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Jonah 1:17 – Jonah, Jesus, and Sacrifice

By Jeremy Myers
1 Comment

Jonah 1:17 – Jonah, Jesus, and Sacrifice
http://media.blubrry.com/one_verse/feeds.soundcloud.com/stream/317454030-redeeminggod-73-jonah-117-jonah-jesus-and-sacrifice.mp3

Jonah 1:17It’s Easter week, and it just so happens that we are looking at Jonah 1:17 today, in which we read that Jonah spent three days in the belly of a fish. In Matthew 12:40, Jesus uses this event to talk about how He will spend three days in the grave.

The Text of Jonah 1:17

Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

In this discussion of Jonah 1:17 we look at:

  • Whether or not the great fish was a whale
  • Whether the fish was deliverance or discipline
  • The parallels between Matthew 12:40 and Jonah 1:17
  • Whether or not God wants sacrifices

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God is Redeeming God, Redeeming Scripture Bible & Theology Topics: Jonah 1:17, Matthew 12:40, resurrection of Jesus, sacrifice

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What if Jesus did not rise from the dead?

By Jeremy Myers
28 Comments

What if Jesus did not rise from the dead?

What if Jesus did not rise?I believe the resurrection did, in fact, occur. I believe Jesus truly did rise physically from the grave on the third day after He was crucified and buried. But the question before us is, “What if Jesus did not rise from the dead?”

There are a thousand possible answers to such a question, but let’s just face the music and jump to the hardest and most troublesome answer of all: If Jesus did not rise from the dead, probably most of Christianity is a lie. We could probably hold on to the idea of God, and some of the historical events in the Bible, but beyond that, most of it would probably not be true.

I mean, if the resurrection of Jesus did not happen, then most of the Bible is probably not true because most of the Bible is centered on the idea of the resurrection.

If the resurrection did not happen, the truthfulness of the Bible itself should be doubted.

But you know what?

Even if the Bible cannot be trusted, even if Christianity is based on a lie, even if nothing I believe is actually true, I don’t think much of anything in my life would change.

Why not?

Because what other options are there?

Should I join a different religion? Which one? I have studied and worked with all the various religions, and find none of them as compelling or life-changing as Jesus. I find all of them to be less inspiring than the stories about Jesus and the truths contained in Scripture, even if these things are lies.

If everything about Jesus is a lie, I would rather follow the lie that is Jesus than the truth of any world religion.

What about atheism? God, no! (I am not cursing! That was a pun!) I know many atheists, and I guess I would rather live by an inspiring story I knew was mostly wrong than a belief that everything is chance and nothing has meaning beyond the physical realm. Call it a crutch if you want, but I have enough trouble living life with God. I cannot imagine trying to get through life without Him.

If the resurrection did not happen, then most of the Bible is probably false. But that does not mean that some other religion is true, or that we must all become atheists.

To the contrary, even if the resurrection did not happen, we can still follow the teachings and example of Jesus. Why? Because there is no other person or idea in any other religion or in all of history that is more inspiring, loving, and hopeful than Jesus.

Even if Jesus did not rise from the dead, I would still follow Jesus. For me, there is no other option.

C.S. Lewis once considered a similar question. In one of his letters to a friend, Lewis explained what he would do if he found out that God had actually lost the cosmic battle to Satan. In such a case, there would be no heaven for believers, no hope for life after death, no cause to believe that God was all-powerful or perfect. But in such a situation, what would C. S. Lewis do? Here is what he wrote:

Even if—let’s make an impossible supposition—His voice—unmistakably His, said to me, “They have misled you. I can do nothing [about taking you to heaven]. My long struggle with the blind forces is nearly over. I die, children. The story is ending,” would that be a moment for changing sides? Would not you and I take the Viking way: “The Giants and Trolls win. Let us die on the right side, with Father Odin” (Letters to Malcolm, 120).

