A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope,
encouragement and exhortation.
Daily
Encouragement on
Monday, April 22,
2019
"Nonsense
Or Historical
Fact"
Last
night's sunset over the Rutt farm.
(Click
on photo to for a larger view with Scripture)
Listen to our
message on your audio
player.
"Why do you
seek the living One
among the dead? He
is not here, but He
has risen. Remember
how He spoke to you
while He was still in
Galilee, saying that the
Son of Man must be
delivered into the hands
of sinful men, and be
crucified, and the third
day rise again. And they
remembered His words,
and returned from the
tomb and reported all
these things to the
eleven and to all the
rest. Now they were Mary
Magdalene and Joanna and
Mary the mother of
James; also the other
women with them were
telling these things to
the apostles. But these
words appeared to them
as nonsense, and they
would not believe them"
(Luke 24:5-11).
Then came the
morning that sealed the
promise
Your buried body began to breathe
Out of the silence, the Roaring Lion
Declared the grave has no claim on me
Your buried body began to breathe
Out of the silence, the Roaring Lion
Declared the grave has no claim on me
Yesterday many
worship leaders and
pastors joyfully
proclaimed to their
congregations, "The
Lord is risen!" with
the congregation
responding, "He is
risen indeed!"
It's an ancient declaration of faith that can too easily become a mere cliché on Easter. However these four words express the very bedrock of Christian faith; "He is risen indeed". Yesterday our church played a brief clip from a sermon by Billy Graham in 1966 (Listen here) in which he contends that the announcement, "He is not here; He has risen!" is the greatest announcement the world has ever heard.
It's an ancient declaration of faith that can too easily become a mere cliché on Easter. However these four words express the very bedrock of Christian faith; "He is risen indeed". Yesterday our church played a brief clip from a sermon by Billy Graham in 1966 (Listen here) in which he contends that the announcement, "He is not here; He has risen!" is the greatest announcement the world has ever heard.
The literal,
bodily resurrection of
Jesus Christ is a genuine,
historical event validated
by many eyewitnesses. It
is the core doctrine of
the Christian faith once
for all entrusted to the
church of Jesus Christ for
all time.
Today there are
many who consider the
message of the
resurrection of Jesus
Christ nonsense. But have
you considered that this
was the initial reaction
of the disciples!
Very early on Resurrection morning some of the women had gone to the tomb. They were planning to anoint a dead body with spices but had a glorious encounter instead!
Very early on Resurrection morning some of the women had gone to the tomb. They were planning to anoint a dead body with spices but had a glorious encounter instead!
Two men (angels)
dressed in white first
proclaimed the glorious
resurrection message to
these devoted women,
"Why do you look for the
living among the dead?
He is not here; He has
risen! Remember how He
told you, while He was
still with you in
Galilee: 'The Son of Man
must be delivered into
the hands of sinful men,
be crucified and on the
third day be raised
again". "Then they
remembered His words"
(Luke 24:5-8).
"When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the eleven and to all the others" (Luke 24:9). The disciples were together early that morning. Though it is not written in Scripture they were surely discussing recent events and considering what the future held for them without their leader.
"When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the eleven and to all the others" (Luke 24:9). The disciples were together early that morning. Though it is not written in Scripture they were surely discussing recent events and considering what the future held for them without their leader.
Upon the arrival
of the Mary Magdalene,
Joanna, and Mary (mother
of James), we would surely
expect the disciples to
receive their wonderful
news with great joy and
ready belief. After all,
they had heard the phrase
"and on the third day
be raised again" more
than once and even by
Jesus Himself. They should
have been jumping up and
down, shouting, singing
praises, doing high-fives,
and waking up the
neighborhood with the
triumphant message, "Jesus
is risen from the dead!
He's alive!".
But Luke records their stunning reaction. "But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense" (Luke 24:11). These disciples, who had worked so closely with Jesus during His earthly ministry, did not believe and considered the message of the women "nonsense".
But Luke records their stunning reaction. "But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense" (Luke 24:11). These disciples, who had worked so closely with Jesus during His earthly ministry, did not believe and considered the message of the women "nonsense".
Why did these
disciples fail to
initially believe the
resurrection message? They
had seen His great
miracles; healing the
sick, opening the deaf
ears and blind eyes,
making the lame walk
again, and even raising
people from the dead. They
had certainly grown in
their relationship with
Jesus during those years.
During His ministry they
had heard Him share
repeatedly about His
forthcoming death and
resurrection. This
teaching intensified as
Jesus' ministry progressed
and is especially
prominent during His final
time with them prior to
His arrest and trial.
But upon hearing
the message for the first
time they did not believe
and considered the words
nonsense. At least this
dispels the notion that it
was merely a made-up story
they wanted to believe.
Of course
each one of these
disciples quickly came
to believe and went on
to serve and die for the
risen Lord.
What is your view of the resurrection of Jesus Christ? How does it impact you? Do you believe the resurrection of Jesus Christ is nonsense or historical fact?
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer:
Jesus, Your
mission on earth
in obedience to
the Father,
ultimately led to
Your obedience of
death on the
cross. But on the
third day You
defied death and
rose to life
again. Your
resurrected body
was identified by
the nail scars
visible in Your
hands and Your
feet. Nails driven
into Your innocent
body by our sinful
hearts, for when
we were dead in
our trespasses and
sins You died for
us, the ungodly.
