The great and terrible Friday. The place where the great and terrible God of all creation judges. Where He loves. Where He mercies. Where He graces.
All will be judged. But through the one sent from the Father, we can escape judgement and receive love, mercy and grace.
Reworking of an old John newton (1725) Hymn by the Edbrooke Collective
Just click the play button.
It has been my aim this week to provide for you some stimulus for heart and mind. To capture your attention and direct it toward the most important moments in human history. Don’t be fooled this is not a week about culture, life, philosophy, post modern allegiances and religious preferences. This thing. These things – crucifixion & resurrection either happened or they didn’t. If they didn’t, then I need to wrap up this Jesus blog sharpish and start my Fat Donkey weight loss blog. [30 Posts already exist in my head]. I haven’t because I do think they did happen – in time, in history, in a place, and in front of people.
If this Jesus thing is not your bag, I hope it’s because you have considered Christianity’s truth claims and found them wanting (if so please tell me why, so I can depart this possible illusion – dearhumbledonley@gmail.com ). I hope it’s not because you just haven’t got round to it. The story, the reasons, the consequence of this easter week do not run like a side show soap opera. They push themselves front and centre and shout “life and all its questions are held within the life, death and resurrection of the one called Jesus of Nazareth – the eternal divine word made flesh”. Ignore at your peril. Or ignore because it’s a fantasy. There is nothing inbetween.
I am grateful the the sterling work of Justin taylor and his motley crew. Between Two Worlds is my favourite theological blog. Keep the good work up JT.
Final piece from Justin Taylor at Between Two Worlds
The following video, filmed in conjunction with our book The Final Days of Jesus, features short explanations from and interviews with New Testament professors Doug Moo and Andreas Köstenberger on the importance of women being the first to discover the empty tomb and the meaning of Easter Sunday.
Blogging from my Kindle today and yesterday so cannot copy and paste JT’s preamble. Arghhh. Not important. This video touches on the “where was Jesus on the Saturday?”- other than in the tomb. Where was his spirit so to speak? It is an interesting question which has importance. But there is a sense of the unclear, the unknown about it in the midst of all that is now becoming clear and known. If you are the type who when watching movies or LOST (best TV show ever, ever!) for example and you are only majoring in the apparently unresolved or still veiled story lines, then you are missing the big picture. What was unclear and unknown is now clear enough to see and know.
Justin Taylor at Between Two Worlds
Holy Week – Saturday
Reblogging the fine and valuable work of Justin Taylor
Justin Taylor Between Two Worlds
Thursday, April 2, AD 33.
The following video, filmed in conjunction with our book The Final Days of Jesus, features short explanations from and interviews with scholars Doug Moo, Nick Perrin, and Paul Maier, focusing on the background of the Passover, why Jesus and the disciples reclined at the Last Supper instead of eating at a table, and why the Jewish officials had to get Pontius Pilate involved after beginning their judicial proceedings against Jesus.
Hosting this timely debate from the Muslim Debate Initiative – Was Jesus Crucified? [Spills over into the resurrection – yes? no?]. With James White vs Sami Zaatari.
Good debate. All the classic defenses and challenges are touched on and there is a lot to learn. Good to see a proper debate forum being followed. Recommended for when you’re doing the washing up. That’s when I do most of my listening. No dishwasher! Why?????
Image source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/theroyalfamily/9785535/Washing-up-for-the-Queen-Thats-mans-work.html
Continuing to reblog the work of Justin Taylor.
Come back later this morning to get access to a debate – Was Jesus Crucified? Simply put, if Jesus wasn’t, then the Christian faith is without basis. Same with the Resurrection. Do try and catch it. later.
Holy Week, Day 4: Wednesday
Justin Taylor Between Two Worlds
Wednesday, April 1, AD 33.
The following video, filmed in conjunction with our book The Final Days of Jesus, features short explanations from and interviews with historian of ancient history Paul Maier (of Western Michigan University) and New Testament professor Grant Osborne (of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School), focusing on the behind-the-scenes motivations and actions of the Sanhedrin as they plot to put an end to Jesus once and for all.
Quite a few things in this post. Firstly, I want you to think about what you know or have heard about Jesus of Nazareth. Jewish Messiah. Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Laid low, so others can be lifted up. Empty, so others may be full. Left home so others could come home. Momentarily lost to the Father so others could be bound to the Father forever. Without, so others could be with. Lifeless, so others could have nothing less than life. Broken, so others could be restored. Poured out, so others could be gathered up.
Consider Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday as you read this prophecy of one called the Suffering Servant from the Hebrew prophet Isaiah – almost 700 years before the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
Image source: http://www.jewsforjesus.org/topics/suffering-servant
Starting at end of Chapter 52 & moving into 53
See, my servant will act wisely[b];
he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.
14 Just as there were many who were appalled at him[c]—
his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being
and his form marred beyond human likeness—
15 so he will sprinkle many nations,[d]
and kings will shut their mouths because of him.
For what they were not told, they will see,
and what they have not heard, they will understand.
Who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by mankind,
a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
4 Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression[a] and judgment he was taken away.
Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was punished.[b]
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the Lord makes[c] his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
11 After he has suffered,
he will see the light of life[d] and be satisfied[e];
by his knowledge[f] my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,[g]
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,[h]
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.
Sourced electronically here: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2053&version=NIV
Secondly for the enquirers amongst you here is an academic treatment by a Jewish believer in Christ, Dr. Michael Brown, on how this prophecy refers ultimately and fully to Jesus the Messiah.
Clicking on the pdf button below will download automatically a pdf document written by Dr. Brown. It’s a chapter called Jewish Interpretations of Isaiah 53 from the book The Gospel According to Isaiah 53 – Encountering the Suffering Servant in Jewish and Christian Theology. It’s written at an academic level but is an important piece of work.
Click this PDF button for Chapter download:
Once downloaded – find it in you your downloads.
Click the book to purchase with free delivery within the UK.
Holy Week – Tuesday Day 3
Deeper into this most precious week of remembrance with Jesus the hinge of history.
Reblogging from Justin Taylor.
Justin Taylor Between Two Worlds
Tuesday, March 31, AD 33.
The following video, filmed in conjunction with our book The Final Days of Jesus, features short explanations from and interviews with New Testament professors Grant Osborne (of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) and Andreas Köstenberger (of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary) along with historian of ancient history Paul Maier (of Western Michigan University), focusing in particular on the opposition to Jesus and what angered his Jewish antagonists so much.
More reblogging of day 2 of Easter week – Holy Week – from Justin Taylor.
Justin Taylor Between Two Worlds
Monday, March 30, AD 33.
The following video, filmed in conjunction with our book The Final Days of Jesus, features short explanations from and interviews with New Testament professors Nicholas Perrin (of Wheaton College) and Grant Osborne (of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School), focusing in particular on the cursing of the fig tree, the cleansing of the temple, and the role of the temple in the theology and practice of Jesus. We will be releasing a new video each day this week.
Just reblogging the fine work of Justin Taylor, my favourite theology resource blog. Bought his book, coauthored with scholar Andreas Köstenberger, last week. Good & useful – apologetically (in defense of faith).
All this next bit & video is their work – I comend it to you to guide you this week. If this is not your sort of thing then I commend it to you even more – as a exercise in spiritual adventuring.
Justin Taylor Between Two Worlds
Holy Week – Day 1: Psalm Sunday
The following video, filmed in conjunction with our book The Final Days of Jesus, features short explanations from and interviews with New Testament professors Doug Moo (of Wheaton College Graduate School) and Andreas Köstenberger (of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary). We will be releasing a new video each day this week.
Humble Donkey 