What if the resurrection is false?In other words, C. S. Lewis says that even if God Himself spoke to Lewis and told him that it was all a lie, that God had tried His hardest, but had finally lost, and was now about to disappear into oblivion and defeat, C. S. Lewis says it would not matter one bit. He would still stick with God. He would not switch sides. He would go down fighting, next to our dying God.

That is the same way I feel about Jesus.

I firmly believe everything written about Him in the Scriptures. I believe it is all true. I believe in the virgin birth, the miracles, the teachings, the death, and the resurrection of Jesus.

But if He were to appear to me and say, “You’ve been misled. Yes, I lived and died, and some of the stories are true, but most of it is a lie. I have been defeated. Sin and Satan won. Death was not destroyed. We are all heading into oblivion,” I would shrug my shoulders and say, “It matters not. I will follow what is written anyway, for there is no better way to live. And though the battle has been lost, at least maybe I can show some love and care to a few more people before we are all swept away.”

So what if Jesus did not rise from the dead? My answer is, “So what? I will follow Him anyway. Following the example of Jesus is by far the best way to live.”

This post is part of the April 2012 Synchroblog. Here is a list of the other contributors. Go check them all out!

  • Marta – On Faith Seeking Understanding, Truth, and Theology
  • Carol Kuniholm – Risen Indeed? The Hermeneutic Community
  • Tim Nichols – How Would Life be Different if Jesus did not Rise?
  • Glenn – Kingdom Come or Kingdom Now?
  • Sonja Andrews – The Resurrection and the Life
  • Josh Morgan – The Role of the Resurrection
  • Abbie Watters – What if the Resurrection were a lie?
  • Minnow – Resurrection Impact
  • Leah – Resurrection – Or Not!
  • Hey Sonnie – The Resurrection Hoax
  • Liz Dyer – The Resurrection I Firmly Believe In
  • Ellen Haroutunian – Is There a Christianity Without the Resurrection?
  • Jeannette Altes – What if…
  • Christine Sine – If the Resurrection did not happen, how would the world be different?
  • KW Leslie – Supposing Jesus is Dead
  • Travis Mamone – If the Resurrection was a Hoax
  • Kathy Escobar – Jenga Faith

The cross of Jesus is CENTRAL to everything!

Transform your life and theology by focusing on the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus:

Fill out the form below to receive several emails from me about the death and resurrection of Jesus.

(Note: If you are a member of RedeemingGod.com, login and then revisit this page to update your membership.)

God is Redeeming Theology Bible & Theology Topics: cruciform, crucivision, Easter, following Jesus, resurrection, resurrection of Jesus, synchroblog, Theology of Jesus

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Jesus Welcomes Doubters Too

By Jeremy Myers
32 Comments

Jesus Welcomes Doubters Too

Jesus faith and doubtWhat does Jesus think about doubt?

It is common in Christian circles today to require faith and certainty before people are allowed to serve. We feel people need to be sure that Jesus was the Messiah, was God in the flesh, died on the cross, and rose again from the dead before we give them an opportunity to follow Jesus into the world.

Until people get this faith and certainty, we often don’t feel they are fully qualified to serve in church. Instead, we recommend they read a book on proofs for the Christian faith, attend a class about the basics of Christianity, or perform some sort of other study so that they can gain the faith and certainty we feel is necessary for followers of Jesus.

It does not appear that Jesus feels the same way.

Throughout His entire ministry He was calling and inviting people to follow Him who knew next to nothing about Him, and were sometimes even antagonistic to who He was and what He stood for. But Jesus knew that if they followed Him, they could learn about Him while they were in the midst of loving and serving others.

One event in the Gospels shows this more than any other.

After Jesus died on the cross, and after He has risen from the dead, and after He has appeared numerous times to His apostles, and after He has eaten with them, talked with them, and let them touch His resurrected body, He appears to them again.

And this time, Matthew 28:16-17 says that some of the apostles bowed to Him, but others did not bow, because they doubted.

Do you see it?

