a time as this?
Esther 4:14 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)
If there is anyone who can understand what it is to be awkward in every facet of life, it’s me. I don’t know if I really fit in anywhere. Perhaps it’s part of my experiences that have made me who I am.
One thing I know, is there are those things that I don’t quite get. I am laying in bed, it’s late, in fact early into the next day. The cares of the day weigh heavily. What would it be like to not care?
I don’t know. I don’t know if I will ever really know.
But here is Esther. She was a misfit in the King’s court, in that she was Jewish. Granted, what I think I am pondering is nothing as monumental as what she was thinking. But it does bear some similarities, on a vastly smaller scale. Nevertheless, they are everything for the other souls involved.
Like Esther, the easy choice is self-preservation; to stay with what I know is safe. Yet, it is selfish.
In that time before Esther entered the king’s presence, she would ponder many things. When she purposed to pursue what was right, she set about to do it. In that moment she is a perfect representation of Jesus Christ. She had set aside self-preservation to look beyond the what-ifs and lay down her own life for the lives of her people. She found favor from her king.
It’s not unlike another person.
Consider the apostle Paul. He was on his way to Damascus to persecute saints when he was stopped by his Lord. Paul knew Who it was Who stopped him on that road. Asking Jesus, “What will you have me do?” (Acts 9:1–6)
Think about it. It’s rather unsettling to be struck blind by a bright light and brought to your knees. Jesus told Paul to go into Damascus and await instructions. Ananias was then called by Jesus to visit Paul. Even amidst the disorientation, Paul chose to do the right thing.
Ananias had his Esther moment, too. He set aside his own concerns to do what appeared as an awkward encounter. Setting aside concerns for his own safety he went to Paul with the instructions Jesus gave him.
Paul assents to the instructions of his Lord and was waiting in Damascus. Ananias came, we know what happened. Paul was shown he was called to serve the Lord by ministering to the Gentiles. By taking up the call, he was also shown what he must suffer for Jesus’ name.
For such a time as this Paul had obtained much favor from God. It is only in one of his first epistles did he give a hint of his mindset at his appointment with Jesus and the days that followed.
After giving a list of those who were eyewitnesses to the resurrected Jesus… He spoke of his own testimony.
Last of all, He was seen by me also, as by one born at the wrong time.
1 Corinthians 15:8 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)
It was an awkward way to become an apostle, and an eyewitness to Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. Yet like one born at the wrong time.
I can imagine the self-doubt coupled with the instinctual self-preservation, and maybe the idea that someone else will do it instead.
Yet there are those people, real heroes like Esther, Ananias, and Paul, who considered their own personal well-being to be of inconsequential value compared to the panorama of others whose lives would be impacted for the good.
I don’t care who you are or where you are in life. If you’re placed in an awkward position as a misfit, that’s perfect! When faced with some really gut-wrenching decision, choose rightly. I know it may be potentially detrimental to you personally, forego that. Look beyond your own self and into the people that will be impacted for the good by your selflessness.
And who knows if you may have attained your awkward position for such a time as this?
Master's Crumbs 