How undeserving we
are of Your
sacrificial death
and the Father's
gift of eternal
life. With humble
hearts we receive
this tremendous
gift of salvation
with hearts of
gratitude and
rejoicing. Amen.
What is your view of the resurrection of Jesus Christ? How does it impact you? Do you believe the resurrection of Jesus Christ is nonsense or historical fact?
Hallelujah,
praise the One who set
me free
Hallelujah, death has lost its grip on me
You have broken every chain
There's salvation in Your name
Jesus Christ, my living hope
Hallelujah, death has lost its grip on me
You have broken every chain
There's salvation in Your name
Jesus Christ, my living hope
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer:
Jesus, Your
mission on earth
in obedience to
the Father,
ultimately led to
Your obedience of
death on the
cross. But on the
third day You
defied death and
rose to life
again. Your
resurrected body
was identified by
the nail scars
visible in Your
hands and Your
feet. Nails driven
into Your innocent
body by our sinful
hearts, for when
we were dead in
our trespasses and
sins You died for
us, the ungodly.
How undeserving we
are of Your
sacrificial death
and the Father's
gift of eternal
life. With humble
hearts we receive
this tremendous
gift of salvation
with hearts of
gratitude and
rejoicing. Amen.I find
value in a blog
(oddly named Juicy
Ecumenism)
that addresses the
apostasy (falling
away) in the
modern church,
particularly in
mainline
denominations.
Sadly the battles
for Biblical
faithfulness long
fought in the
mainline
denominations now
impact the
Evangelicals as
well.
The
various writers of
the blog hold to a
faithful Biblical
position but some
commenters do not.
One commenter,
responding to an
assertion of the
historical
resurrection, made
this proud,
mocking
assessment,
speaking for so
many moderns who
continue to see
the Resurrection
as "nonsense",
I am not
a five or six year
old who would be
developmentally
expected to have a
literal
understanding of a
narrative text.
Mature readers
have sophisticated
comprehension
skills that are
not dependent on a
literal reading of
a narrative text.
With millions of
other Christians –
and non-Christians
– I celebrate and
embrace a
resurrection faith
– without relying
on a literal
understanding of a
decaying corpse
rising up after a
few days."
Note:
She can talk about
"resurrection
faith" whatever
she may mean by
that, but to be a
genuine Christian
absolutely must
include belief in
the literal,
bodily
Resurrection of
Jesus Christ from
the dead!
Each
morning Ester
writes a
greeting and
Scripture verse
on a whiteboard
in our dining
room. The "See
you soon" was
from Brooksyne
before she left
at 6 am to join
the choir and
orchestra in
their sound
check at church.
Adding a third
service for
Easter made it
an early start
for those
participating.
Sunset
over Donegal Creek
Last
night we took a
walk along our
long-time favorite
walking path which
begins across the
road from our
house.
Friday
we drove by
these
Kwanzan Japanese
Cherry trees in
Marietta.
For two
weeks in April, a
mile-long display
of 250 cherry
trees are
flowering on Front
Street along the
railroad tracks.
The trees were
planted in the
mid-1900's by town
resident James
Sagris.
Marietta
is located on the
east bank of the
Susquehanna River
about 5 miles from
where we live. It
was first settled
in 1727. Much of
the borough is in
the Marietta
Historic District
and has many
interesting homes
and buildings,
such as this "half
house".
Today's
Suggested
Music and
Supplemental Resources
"Christ The Lord Is
Risen Today" The Billy
Graham message snippet referred to
in the message (video) was
used as an introduction to this
song in our church's Easter
service yesterday. This is from
1966 which was near the time he
had a crusade in Kansas City
Missouri, the first time I ever
went to a Billy Graham crusade.
"Is He Worthy?"
Video
Calvary Church Choir, Orchestra
and congregation which includes a
brief exhortation and prayer by
our pastor. This is a rather
unusual song that we first heard
last fall.
"Living Hope"
Video
Calvary Church Choir, Orchestra
and congregation. This song really
blessed us yesterday! What a joy
to celebrate the glorious
resurrection of Jesus Christ in
services around the world
yesterday. Brooksyne joined with
the choir in three services
yesterday and will sing again
tonight in their Monday evening
service.
"When Death Was
Arrested" Video
Aaron Shust
Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
To receive the "Daily Encouragement" each Monday-Friday through email see this page to subscribe to our email list. You can also subscribe to the Wordpress rss feed or through a Wordpress email subscription. (See the email subscription on the right side after opening this page.)
We realize there are many fine
ministries and causes requesting support
but if the Lord would lead you we surely need
and appreciate the financial support from our
readers and listeners.Our ministry labor is comprised of approximately half our time to Daily Encouragement and the other half to our chaplaincy ministry to companies for which we receive compensation. Each of these ministries essentially is the same as a part-time job (20+ hours weekly) for each of us. Our goal for many years is that each would provide half of our ministry expenses and income.
If you would consider making a donation to our ministry see here for more information.
Please Note:
We also provide this easy option due to the
convenience, for international supporters, and
for those who may not be concerned regarding
receiving an official tax deductible receipt. Click here
to send an offering using PayPal. This
will open to a page that states "Brooksyne
Weber"Permissions: Please feel free to pass on, reproduce and distribute any material on Daily Encouragement Net, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. It is our desire to spread this material, not protect or restrict it. We do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription information intact.
Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
© Copyright 2019 Stephen
C. & Brooksyne Weber - All Rights Reserved
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA