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Show Volume XX Issue XXIV The Ogden Valley news Page 7 April 1, 2013 . . . And the Third Day He Shall Rise Again “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth; but four important lines of argumentation. First, the the word of our God shall stand forever.” Old Testament unanimously agrees that Christ, the Messiah, is God. For example, Isaiah 54:5 -- Isaiah 40:8 declares, “he LORD of hosts is his name; and The only thing surprising about Jesus’s thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God resurrection is how unsurprising it should have of the whole earth shall he be called.” Second, been, a point Luke painstakingly develops the prophets predict that the Messiah’s rule is throughout the last chapter of his gospel. eternal; Daniel 7:14 declares that “his dominBefore Jesus’s death the disciples were so ion is an everlasting dominion.” These are the convinced that Jesus would immediately inau- passages the Jewish disciples accepted; they gurate his eternal kingdom that they were will- believed Jesus to be the divine Messiah poised ing to take up arms just in case Christ needed to bring about his eternal kingdom. a little extra muscle (Luke 22:38). Recalling But they forgot the third and fourth categoBible passages like Isaiah 54 or Joel 2, where ries, those verses that predict a suffering and God talks about his eternal Kingdom, the dis- resurrected Savior. Isaiah 53:4-6 declares that ciples were getting ahead of themselves. They “he was wounded for our transgressions, demonstrated that wonderful human tendency he was bruised for our iniquities: to remember what thrills and forget what the chastisement of our peace was perplexes. In the halcyon days of Jesus’s upon him, with his stripes we are earthly ministry, Peter and the dishealed.” And Isaiah 53 cannot be ciples remembered Scripture rathdismissed as a Scriptural anomaly, er selectively. When Jesus hung for Psalm 22 declares the same: “I on the cross and actually died, am poured out like water, and all my the disciples’ faith came crashing bones are out of joint . . . thou hast down with a thud still reverberating brought me into the dust of death . . . through Scripture’s pages; in sorrow, they pierced my hands and my feet. . . . the disciples refused even to believe They part my garments among them, and Mary Magdalene’s resurrection story cast lots upon my vesture.” (Luke 24:11;17). How can it be that the eternal Messiah The disciples were broken men; their faith should suffer death? That’s where the fourth was shattered, and I think this is a universally prediction is so important. Psalm 16:10 experienced sentiment. What do we do when declares, “For thou wilt not leave my soul in the our faith fails? How should we respond when grave [author’s translation]; neither wilt thou God seems absent? Perhaps turning the ques- suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.” The tion around will show the heart of our Savior. If prophets look toward a Savior, not only as the you were Jesus and wanted to restore your dis- eternal King, but as the suffering servant to be ciples’ faith, what would you do? I’d probably resurrected. And Jesus expected his disciples conjure some dramatic and universal revelation to remember these promises. When they didn’t, so that none could deny my presence. Jesus he kindly reminded and taught. did nothing of the sort, of course. Isaiah 55:8 God informs our faith through his word. is apropos, “My thoughts are not your thoughts When the disciples’ faith flagged, Jesus lovand neither are your ways my ways.” ingly reminded them that none of those events When Jesus restored the disciples’ faith, he had taken him by surprise. Perhaps you find reminded them of his words before he revealed yourself with waning faith. And although you himself. In fact, Jesus had the angels remind may be dissatisfied with your current religious them of all the times he predicted his death, affiliation, I would beg you not to give up on burial, and resurrection. And then Jesus high- seeking God, regardless of the religious monilighted all those Old Testament passages that ker you’ve taken. predicted the passion events—the same pasJesus gave pretty good advice. Seek him sages the disciples overlooked in their bewil- not through shallow and subjective external derment. In other words, before the moment confirmations, but through his word, specifiof physical revelation, Jesus reminded them of cally, the New Testament. Why not find a Bible his words, both his spoken words and the writ- and read Luke 24? “Faith cometh by hearing ten word of the Old Testament. He sought to and hearing by the word of God.” restore their faith, not through an experience Note: This message was provided courtesy physical, spiritual, or emotional, but through his of Pastor Greg Baker of the Fellowship Bible word. “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by Church in Liberty. Easter service will be held the word of God” (Romans 10:17). When the mourning ladies approached the on Sunday, March 31. For more information, empty tomb, the angels inquired, “Remember visit fbcliberty.com or call 801-745-6200. how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again (Luke 24:6-7)?” Jesus had, in fact, predicted his death, burial, and resurrection several times throughout his earthly ministry. In Luke 9, just after Peter confessed Jesus to be the divine Messiah, Jesus