This week, our Come Follow Me curriculum covers Easter. We discuss how the Old Testament, modern prophets, and we can all point to Jesus Christ. Study with me!
Anchor.fm:
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Showing posts with label #Easter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #Easter. Show all posts
Sunday, April 10, 2022
Sunday, March 28, 2021
Ward Preacher Podcast Ep 118 - An Easter Message
This week, our Come Follow Me curriculum encourages us to study Easter, and the miracle of Christ's resurrection. Study with me!
Anchor.fm:
Soundcloud:
https://soundcloud.com/user-961318159/ward-preacher-podcast-ep-118-an-easter-message
Youtube:
Sunday, April 5, 2020
Ward Preacher Podcast Ep 67 - A Bicentennial Proclamation
This week, I give a few thoughts about the new proclamation and the reality of Jesus Christ. Join me!
Anchor.fm:
Soundcloud:
https://soundcloud.com/user-961318159/ward-preacher-podcast-ep-67-a-bicentennial-proclamation
Youtube:
Anchor.fm:
Soundcloud:
https://soundcloud.com/user-961318159/ward-preacher-podcast-ep-67-a-bicentennial-proclamation
Youtube:
Sunday, April 14, 2019
Ward Preacher Podcast Ep 16 - The Fall and Rise of Jesus Christ
This week, the Come Follow Me curriculum covers the story of Easter. We discuss this from the perspective of the Apostles, to whom the death of the Messiah was the worst case scenario.
Soundcloud:
https://soundcloud.com/user-961318159/ward-preacher-ep-016-the-fall-and-rise-of-jesus-christ
Youtube:
Soundcloud:
https://soundcloud.com/user-961318159/ward-preacher-ep-016-the-fall-and-rise-of-jesus-christ
Youtube:
Sunday, March 27, 2016
What if the worst should happen?
One of the most interesting mechanisms in great stories is when the protagonist(s) define the worst possible situation, and then, in spite of their best efforts to evade this situation, it happens.
Han Solo went to tremendous lengths to evade capture by Darth Vader in The Empire Strikes Back. After a lengthy pursuit with great obstacles, they mask their escape by floating away with the garbage of a Star Destroyer, and then make their way to Cloud City. The worst case scenario is clearly shown to be getting caught by Darth Vader. Then, the worst happens: it is revealed that Vader was there the whole time, and that they are completely powerless against him... even to the point that Han Solo is frozen and hauled away by a bounty hunter. Luke's efforts to save his friends fail, and the resolution of the story is ultimately left to the subsequent film, Return of the Jedi.
Some films portray this idea multiple times. Consider the risk that is taken by Indiana Jones to go back to Berlin and obtain the rest of his father's grail diary. Knowing the risk, Jones disguises himself as a German officer and obtains the diary from Doctor Elsa Schneider. Then, the worst imaginable thing occurs: he bumps into Adolf Hitler himself, who notices the diary clutched in Jones's hand. The dictator takes the book, and then, to the surprise of Jones (and the audience) he signs his name and returns it to him.
There are many other instances of this idea in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, but one that is particularly outstanding is when the perils of the trials that protect the grail are demonstrated. After witnessing a terrifying beheading, Jones, his father, Marcus Brody, and Sallah are discovered and captured by the Nazis. If it were not bad enough to know that Indiana would likely be forced to go through these dangerous trials, the Nazis make the situation even more desperate by putting a time limit on the task: they shoot Indiana's father in the gut. The worst possible situation is resolved in dramatic fashion as the divine power of the grail heals Henry's grievous injury.
The examples of this idea are not limited to action or adventure films. They are found in books, TV shows, manga, and numerous other types of media. More than its entertainment value, perhaps it is important for its thematic message... what if the worst should happen? Many worry about the future, and many are justified in their anxiety.
The reality of anxiety about the future is perhaps what makes actual events that describe these situations even more compelling. There is no situation that better exemplifies this idea than that of the Apostles at the time of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
They believed that Jesus was not just a great prophet, and not just a worker of miracles... but that he was the literal Son of God... the promised Messiah. (Matthew 16:16) It was not a new thing for Jesus to be in danger... he had been threatened many times, but he always seemed to have power to escape. (Luke 4:29-30, John 10:39)
The question, what if the worst should happen? was something for which Peter seemed prepared. Even after Jesus prophesied that he would deny him, he protested: "Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples." (Matthew 26:35)
In the end, the machinations of the chief priests and scribes seemed to work. They had bought Judas Iscariot for thirty pieces of silver to prevent him from escaping again, and had a large number of men with swords and staves to take him from Gethsemane. Peter tried to keep to his word, and struck out at one of them, but Jesus forbade him, and even healed the ear of Malchus, the man who had been wounded. (Luke 22:51)
At the command of the Son of God, his disciples fled. There was no blending in with a crowd and escaping. He was taken before the Sanhedrin, and condemned by his enemies. They brought him to Pontius Pilate, but in spite of his desire to free Jesus, he gave in to the bloodthirsty mob who demanded his crucifixion.
