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He That Has Ears To Hear, Let Him Hear
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Matthew 11:15-30
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Easter
- He is Risen!
"He is not here. He has risen from the
dead as he said he would." Matthew 28:6
He
is Risen! "Death is swallowed up in victory."
1 Corinthians 15:54
"For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine
Holy One to see corruption." Psalms 16:10
(Click here for information concerning Easter and the calendar. Click Here to for a chart Of Easter, Passover and Pentecost Dates thru 2050)
See also: Death & Judgment Day
Sir Lionel Luckhoo (1914-1997), was ambassador of Barbados and Guyana.
Knighted by the Queen of England, he was listed in The Guinness Book of World
Records as the world's most successful criminal attorney. Sir Lionel Luckhoo,
who spoke to presidents, kings, parliaments and the United Nations, stated:
"The
bones of Muhammad are in Medina, the bones of Confucius are in Shantung, the
cremated bones of Buddha are in Nepal. Thousands pay pilgrimages to worship at
their tombs which contain their bones. But in Jerusalem there is a cave cut into
the rock. This is the tomb of Jesus. IT IS EMPTY! YES, EMPTY! BECAUSE HE IS
RISEN! He died, physically and historically. He arose from the dead, and now
sits at the right hand of God."
As for the word Easter, some skeptics suggest it came from Eostre,
or Eostrae, the Anglo-Saxon goddess of springtime and fertility. Even if they’re
right, this wouldn’t change the most consequential event in history. But they’re
probably wrong.
The online Encyclopedia Britannica explains: “There is now widespread consensus
that the word derives from the Christian designation of Easter week
as in albis, a Latin phrase that was understood as the plural of alba (“dawn”)
and became eostarum in Old High German, the precursor of the modern German and
English term. The Latin and Greek Pascha (“Passover”) provides the root for
Pâques, the French word for Easter.”
He is Risen - Death is swallowed up in victory.
For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Psalms 16:10
"And when they heard this they were pierced in their hearts."
Acts 2:29-40: "Men, brothers, allow me to say to you with confidence concerning the Patriarch David, that he died and was buried, and his tomb is among us until this day. Therefore since he was a prophet, and knew that God swore to him with an oath "He will cause One to sit on His throne from the fruit of David's loins," (2 Sam. 7:12, 13, Ps. 132:11) 31. since he saw beforehand, he spoke concerning the resurrection of the Messiah that "neither would He be forsaken in Hades nor" His flesh "see corruption." (Ps. 16:10)
God resurrected this Y'shua, of which we all are witnesses: therefore since He has been raised to the right hand of God, and has taken the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, He poured this out which also you are seeing and hearing. For David was not raised into the heavens, but he says, "The Lord said to My Lord, You must sit at My right hand, until I would have put Your enemies under Your feet." (Ps. 110:1) Therefore assuredly all the House of Israel must continually know that God also made Him Lord and Messiah, this Y'shua Whom you crucified."
And when they heard this they were pierced in their hearts. They said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "What could we do, men, brothers?" And Peter said to them, "You must immediately repent, and each of you must immediately be immersed in the name of Y'shua Messiah, for forgiveness of your sins and you will take the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all those in far away places, whomever the Lord our God will call to Himself." And he chargedthem in many other words and was urging them saying, "You must right now be rescued from this crooked generation."
Luke 24:13-49 (BBE) - And then, two of them (Disciples), on that very day (of the resurrection of Jesus), were going to a little town named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. And they were talking together about all those things which had taken place. And while they were talking and questioning together, Jesus himself came near and went with them. But their eyes were not open that they might have knowledge of him. And he said to them, What are you talking about together while you go?
Then stopping, and looking sadly at him, one of them, named Cleopas, said to him, Are you the only man living in Jerusalem who has not had news of the things which have taken place there at this time? And he said to them, What things? And they said, The things to do with Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet, great in his acts and his words, before God and all the people: And how the chief priests and our rulers gave him up to be put to death on the cross. But we were hoping that he would be the Saviour of Israel.
In addition to all this He has now let three days go by from the time when these things took place; And certain women among us gave us cause for wonder, for they went early to the place where his body had been put, And it was not there; then they came saying that they had seen a vision of angels who said that He was living. And some of those who were with us went to the place, and saw that it was as the women had said, but Him they did not see.
