Grace Digest

The following guest post is from the heart and hand of Edward Fudge, author, teacher, scholar, and mentor to thousands including yours truly. You can enjoy and be blessed by his wisdom by subscribing to his gracEmail which will arrive in your inbox every few days. I hope you enjoy and are blessed by this Easter message as I was.

Royce Ogle

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When the apostle summarized things “of first importance,” he used verbs and not nouns to identify what is primary to Christian faith. The Messiah died . . . was buried . . . was raised . . . appeared–just as the holy texts had long anticipated (1 Cor 15:1-8). And as surely as these events lie at the core of Christian faith and life and teaching, the resurrection of Jesus Christ gives meaning to this sequence of events. If Jesus had not been raised, his death might elicit sorrow but it would not accomplish our redemption. That he was buried means he really died. If he lived again after dying, some new order of life must even now have begun. It is not surprising that the testimony of many witnesses who saw him alive–under many conditions, states of mind, and varieties of circumstances–should become the grounds for marking history henceforth according to its temporal relationship to the earthly life of this single man.

The logic is clear. Jesus is dead, his friends see him buried, but before the weekend passes, his tomb is found to be vacant. Then, quite to their surprise, people all over the place start running into Jesus, who assures them that he is alive and that they are not seeing a ghost. The resurrection of Jesus is not a sentimental spiritual counterpart of butterflies, bunny rabbits and Spring flowers. It is not an imaginary self-fulfillment of some long-held but suppressed desire, not a fictional literary device symbolizing a psychological new beginning. It is a historical event that occurred within this created universe and opened a portal to dimensions of life and reality we cannot begin to imagine. Jesus did not come back from death, as if he stuck his foot in the water and drew it out again. He passed through death with all its danger and darkness–passed through it and out the other side, to new life of a kind never experienced before.

The first generation of apostles and evangelists did not go out proclaiming a new religion, a special church, a different law, or even heaven and hell, and how to gain one and miss the other. No, they related the story of Jesus of Nazareth–whom men murdered but God raised, whom men rejected but God exalted, whose resurrection certified Jesus as Messiah, authenticated him as Savior and identified him as future judge. Throughout the early Christian writings contained in our Bible, Jesus’ resurrection stands out as the touchstone, the wellspring, the compass, from which and through which everything significant flows or is accomplished or is understood. It illuminates God’s intent for his people and for all creation, and it illustrates his power that will bring all that about. As we gather this Easter, let us unashamedly greet each other by affirming “Christ is risen!” and let us respond, “He is risen indeed!” And let us rejoice mightily and give hearty thanks to God.

The Bible can be difficult to understand. This fact is illustrated well by numberless theories, sects, denominations, doctrines, and denunciations all based on the words of Scripture. I have been studying the Bible for many years and am still learning. 

One reason many people who interpret the Scriptures end up with such odd conclusions is that the truth of the Word of God is off-limits to many who read it. 

“The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. “ 1 Corinthians 2:14 

Again and again the Bible contrasts believers with unbelievers using words like “spiritual” and “natural”. The “natural” man is just as he came into the world. His understanding is limited to only what the human brain can receive and discern. By contrast, the “spiritual” man is able to comprehend Spiritual truth as well as what the “natural” man can learn. 

The passage above states the case clearly. The “natural” person “does not accept” and is “not able to understand…” Another passage comes to mind that teaches us the same truth. 

For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot” Romans 8:7 

Here again the truth is very clear. The “natural” person “does not submit” to God and His law and “cannot” submit. 

What is at the heart of so much foolishness in the name of Christianity is that people the Bible says cannot understand or accept the things of God are engaged in trying to do what God says they can’t do. Unsaved, unspiritual, men and women are busy making statements and writing books and articles about subject matter that is only understood by those who have been born from above, “spiritual” men and women. The Holy Spirit is the exclusive teacher of spiritual truth. 

So, Jesus says to a crowd, 

“…Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day…” John 6:54 

A discussion followed and most of the people hearing his words failed to understand, and many of those who had been following him around left him after that day. Jesus diagnosed the problem with these words.

“It is the Spirit who gives life;the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But, there are some of you who do not believe.” John 6:63-64a 

For the exact same reason (unbelief), many people today expect that when they drink wine or grape juice and eat bread or a cracker on Sunday morning that somehow they are eating the flesh and drinking the blood of Jesus. I agree with brother Al Maxey who said in an article on New Wineskins earlier this month that it is very unlikely Jesus had in mind our practice of communion when he spoke those words long ago. 

People only receive Jesus by faith and God is on record justifying those who believe and trust him. Did you notice what Jesus said in the text above? “…The flesh is no help at all”. You can take it to the bank, what you and I do, the sum total of our religious activity, including every rite or ritual, is “no help at all” in receiving what God offers in the person and work of Jesus Christ. 

This raises important questions. Which side are you on? Are you “spiritual” or are you “natural”? If you have been born from above you have the ability to understand God’s spiritual truth and to submit to it. If you are still only “natural” you must do a u-turn and become willing to submit to God’s Son Jesus who is Truth. He said these words. 

Truly, truly, I say to you,whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die.I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” John 6:47-51 

He did give himself as a sacrifice for ungodly people like all of us. Trust him alone. He is eternal life.

Brokenness for brokenness, it is because of our common brokenness that we participate together remembering the brokenness of Jesus. He is acquainted with our griefs, he knows the burdens we bear, he has experienced our sorrow and disappointments.

Some of us are here this morning fresh from a broken relationship, or the betrayal of a friend. Or it might be that somebody you have disappointed yourself, having said something, or done something you wish you could take back. When we honestly examine ourselves, honestly.., there is very little to commend us to God.

Jesus was executed for crimes he didn’t commit. Some of those crimes were mine, and yours. He was forsaken by his very best friends at the exact time he needed a loyal friend. He was even forsaken by his heavenly Father because of the sins he bore. But, the story didn’t end at the cross or the tomb. He rose from death to live evermore and to give that life to sinners as a free gift.

Now we eat the bread, a symbol of his broken body and a reminder of his broken heart. And we know that because he was broken our brokenness can be healed.

And we drink the cup, a symbol of his life poured out, for sinners, for us. And we remember that a new covenant signed in his blood promises all sins have been taken away, we have the promise of a future with him, and abundant life now.

His brokenness for our brokenness.

Thank you Lord for the love you have lavished upon us, thank you making us whole, and thank you for everlasting life and the joy of knowing you as Lord of all.

Now as we eat and drink think only of Him. Come quickly Lord Jesus.