Some of his disciples were there as they lifted him up on the cross. Perhaps there was still a bit of hope left as they watched.. after all... he was the Son of God. Perhaps they offered prayers and begged God to preserve his son... Perhaps they begged him not to let the worst happen... but it did.
How it must have broken their spirits to hear their Messiah cry out "My God, My God, why has thou forsaken me?" It must have been clear to his mother when he asked John to look after her, that the worst was about to happen. Finally, he cried with a loud voice, and died.
I can only imagine the pain and doubt that must have come to the disciples. Their champion had been taken, their master had been defeated, their King had been betrayed, their Messiah had been slain. The worst had happened.
What do you do when the basis of your faith is gone? What should you think when everything for which you have dedicated your life is taken away? As inspiring as Jesus had been, all that was left of him was in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. Though he had raised Lazarus from the dead, there was no one left to raise him.
Of course, the story did not end there. The women came to his tomb to honor him and anoint his body, but they found instead two angels. They stated, as though they should have known better, "Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen..." (Luke 24:5-6)
Peter and John rushed to the tomb, and found that it was empty, but they did not yet understand.
At last, their slain master appeared to them, alive and well. He had a physical body; he was not just a spiritual manifestation. (Luke 24:39-43) While he had died, not even death was enough to defeat the Son of God. His enemies had mocked him, saying that he could not save himself... but he did save himself.
Nothing was ever the same after. There is much that could be said about the resurrection, and the power of Christ to deliver. The bold faith and leadership of the Apostles was completely renewed, and the world was changed as the teachings of Christ were spread throughout the world. But perhaps one of the most important elements of the story is the answer to the question what if the worst should happen? The answer is that nothing is beyond his power. Nothing is too hard for him to make right.
If the worst should happen,
Christ will heal every wound,
Christ will mend every broken heart,
Christ will purge every wrong,
Christ will revoke even death...
He will save us all.
Han Solo went to tremendous lengths to evade capture by Darth Vader in The Empire Strikes Back. After a lengthy pursuit with great obstacles, they mask their escape by floating away with the garbage of a Star Destroyer, and then make their way to Cloud City. The worst case scenario is clearly shown to be getting caught by Darth Vader. Then, the worst happens: it is revealed that Vader was there the whole time, and that they are completely powerless against him... even to the point that Han Solo is frozen and hauled away by a bounty hunter. Luke's efforts to save his friends fail, and the resolution of the story is ultimately left to the subsequent film, Return of the Jedi.
Some films portray this idea multiple times. Consider the risk that is taken by Indiana Jones to go back to Berlin and obtain the rest of his father's grail diary. Knowing the risk, Jones disguises himself as a German officer and obtains the diary from Doctor Elsa Schneider. Then, the worst imaginable thing occurs: he bumps into Adolf Hitler himself, who notices the diary clutched in Jones's hand. The dictator takes the book, and then, to the surprise of Jones (and the audience) he signs his name and returns it to him.
There are many other instances of this idea in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, but one that is particularly outstanding is when the perils of the trials that protect the grail are demonstrated. After witnessing a terrifying beheading, Jones, his father, Marcus Brody, and Sallah are discovered and captured by the Nazis. If it were not bad enough to know that Indiana would likely be forced to go through these dangerous trials, the Nazis make the situation even more desperate by putting a time limit on the task: they shoot Indiana's father in the gut. The worst possible situation is resolved in dramatic fashion as the divine power of the grail heals Henry's grievous injury.
The examples of this idea are not limited to action or adventure films. They are found in books, TV shows, manga, and numerous other types of media. More than its entertainment value, perhaps it is important for its thematic message... what if the worst should happen? Many worry about the future, and many are justified in their anxiety.
