UNBELIEF IN THE RESURRECTION REBUKED

“Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” (Luke 24:25-26 NKJV).

That first Easter afternoon, the Lord Jesus walked with two of His disciples from Jerusalem to Emmaus. They did not realize it was the Lord Jesus walking with them until after they had invited Him into their home to eat. On the walk, they spoke of their disappointment about the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus, and their perplexity about the report of His missing from the grave. The Lord Jesus then rebuked their unbelief.

The Lord Jesus rebuked the disciples precisely because they had read the Scriptures concerning the Messiah and had seen His miracles. They were “foolish” and “slow of heart,” in the sense of unwilling to “believe all that the prophets had spoken.” Like most of the Jews of the time, they had only focused on the parts of the Old Testament which promised a time of blessing, prosperity and deliverance when the Messiah came, but they had ignored the parts which spoke of a Suffering Servant who must lose His life to get it.

The disciples were not without excuse since the Lord Jesus had frequently taught them that He must go to Jerusalem to suffer, die, and rise again on the third day (cf. 9:22). Faith in the Resurrection comes not from seeing an empty tomb, but from believing the Scriptures and the Lord Jesus’ words about His mission. This is an important lesson, a lesson that the Lord Jesus had been trying to teach throughout His earthly ministry. Belief is not a matter of evidence; it is a matter of faith. No amount of evidence or proof can convince a sinful or unbelieving heart. To “see” requires not just eyes, but eyes of faith. Many people had seen the Lord Jesus perform miracles by multiplying bread, healing the sick, and even raising people from death. But even though these people saw the miracles with their eyes, they saw only with natural eyes, not with eyes of faith. The Lord Jesus’ efforts during His ministry to get people to see or hear with faith was constantly underscored by His words, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear” (Luke 8:8).

(Adapted from Complete Biblical Library Commentary)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“The resurrection was God's way of stamping PAID IN FULL right across history so that nobody could miss it!”

Timothy Keller (1950 - 2023)

American Christian Pastor, Author, Theologian, and Christian Apologist 

Word Study

Fire

In Jam. 3:5 we read, “Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles” (NKJV).

“Fire” is the Greek word pŷr (πῦρ = poor). It can refer to fire, burning, or lightning, but can also denote violence, anarchy, or the fury of battle. In Greek philosophy fire was one of the four or five basic elements of life: some regarded fire as the source of everything. In the Septuagint, pŷr is understood to be a cleansing, purifying agent as well as an agent of destruction. God demonstrated His pleasure with fire upon the altar (cf. Judges 6:21), but fire also demonstrated His displeasure and was a sign of His wrath and judgment (Gen. 19:24; Lev. 10:2). In addition, the Lord God is described as a “consuming fire, even a jealous God” (Deut. 4:24; 9:3). In the New Testament, God’s judgment is often symbolized by fire. Fire will be the standard of testing for believers’ work (cf. 1 Cor. 3:13-15) and describes God’s His judgment upon the ungodly at the end of the age. Furthermore, fire depicts trials and adversities that cleanse and purify the believer’s faith (1 Peter 1:7). Here in Jam. 3:5, fire denotes the turmoil caused by an uncontrolled, evil tongue.

Did You Know…

After obtaining Pilate’s permission regarding the tomb of the Lord Jesus, the chief priests and Pharisees placed a seal on the stone and posted a guard, fearing that the Lord Jesus’ disciples might steal His body and claim that He had risen (Matt. 27:64-66).

Bible Quiz

After His resurrection, what explanation did the Lord Jesus give to Mary Magdalene for her not to touch Him?

**Answer to last week’s Bible Quiz

Why would the Lord Jesus not answer the Pharisees who questioned His authority? They did not tell Him where they thought John’s baptism was from (Luke 20:1-8).

Prophecies Fulfilled by the Lord Jesus Christ

The Lord Jesus thirsted on the cross (Palm 22:15; cf. John 19:28)

"My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and My tongue clings to My jaws; You have brought Me to the dust of death!” (Psalm 22:15 NJKV).

In context, the Psalmist David’s states that his strength was gone and his mouth was dry. In his weakness he was at the brink of death. With regards to the Lord Jesus, knowing that His mission of redemption had been accomplished, He made His fifth saying from the Cross, “I thirst” (John 19:28). When the Lord Jesus said, “I thirst,” He was alluding to this prophecy in Psalm 22:15. This statement about being “thirsty” was spoken at about 3 PM, so that by this time the Lord Jesus would have already borne our sins during those 3 hours of darkness (cf. Matt. 27:45-46). It was during these 3 hours that He was made sin on our behalf (2 Cor. 5:21; cf. 1 Peter 2:24). What a thought, the Lord Jesus Christ, the very One who created the rivers and lakes and who freely gives the water of life, thirsted on the cross. He who began His public ministry by being hungry, ended it by being thirsty. All “because of His great love with which He loved us” (Eph. 2:4).

Did You Know – Christian History

John Charles (J.C.) Ryle was born on May 10, 1816, at Macclesfield, Cheshire, England. He was an English Anglican bishop, preacher, and author in the evangelical and Calvinist traditions.

Ryle was born into a home that considered itself Christian but was actually lukewarm. He graduated from Oxford in 1838 with a B.A., and an M.A. in 1871. He was later awarded a D.D. in 1880. Ryle’s original intention was not the priesthood but for Parliament at the first opportunity. He was unable to do so because of his father’s bankruptcy. While out shooting, he cursed in the presence of an older man who rebuked him. “He was the first person who ever told me to think, repent and pray,” said Ryle. During an illness, Ryle spent many hours reading the Bible and thinking. A transformation came over his life through pondering Eph. 2:8: “By grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.”

Ryle became a notable evangelical pastor in the Church of England. He was especially known for his clearly written tracts such as “Are You Born Again.” His writings were flooded with quotable sayings. For example, in his Expository Thoughts on the Gospel, he issued a solemn warning to those who think it is enough to be baptized and attend church. “A religion which costs nothing, and consists in nothing but hearing sermons, will always prove at last to be a useless thing.” Ryle also took his stand on the belief that the Bible is inspired from cover to cover. He held a number of positions as a churchman, using his talents well. At Stradbroke, he restored the decaying church. He was made the first bishop of Liverpool. There he organized the diocese and deal with many difficulties.

Ryle’s farewell message to his clergy conveyed his deep concerns, and remains a powerful warning against divisions and controversy, urging unity among believers. On February 1, 1900, he wrote, “Beware of divisions. One thing the children of the world can always understand, if they do not understand doctrine; that thing is angry quarreling and controversy. Be at peace among yourselves.” Ryle died on June 10, 1900, at Lowestoft, Suffolk, and is buried at All Saints Church, Childwall, Liverpool. Through his writings, Ryle’s legacy continues to inspire with its timeless wisdom on faith, doctrine, and the importance of standing firm on Biblical authority.

A Little Humor

The pastor asked, “What did the women say when they found the empty tomb?” One child shouted, “He is risen!” Another added, “And the guards are fired!”

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“The Lord Jesus Christ didn’t stay dead, and He won’t stay gone!”