And he said, O foolish men! how slow you are to give belief to what the prophets have said. Was it not necessary for the Christ to go through these things, and to come into his glory? And he made clear to them all the things in the Writings, from Moses and from all the prophets, which had to do with Himself.
And they came near the town to which they were going, and he seemed as if he was going on; But they kept him back, saying, Do not go, for evening is near, the day is almost gone. And he went in with them. And when he was seated with them at table, he took the bread, and said words of blessing and, making division of it, he gave it to them. And then their eyes were open, and they had knowledge of him, but he went from their view. And they said to one another, Were not our hearts burning in us while he was talking to us on the way, making clear to us the holy Writings?
And that very hour they got up and went back to Jerusalem, where the eleven and the others had come together. And they said to them, The Lord has truly come back to life again, and Simon has seen Him. And they gave an account of the things which had taken place on the way, and how, when He gave them bread, they had knowledge of Him. And while they were saying these things, He himself was among them, and said to them, Peace be with you! But they were full of fear, being of the opinion that they were seeing a spirit.
And He said to them, Why are you troubled, and why are your hearts full of doubt? See; my hands and my feet: it is I myself; put your hands on me and make certain; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have. And when He had said this, He let them see His hands and His feet. And because, for joy and wonder, they were still in doubt, He said to them, Have you any food here? And they gave Him a bit of cooked fish. And before their eyes He took a meal.
And He said to them, These are the words which I said to you when I was still with you, how it was necessary for all the things which are in the writings of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms about Me, to be put into effect. Then He made the holy Writings clear to their minds.
And He said to them, So it is in the Writings that the Christ would undergo death, and come back to life again on the third day; And that teaching about a change of heart and forgiveness of sins is to be given to Jerusalem first and to all nations in his name. You are witnesses of these things. And now I will send to you what my father has undertaken to give you, but do not go from the town, till the power from heaven comes to you.
Matthew
28:1-15 (BBE) Now late on the Sabbath, when the dawn of the first day
of the week was near, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the place
where his body was. And there was a great earth-shock; for an angel of the Lord
came down from heaven and, rolling back the stone, took his seat on it. His form
was shining like the light, and his clothing was white as snow: And for fear of
him the watchmen were shaking, and became as dead men. And the angel said to the
women, Have no fear: for I see that you are searching for Jesus, who was put to
death on the cross. He is not here, for he has come to life again, even as he
said. Come, see the Lord's resting-place.
And go quickly and give his disciples the news that he has come back from the dead, and is going before you into Galilee; there you will see him, as I have said to you. And they went away quickly, with fear and great joy, to give his disciples the news. And on the way, Jesus came to them, saying, Be glad. And they came and put their hands on his feet, and gave him worship. Then said Jesus to them, Have no fear: go and give word to my brothers to go into Galilee, and there they will see me.
Now, while they were going, some of the watchmen came into the town and gave news to the chief priests of all the things which had taken place. And when they had come together with those in authority, and had made their decision, they gave much money to the watchmen, saying, Say, His disciples came by night and took him away secretly while we were sleeping. And if this comes to the ruler's ears, we will see that he does not make you responsible. So they took the money, and did as they had been ordered: and this account has been current among the Jews till the present time.
1 Corinthians 15:49-58 - And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
John 11:25: I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Believe you this?
Romans 8:11 - But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwells in you.
1 Corinthians 15:11-22 - Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so you believed. Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; you are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
2 Corinthians 5:1-7 - For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
2 Corinthians 5:14-15 - For the love of Christ constrains us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
Romans 8:24-25 - For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man sees, why does he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
Hebrews 11:7 - By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
Would Noah otherwise have built an ark on a mountain with no water in sight, after being warned about things not yet seen? What would reason have us do?
1 Corinthians 1:17-31 - For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glories, let him glory in the Lord.
Was Jesus in the Grave for
"Three Days and Three Nights?" -
By Gary DeMar -
...So even if Jesus was crucified on Friday and raised on Saturday, we are still
missing a third night (first night, Friday, second night, Saturday). Attempts to
resolve this apparent contradiction center on the mistaken assumption that
"heart of the earth" is a reference to the time Jesus spent in the grave. Does
"heart of the earth" mean the grave?:
The Eyewitness Testimony That'll Make You Never Doubt the Resurrection
Again - By Paul Strand - Christianity's core belief is that the Son
of God took on human form, died for our sins and then rose from the dead to give
us eternal life. But if Jesus Christ didn't come back to life, it undoes His
claim to be the all-powerful, eternal Son of God, Savior and Messiah. So,
Christianity hangs on the Resurrection. (See the evidence and videos at link.).