The reality of anxiety about the future is perhaps what makes actual events that describe these situations even more compelling. There is no situation that better exemplifies this idea than that of the Apostles at the time of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
They believed that Jesus was not just a great prophet, and not just a worker of miracles... but that he was the literal Son of God... the promised Messiah. (Matthew 16:16) It was not a new thing for Jesus to be in danger... he had been threatened many times, but he always seemed to have power to escape. (Luke 4:29-30, John 10:39)
The question, what if the worst should happen? was something for which Peter seemed prepared. Even after Jesus prophesied that he would deny him, he protested: "Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples." (Matthew 26:35)
In the end, the machinations of the chief priests and scribes seemed to work. They had bought Judas Iscariot for thirty pieces of silver to prevent him from escaping again, and had a large number of men with swords and staves to take him from Gethsemane. Peter tried to keep to his word, and struck out at one of them, but Jesus forbade him, and even healed the ear of Malchus, the man who had been wounded. (Luke 22:51)
At the command of the Son of God, his disciples fled. There was no blending in with a crowd and escaping. He was taken before the Sanhedrin, and condemned by his enemies. They brought him to Pontius Pilate, but in spite of his desire to free Jesus, he gave in to the bloodthirsty mob who demanded his crucifixion.
Some of his disciples were there as they lifted him up on the cross. Perhaps there was still a bit of hope left as they watched.. after all... he was the Son of God. Perhaps they offered prayers and begged God to preserve his son... Perhaps they begged him not to let the worst happen... but it did.
How it must have broken their spirits to hear their Messiah cry out "My God, My God, why has thou forsaken me?" It must have been clear to his mother when he asked John to look after her, that the worst was about to happen. Finally, he cried with a loud voice, and died.
I can only imagine the pain and doubt that must have come to the disciples. Their champion had been taken, their master had been defeated, their King had been betrayed, their Messiah had been slain. The worst had happened.
What do you do when the basis of your faith is gone? What should you think when everything for which you have dedicated your life is taken away? As inspiring as Jesus had been, all that was left of him was in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. Though he had raised Lazarus from the dead, there was no one left to raise him.
Of course, the story did not end there. The women came to his tomb to honor him and anoint his body, but they found instead two angels. They stated, as though they should have known better, "Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen..." (Luke 24:5-6)
Peter and John rushed to the tomb, and found that it was empty, but they did not yet understand.
At last, their slain master appeared to them, alive and well. He had a physical body; he was not just a spiritual manifestation. (Luke 24:39-43) While he had died, not even death was enough to defeat the Son of God. His enemies had mocked him, saying that he could not save himself... but he did save himself.
Nothing was ever the same after. There is much that could be said about the resurrection, and the power of Christ to deliver. The bold faith and leadership of the Apostles was completely renewed, and the world was changed as the teachings of Christ were spread throughout the world. But perhaps one of the most important elements of the story is the answer to the question what if the worst should happen? The answer is that nothing is beyond his power. Nothing is too hard for him to make right.
If the worst should happen,
Christ will heal every wound,
Christ will mend every broken heart,
Christ will purge every wrong,
Christ will revoke even death...
He will save us all.
Sunday, March 24, 2013
He saved others; himself he could not save...
Easter 2013 video by yours truly:
Transcript:
“He saved others; himself he could not save…” (Matthew 27:42)
I cannot help but wonder if this phrase did not stick in the minds of those early disciples after Jesus died on the cross.
Some of his disciples had been with him for nearly his entire ministry, and believed almost as soon as they saw him. Many went to their friends declaring that they had “found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write…” (John 1:45)
They were there when he boldly instructed multitudes, and quietly taught those that sought him by night. These people were among those that were “…astonished at his doctrine, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” (Matthew 7:28-29)
They had seen him feed thousands with a few loaves and fishes. They had seen him make lame men walk, deaf men hear, and blind men see. They had followed him when others accused him of blasphemy, tried to kill him, or simply asked him to leave them alone.
Some of them had experienced the terror of being caught in a storm at sea and appealed to him saying “carest thou not that we perish?” (Mark 4:38) In amazement they had watched as he commanded the winds and the waves to be at peace, and saved them.
They had listened to his thunderous condemnation of the scribes and hypocrites, and seen him overthrow the tables of money changers in the temple. They had heard him compassionately stop to help those who desperately sought healing, and to mercifully promise peace and forgiveness even to those who had made poor decisions in their pasts.
They heard him command Lazarus to come out of his tomb, and had watched in shock and awe when he that had died came out alive and whole.
After he had been betrayed by Judas, some of them had seen as Pontius Pilate washed his hands and let his enemies torture him. It had been too late to do anything when they watched the soldiers drive nails into his hands and feet. Even as he died, his enemies declared those hurtful words, “…he saved others; himself he could not save…”
For some of his disciples, there was nothing left to do but pay respects. The man they had believed to be the redeemer of the world had been killed.