Some of the apostles still doubted.

There is lots of debate in the commentaries and scholarly articles about whether it was really the apostles who doubted or someone else, and whether or not they really doubted, or it was just an inquisitive faith, or maybe they didn’t really doubt Jesus, but they doubted that this person who appeared to them this time was really Jesus, and on and on it goes.

But let’s call a spade a spade.

Some of the apostles doubted.

The Greek word for “doubted” is tricky here and very rare, but let’s not use fancy seminarian hermeneutical tricks to remove the force of the text. Some of the apostles did not bow to Jesus. Why not? Because they doubted.

Does Jesus care that some doubt? Not one bit.

The very next section in Matthew is one of the most important in the Bible. It contains the Great Commission. The greatest task ever given to mankind by God is given to this motley crew of apostles, some of whom believe, and some of whom doubt. He takes all the power and authority that is in heaven and on earth and gives it to them. Yes, all of them. The doubters too. And he says, “Go. Be like Me to the world.”

I love this about Jesus.

People who have been with Him for three years. Have seen Him work miracles. Have heard His teachings. Have eaten meals with Him. And after He dies and rises from the dead, while some of them believe, others still doubt.

And Jesus just shrugs His shoulders and says, “It’s good enough. Go. Whether you believe or whether you still have doubts, you can still act like me, and talk like me, and love like me, and serve like me in this world. Go. Be Me in the World.”

When some of the disciples doubt, Jesus shrugs His shoulders and invites them to follow Him in loving others anyway.

So do you believe? Do you doubt? Maybe you have some odd mixture of both? Either way is fine with Jesus.

For now, He just wants you to be like Him in this world. To follow Him in loving and serving others.

Faith and Doubt ASBO Jesus

The cross of Jesus is CENTRAL to everything!

Transform your life and theology by focusing on the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus:

Fill out the form below to receive several emails from me about the death and resurrection of Jesus.

(Note: If you are a member of RedeemingGod.com, login and then revisit this page to update your membership.)

God is Redeeming Theology Bible & Theology Topics: cruciform, crucivision, Discipleship, doubt, Easter, faith, fear, following Jesus, Matthew 28:16-17, resurrection, resurrection of Jesus, Theology of Jesus

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The Two Most Beautiful Words in the Gospels

By Jeremy Myers
10 Comments

The Two Most Beautiful Words in the Gospels

Peter wept bitterlyWhat are the most beautiful words in the Gospels?

These two right here:

…and Peter…

These two words are found in Mark 16:7 and I find them to be the most beautiful and moving words in the Gospels. Every single time I read them, they get my heart beating. They give me shivers and chills. Sometimes I even choke up in tears.

…and Peter…

Why?

We all know what Peter did. He was one of the three closest companions that Jesus had. He was the spokesperson for the twelve apostles. He was the one who promised He would never deny Jesus.

And when the soldiers came to arrest Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, Peter was the only one who tried to defend Jesus.

When Jesus was escorted away to His trial, Peter was the only apostle who followed. The rest scattered into the night and hid.

…and Peter…

Peter denies ChristYet despite all this zeal for Jesus, it was only Peter who verbally denied Jesus. It was only Peter who cursed Jesus. Not once. Not twice. But three times. (Possibly even six times.)

This is certainly the low point of Peter’s life. He feels abandoned and betrayed. And Peter even betrays and denies Jesus. He probably feels that all is lost, and that whatever happens, He is lost for eternity. He is done for. God will never forgive him.

All of us have felt this way from time to time. Like we have done something or said something so terrible that Jesus could never forgive us.

…and Peter…

So when Jesus rises from the dead, I find it terribly comforting that when the angel tells the two women who first witness His resurrection to go and tell His disciples that Jesus has risen, the angel emphasizes that they must also tell Peter. He singles Peter out. “Go tell the disciples,” the angel says, “and Peter…”

Yes.

…and Peter…

The resurrection of Jesus is for all of us. It is for the Mother Theresas of the world and the Hitlers.