Jesus Resurrection - Proof that Death is a Failure - By
Michael Bresciani - The resurrection of Christ isn't merely about Easter
religious observances, spring, flowers, bunnies and Easter bonnets, it is the
single most important event in the history of mankind. It is the pivotal point
upon which every man and woman's final destiny rests. Perhaps no one in recent
history has described this immutable truth better than Mr. Timothy Keller. "If
Jesus rose from the dead, then you have to accept all that he said; if he didn't
rise from the dead, then why worry about any of what he said? The issue on which
everything hangs is not whether or not you like his teaching, but whether or not
he rose from the dead. - Timothy Keller, The Reason for God: Belief in an Age
of Skepticism.
CBN.com Easter
Special Section (2010) Explore the Garden Tomb, Biblical
Archaeologists Explore the Crucifixion,
Gordon Robertson Teaches on Jesus in Psalm 22 "Can you imagine, a
Psalmist a thousand years before it actually happened describing exactly
what people are going to be saying to Jesus as He's hanging on the cross?
It absolutely boggles your mind."
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There were times when Jesus spoke in parables so He would not be
understood by everyone: "To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the
kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted." Therefore I speak to
them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they
do not hear, nor do they understand" (Matt.
13:11, 13; see 13:34-35). The
Scribes and Pharisees had come to Jesus asking for a sign. Similar language and
context are used by Jesus in John 2:19:
"The Jews therefore answered and said to Him, "What sign do You show to us,
seeing that You do these things?" Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this
temple, and in three days I will raise it up."
Since Matthew 12:40 is the
only place in Scripture where "three days and three nights" and "heart of the
earth" are used, we can assume that it's an idiomatic expression that takes some
deciphering using other Scripture passages.
If Jesus was buried in the "heart of the earth," and "heart" is a metaphor for
"center" or "middle," then Jesus was not buried in the literal heart (center) of
the earth. From what we know of Jesus' burial, He was buried above ground (Matt.
28:2) in a rock-hewn grave (Mark 15:46)
that could be entered and exited easily.
Jerusalem was considered the "heart of the earth": "Thus says the
Lord GOD, "This is Jerusalem; I have set her at the center of the nations, with
lands around her," (Ezek. 5:5). Later in
Ezekiel, Jerusalem is said to be "the navel [center] of the world" (Ezek.
38:12). "Jesus does not simply use Jonah as a convenient analogy to express
the time span of three days. In fact, "three days and three nights in the heart
of the earth" is a strained analogy for the crucifixion. To make Jesus's
experience cover three days and three nights, we must extend it to his time on
trial, so that the "heart of the earth" is Jerusalem and thus includes Jesus's
trial by Jew, Edomite, and Roman. (Calling Jerusalem the "heart of the earth" is
not a novel reading; Ezekiel 38:12
refers to the "navel" of the land, and Ezekiel
5:5 describes Jerusalem as being in the "middle" of the nations.).6
Jerusalem was the redemptive center of the world: "but you will
receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My
witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the
remotest part of the earth" (Acts 1:8).
Today, it's no longer physical Jerusalem but the "Jerusalem above" (Gal.
4:26) "the heavenly Jerusalem" that is the redemptive center (Heb.
12:22).
Jesus continually points to Jerusalem as the place where He would be betrayed
and crucified: "From that time Jesus Christ began to show His disciples that He
must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests
and scribes, and be killed, and be raised on the third day" (Matt.
16:21). When did the "suffer many things" begin?: "Behold, we are going up
to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man will be delivered up to the chief priests and
scribes, and they will condemn Him to death, and will deliver Him up to the
Gentiles to mock and scourge Him, and on the third day He will be raised" (20:17-19).
From the time of His being "delivered up" on Thursday evening in
the Garden of Gethsemane to the day He "will be raised" constitutes "three days
and three nights" in the "heart of the land," that is, in Jerusalem. The Greek
word often translated as "earth" is better translated as "land."
There is no need to claim that there was a special Sabbath or even
to argue that exactly 72 hours was necessary for Jesus' words to be true. "Heart
of the earth." considered to be the center of the world, was Jerusalem.