After he died, several of the women who had believed in him went to the tomb in which he had been sealed, only to find the stone had been rolled away. To their surprise, they saw two men in shining raiment near the entrance. The men asked them “why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen…” (Luke 24:5-6)
They might as well have asked “did you actually believe what those men said? Did you think he could not save himself?”
Most of the women went to tell the apostles, but Mary Magdalene wept near the tomb, perhaps thinking that an enemy had taken his body to further disgrace him. In her grief, she perceived a man that asked her why she was weeping. Thinking that he was the gardener, she asked to know where the body of Jesus had been taken. As he called her by name, she turned and realized the truth. Standing before her was Jesus Christ himself, alive and well.
Over time, many disciples saw him and came to the same understanding as Mary did on that first Easter morning. The words of the enemies of Christ might have seemed convincing… “he saved others; himself he could not save…” But the truth was that he did save himself. Even death was not sufficiently strong to stop the Son of God.
Though centuries have come and gone, the man that beat death itself is as alive today as he was then. His power has not waned with the passing of time. Though skeptics and enemies of Christ would have Christians despair, especially on Easter, we would do well to remember that the champion of right has not yet completed his plan. Jesus Christ lives… and he is coming to save us all.
Credits:
Narration and recording on a mediocre microphone, done by me.
Artwork:
Various
Video Music:
Epic moving hearfelt beautiful dramatic trailer score by Audiomachine - Helios! 'Like' their official page on facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/audiomachine Title: Apollo's Triumph Artist: Audiomachine Composer: Paul Dinletir (ASCAP) Album: Helios Genre: Epic Beautiful Intense Dramatic Orchestral Trailer Score Image: http://dinesiac.deviantart.com/galler... Website: http://www.audiomachine.com/ Buy Audiomachine's public music here: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/audiomachine http://itunes.apple.com/de/artist/aud... http://www.amazon.de/s?ie=UTF8&se...
Monday, April 9, 2012
Immortality
The creation of the Earth is the first topic in the book of Genesis. The idea of creationism has been debated even among those that agree there is an intelligent designer behind our presence in the universe.
The most popular Biblical account is that God created the world in six days, and then rested on the seventh day. The details of each of these creative periods is described in the first chapter of Genesis, however, I would like to briefly review them.
On the first day, God created light and divided it from darkness (Genesis 1:3-5). On the second day, God created a firmament which he called heaven (Genesis 1:6-8). On the third day, God caused the dry land to appear separate from the sea, and then created plants and trees on the earth (Genesis 1:9-13). On the fourth day, God created the sun, moon, and stars (Genesis 1:14-19). On the fifth day, God created fish, whales, and every winged fowl (Genesis 1:20-23). On the sixth day, God made every animal on the land, and then made mankind in his own image. He gave man dominion over all the earth and everything upon it (Genesis 1:24-28).
Many believers will leave it at that. Especially when the very first verse of the next chapter indicates that "Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them." (Genesis 2:1) He immediately talks about resting on the seventh day from all his work of creation.
What has often stood out to me is the next verses appear to give another version of creation that most Christians in my experience, including Latter Day Saints, tend to skip over. These passages are, in my opinion, of vital importance.
As we continue reading, we see that "every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew" (Genesis 2:5). Further in the chapter, we read "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul" (Genesis 2:7). There are then several passages about God planting and creating a garden we know as Eden (Genesis 2:8-17). Skipping ahead we see that "And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof." (Genesis 2:19) Finally, at the end of the chapter, Eve is created from Adam (Genesis 2:21-23).
An LDS perspective describes this version of the creation as a natural creation as opposed to the spiritual creation that is represented by the six creative periods that are famous in Genesis (Moses 3:5). This is consistent with the idea that in one set of creation, man (both male and female) are created by God (Genesis 1:26-27) prior to the creation of Adam from the dust of the Earth in Genesis 2.
Another important conclusion that can be drawn is that if God created every plant of the field before it was in the earth, would this not also mean that God created every man and woman before they were naturally on the earth also? The point is that every person lived before their birth on this world.
This concept is not a revolutionary idea to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. We already have an understanding that we lived with God before we were born, and that in this existence, our identity was distinct from others of God's creations: we were the children of God himself.
The idea that we lived before we came to earth is important in providing purpose to life. God has a plan for his children. There is a reason we are here.
In the end though, that reason does not matter if there is no life after death. In fact, if there is nothing after this life, then not even the power of the sacrifice of Christ himself for our sins is meaningful. Why save someone that will live a few years and then cease to exist?