The resurrection is for John the beloved disciple, and Judas the traitor.

The resurrection is for you, me, …and Peter.

If you ever doubt or wonder about Jesus’ love for you, just remember these two words which tell us so much about our own sin, the heart of Jesus, and the complete forgiveness and love offered to us through His death and resurrection.

…and Peter…

The cross of Jesus is CENTRAL to everything!

Transform your life and theology by focusing on the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus:

Fill out the form below to receive several emails from me about the death and resurrection of Jesus.

(Note: If you are a member of RedeemingGod.com, login and then revisit this page to update your membership.)

God is Redeeming Theology Bible & Theology Topics: crucifixion, cruciform, crucivision, Easter, forgiveness, Judas, Mark 16:7, Peter, resurrection, resurrection of Jesus, Theology of Jesus

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The Resurrection of Jesus is the Answer to Everything

By Jeremy Myers
5 Comments

The Resurrection of Jesus is the Answer to Everything

This post follows up on my previous post where I stated that the resurrection of Jesus is the answer to everything. Here are some ways this is true:

  • Resurrection shows that the death of Jesus was not a shameful defeat, but was a glorious victory over all the forces of evil, over sin, death, and the devil.
  • The death and resurrection of Jesus is God taking responsibility for what happened to His creation.
  • Though there are many skirmishes yet to be won, the resurrection of Jesus is the inauguration of the rule and reign of God on earth and in our lives.
  • The call of the resurrection is for me individually, and for the people of God as a whole, to continue the work which Jesus began, and to implement the victory of God in the world through suffering love. “The cross [and the resurrection] is not just an example to be followed; it is an achievement to be worked out, put into practice” (Evil and the Justice of God, 98). The result of such living is resurrection.
  • The resurrection of Jesus creates a vision for the future of people dying to self, and being raised to new life for others. It allows us to envision a community of healing and hope, beauty and creation, love and peace, and then take self-sacrificial and Spirit-empowered steps toward accomplishing that vision.
  • The resurrection is a summons by God, not just to believe in Jesus, but to live in a new way in God’s new world, which we can not yet fully see.
  • The resurrection of Jesus is call to do justice, and love mercy, and protect the weak and vulnerable. It calls for education, medical care, and economic generosity, not because it is mandated from above by a government, but because it springs out from within us, from hearts filled with faith, hope, and love.
  • The resurrection stops us from asking what is best for me and for my town and for my country, and starts me asking what is best for you, for your town, and for your country.
  • Resurrection allows us to freely forgive others and forgive ourselves, because God has already forgiven everything. It means that we forgive, whether or not people accept it, and whether or not they ask.
  • The resurrection of Jesus removes all fear and guilt, leaving only love. It releases debt, it releases burdens.

In the end, we see that the resurrection of Jesus is not only the answer, it is also the catalyst, or the springboard, by which God intends to make you and I the answer. While God’s solution to evil is the resurrection, this is only true because God’s solution to evil is you and I living out the resurrection.

We, by living out the resurrection, are to reverse the curse.

We, by living out the resurrection, are to be a blessing to the world.

This is why the resurrection of Jesus is found on nearly every page of the New Testament. When you allow the resurrection to get a hold of you, it changes everything. It is an all-consuming call to live the in the Kingdom of God here and now.

So, how are you living the resurrected life today?

For more on this, see NT Wright, Evil and the Justice of God, chapter 3 and The Challenge of Jesus, chapter 6.

The cross of Jesus is CENTRAL to everything!

Transform your life and theology by focusing on the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus:

Fill out the form below to receive several emails from me about the death and resurrection of Jesus.

(Note: If you are a member of RedeemingGod.com, login and then revisit this page to update your membership.)

God is Redeeming Theology Bible & Theology Topics: crucifixion, cruciform, crucivision, Discipleship, Easter, following Jesus, resurrection of Jesus, Theology of Jesus

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