warned, “The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day” (v.22). Again, as Matthew records in chapter 12, after arguing with the Jewish leadership, who requested a sign from our Savior, Jesus said, “An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet.” Jonas: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (v.40-41). The disciples were without excuse for their forgetfulness. Before entering Jerusalem for the last time, Jesus said yet again, “Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again” (Luke 18:31-33). Time and again Jesus foretold the passion events; the disciples should not have been surprised. But even more so than Jesus’s predictions, the Old Testament itself anticipated a resurrected Savior. For Jesus, failing to remember Old Testament promises was even more serious than failing to remember his own words. Jesus said to the disciples on the road to Emmaus, “O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?” (Luke 24:25-26). So, what do the prophets say about the forthcoming Messiah? The Old Testament takes Laurie Van Zandt (801) 388-8103 Landscape Designer * Complete Landscape Designs * Hourly Garden Consultations * Annual Color Design * Fine Gardening * Container Plantings www.theardentgardener.net Easter Exhibition Opens at Church History Museum The Church History Museum is now featuring an Easter exhibition that includes contemporary and historical works of art depicting the final week of the Savior’s mortal ministry. The exhibition is free to the public and will be on display thru June 17. One highlight of the collection is a relief sculpture in gold entitled “The Sacrament of the Last Supper” by world famous twentiethcentury Spanish artist Salvador Dalí. “This version of the Last Supper is very unique,” said exhibit coordinator Ray Halls. “Dali was a surrealist who often created bizarre and fantasyfilled works, but this piece, though abstract, captures the reality of the conflicting emotions of the Twelve Apostles at the Last Supper.” Another notable piece is a fired ceramic black-ware pottery set of the “The Last Supper” by world renowned Navajo artist Harrison Begay, Jr. The exhibit also features a number of interpretive pieces that invite patrons to consider the broader effect of Easter events in their personal lives. Ron Richmond’s painting of a table spread with a white table cloth reveals nearly hidden images of a goblet and plate from the last supper and evokes questions about what that event means to the world. “The art works go beyond just depicting the Savior on the cross,” said Halls. “They include scenes of Christ before Pilate, the Savior in the Garden of Gethsemane, and several images of the last supper.” The Church History Museum is located directly west of Temple Square at 45 North West Temple Street in Salt Lake City. The museum is open from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on weekdays and 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays, and most holidays. The museum will be closed on Easter Sunday. For more information, contact the museum at 801240-4615 or visit <history.lds.org/place/ church-history-museum> Celebrity Smile Ski Challenge Operation Smile, an international children’s medical charity, is hosting the second annual Park City celebrity Smile Challenge on March 30 to raise funds and awareness for children around the world suffering from cleft lip and cleft palate. The Celebrity Ski Challenge recognizes the more than 3.5 million healthcare evaluations and over 200,000 life-altering surgeries that Operation Smile has given to children born with facial deformities around the world. Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Kate Walsh, Zachary Levi, Jennifer Salke, and Dana Walden participate in the ski challenge at Canyons Resort. Teams of six racers consisting of one celebrity skier, one professional skier, and four amateur skiers/Operation Smile donors will compete in a friendly challenge to raise funds for the organization. The team with the best overall finish time will be recognized during an award luncheon at The Red Tail Grill directly following the race. The Event Chairs are Jennifer Salke, President of NBC Entertainment, and 3 Moms on a Mission’s Stephanie Argyros, Krista Jajonie and Daneia Sanadiki. Henry Salke will serve as Junior Event Chair. Zachary Levi’s company, The Nerd Machine, has signed on as the Title Sponsor of the event. The Ski Challenge begins at 10:00 a.m., with an awards ceremony and lunch following at noon. Operation Smile - Operation Smile, headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, is an international children’s medical charity with a presence in more than 60 countries. Its network of more than 5,000 medical volunteers from over 80 countries is dedicated to helping improve the health and lives of children. Since its founding in 1982, Operation Smile has provided more than 3.5 million healthcare evaluations and conducted over 200,000 free surgeries for children and young adults born with cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities, as well as patients suffering from burns. To build longterm self-sufficiency in developing countries, Operation Smile trains doctors and local medical professionals in its partner countries so they are empowered to treat their own local communities, donates medical equipment and supplies, and provides year-round medical treatment through its worldwide Comprehensive Care Centers. For more about Operation Smile visit <www.operationsmile.org> |