Perhaps even more important than understanding the place from which humanity came is understanding that humanity has a destination that is largely determined by us here and now. If there is nothing more, then all ethics and values are relative and thus, relatively unimportant. Theft, deception, adultery, murder... these concepts are only truly negative in the context of something more than this life. Only if good truly triumphs over evil can justice truly be administered. Otherwise there will always be a system of which advantage can be taken by cunning dishonest men.
Fortunately, there is good news. The quest for immortality does not require that we find the Holy Grail, or that we master alchemical formulae. Immortality is a gift, given by Jesus Christ.
Though there were enemies that mocked him saying that he saved others, but could not save himself (Matthew 27:42), in truth, he did save himself. He took up his body and gave himself eternal life. In doing so, he made it possible for all the other descendants of Adam and Eve that had been cursed to die to be raised again with the same power.
The hope of life beyond death gives potency to the purposes that God gave to men before the world was. Salvation and exaltation were not spur-of-the-moment ideas... and truly, God has patiently invited people in every generation as much as possible to fulfil their purpose. Immortality and Eternal Life is available to those that heed the council of His Majesty Jesus Christ: "whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life" (John 4:14).
The most popular Biblical account is that God created the world in six days, and then rested on the seventh day. The details of each of these creative periods is described in the first chapter of Genesis, however, I would like to briefly review them.
On the first day, God created light and divided it from darkness (Genesis 1:3-5). On the second day, God created a firmament which he called heaven (Genesis 1:6-8). On the third day, God caused the dry land to appear separate from the sea, and then created plants and trees on the earth (Genesis 1:9-13). On the fourth day, God created the sun, moon, and stars (Genesis 1:14-19). On the fifth day, God created fish, whales, and every winged fowl (Genesis 1:20-23). On the sixth day, God made every animal on the land, and then made mankind in his own image. He gave man dominion over all the earth and everything upon it (Genesis 1:24-28).
Many believers will leave it at that. Especially when the very first verse of the next chapter indicates that "Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them." (Genesis 2:1) He immediately talks about resting on the seventh day from all his work of creation.
What has often stood out to me is the next verses appear to give another version of creation that most Christians in my experience, including Latter Day Saints, tend to skip over. These passages are, in my opinion, of vital importance.
As we continue reading, we see that "every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew" (Genesis 2:5). Further in the chapter, we read "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul" (Genesis 2:7). There are then several passages about God planting and creating a garden we know as Eden (Genesis 2:8-17). Skipping ahead we see that "And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof." (Genesis 2:19) Finally, at the end of the chapter, Eve is created from Adam (Genesis 2:21-23).
An LDS perspective describes this version of the creation as a natural creation as opposed to the spiritual creation that is represented by the six creative periods that are famous in Genesis (Moses 3:5). This is consistent with the idea that in one set of creation, man (both male and female) are created by God (Genesis 1:26-27) prior to the creation of Adam from the dust of the Earth in Genesis 2.
Another important conclusion that can be drawn is that if God created every plant of the field before it was in the earth, would this not also mean that God created every man and woman before they were naturally on the earth also? The point is that every person lived before their birth on this world.
This concept is not a revolutionary idea to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. We already have an understanding that we lived with God before we were born, and that in this existence, our identity was distinct from others of God's creations: we were the children of God himself.
The idea that we lived before we came to earth is important in providing purpose to life. God has a plan for his children. There is a reason we are here.
In the end though, that reason does not matter if there is no life after death. In fact, if there is nothing after this life, then not even the power of the sacrifice of Christ himself for our sins is meaningful. Why save someone that will live a few years and then cease to exist?
Perhaps even more important than understanding the place from which humanity came is understanding that humanity has a destination that is largely determined by us here and now. If there is nothing more, then all ethics and values are relative and thus, relatively unimportant. Theft, deception, adultery, murder... these concepts are only truly negative in the context of something more than this life. Only if good truly triumphs over evil can justice truly be administered. Otherwise there will always be a system of which advantage can be taken by cunning dishonest men.
Fortunately, there is good news. The quest for immortality does not require that we find the Holy Grail, or that we master alchemical formulae. Immortality is a gift, given by Jesus Christ.
Though there were enemies that mocked him saying that he saved others, but could not save himself (Matthew 27:42), in truth, he did save himself. He took up his body and gave himself eternal life. In doing so, he made it possible for all the other descendants of Adam and Eve that had been cursed to die to be raised again with the same power.
The hope of life beyond death gives potency to the purposes that God gave to men before the world was. Salvation and exaltation were not spur-of-the-moment ideas... and truly, God has patiently invited people in every generation as much as possible to fulfil their purpose. Immortality and Eternal Life is available to those that heed the council of His Majesty Jesus Christ: "whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life" (John 4:14).
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