Many people don’t bother to read the Old Testament because we have the New Testament. But what if we read the Old Testament through the lens of Jesus? Why would we do such a thing? Jesus tells us to. Jesus Says the Old Testament Points to Him Jesus had just joined two disciples returning home …
If you have watched space science fiction shows, you have seen spaceships cloaking to hide from their enemies. In this week’s story, we see Jesus’ version of cloaking. He is walking with two disciples, and they don’t realize it is Jesus. Why was Jesus’ Identity Hidden? Two disciples were returning home to Emmaus after the …
What if Jesus does the unexpected in your life? Will you be offended and walk away from Jesus? Or will you use this as an opportunity for a new adventure with the Lord? The Disciples Had Expectations of the Kingdom of Jesus The two disciples walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus shared their expectations of Jesus …
Can we believe the resurrection? The two disciples walking from Jerusalem to the village of Emmaus had heard reports of Jesus’ resurrection. But were these reports true? Even today, we hear many things reported on, and some turn out to be false. We have learned to use discernment as we listen to the reported information. …
The Apostle Paul tells us that, in the end, we have victory over death. Now this is a future event, but it has compelling implications for each of us. If Jesus did not really rise to a new life in a physical body, we might as well live for this earthly life and do as …
The First Fruit offering given at the Temple was a pledge of hope that the full harvest would follow. The people were not allowed to eat any of the new crop until the offering was made. By the time of Jesus, the Temple had specific fields that were “harvested” a few sprigs of barley at …
The Apostle Paul encouraged the believers in Corinth that “your faith has not been in vain.” A group of heretics had slipped into the congregation. They claimed that only the spiritual was good and anything physical was bad. Therefore, Christ had not really risen in a physical body. While this sounded pious, it is not …
For the Festival of First Fruits to foreshadow the cross of Jesus Christ, Jesus had to have died and had a true resurrection. If Jesus had not really risen from the dead, then he couldn’t be the first fruits of the dead. Swoon Theory Against the Resurrection The swoon theory states that Jesus did not …
Jesus makes a puzzling expression to Mary Magdalene on the first Resurrection morning. Mary had gone out to properly embalm Jesus’s body because there hadn’t been time due to Sabbath restrictions. When Mary arrived at the tomb, it was empty. She was understandably upset and sent for Peter and John. They both entered the tomb …
The Festival of First Fruits is always connected with Passover. God connected this third festival time with Passover from the beginning. Leviticus 23: 11 On the day after the Sabbath, (following the Passover) the priest will lift it up before the Lord so it may be accepted on your behalf.[1] It was God’s timing that directed the celebration of …