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Bible teaching
ministry of
Stephen &
Brooksyne
Weber
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Monday,
April 1, 2024
"It's
Not
Nonsense!"
Message
summary:
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?
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).
Have
you ever been
to a "bad"
Easter
service? In
all the
churches we
have attended
throughout our
lifetime, both
large and
small, a
service
focused on the
Resurrection
of Jesus
Christ will be
edifying.
Yesterday was
no exception
for us and we
hope all of
you were able
to rejoice
with others at
the
declaration
that Christ
has risen
indeed.
We
proclaimed our
faith in songs
both older and
newer. We sang
the classic
"Christ The
Lord Is Risen
Today" written
by Charles
Wesley which
first appeared
with the title
"Hymn For
Easter Day" in
1739 and we
sang "Living
Hope" by Phil
Wickham which
was introduced
in 2018. What
a blessing
these stirring
words are:
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
Jesus,
Yours is the
victory!
Yesterday
many worship
leaders and
pastors
joyfully
proclaimed
with their
congregations,
"The Lord is
risen!" with
the
congregation
responding,
"He is risen
indeed!"
This is 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". Billy Graham 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!
Two men (angels) dressed in white first proclaimed the glorious resurrection message to these devoted women when they asked, "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" (Luke 24:5-8).
"When they (the women) came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the eleven (disciples) 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 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.
This is 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". Billy Graham 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!
Two men (angels) dressed in white first proclaimed the glorious resurrection message to these devoted women when they asked, "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" (Luke 24:5-8).
"When they (the women) came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the eleven (disciples) 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 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.
We
would expect
at the news
they would be
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!".
Luke records the disciples 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". One version renders it, "their words sounded like foolish talk".
Amazingly upon hearing the message for the first time the disciples 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.
Luke records the disciples 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". One version renders it, "their words sounded like foolish talk".
Amazingly upon hearing the message for the first time the disciples 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.
Why
did these
disciples fail
to initially
believe the
resurrection
message? After
all, 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.
So
why the
unbelief and
initial
reaction of
considering
the message
nonsense? I
suppose we
will have to
wait till
heaven to get
that answer
but before
judging them
we must
confront our
own
predisposition
to unbelief.
Of course each one of these disciples quickly came to believe and went on to serve and die for the risen Lord. Peter later wrote, "For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty (2 Peter 1:16).
What is your belief concerning the resurrection of Jesus Christ? How does it impact you? Do you believe the resurrection of Jesus Christ is nonsense or historical fact?
Today
we proclaim
our fixed
belief: it's
not nonsense,
He is
risen indeed!!!
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
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.Today's
Suggested
Music and
Supplemental
Resources
"Living
Hope"
Watch
on YouTube
Calvary
Church from
our service
yesterday. Brooksyne's
note: From
the first
words of our
first song
during
sound-check at
7 am Easter
morning we
joyfully
proclaimed in
song that
Jesus is risen
from the dead
in all three
services. The
adult choir,
the worship
choir, and
girls'
ensemble
joined to make
one big choir
making it
extra special
since it
involved so
many families.
All three
services were
full.
Our
service began
yesterday in a
very moving
way Video
cued to that
point in
service
(unless they
trim the
video)
Brooksyne
joined the
choir sing for
all 3 services
yesterday
morning. I
attended the
8:00 AM
service and
following a
time of
fellowship
with others at
church I came
home and
loaded the
bike for a
trail ride on
the Conewago
recreational
trail
which is
essentially
the Lancaster
County portion
of the Lebanon
Valley Rail
Trail. We
are so blessed
to have a
number of
these rail
trails near
us.
Daffodils
in bloom along
the trail
The
trail is on an
abandoned rail
grade along
Conewago
Creek.
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In considering support we are so pleased when we hear from you, our readers, that our messages are a source of teaching and encouragement to you. We also urge you to consider the mission aspect of these daily teachings that are freely available and read by many all over the world.
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Weber
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To
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(This will
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Stephen and
Brooksyne
Weber -
700001-237376
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Encouragement
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special
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you,
Stephen & Brooksyne
Stephen & Brooksyne
2024
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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 and a variety of other versions.
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."
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