Forsaking Father?

Mark 15:34 is the famous verse in which Jesus crys out to His Father, "My God, why have you forsaken me?" Is Jesus trying to communcate His lonliness on the cross? He's been abandoned by the disciples and now is His Father turning on Him? I thouroughly enjoyed our discussion over this verse in class on Monday. Several questions were answered for me. Jesus certainly felt lonley and abandoned on the cross. But this is not necessarily what He was trying to communicate. One must consider the the way Scripture was discussed in ancient times. Considering the fact that they did not have numbers and verses to consult, they referred to particular passages by quoting the first line of the verse. The significant point in Jesus' cry to His Father is that He is quoting Psalm 22, a chapter wich claims that "God is in control!" It's amazing that while these individuals witnessing the death of Christ thought He was powerless on the cross, on His way to death. And at the same time Jesus was claiming that His Father was in control. Wow!

The Excruciating Cross

Recently I read the article found within the Dicionary of the Gospels that deals with the crucifixion of Jesus. I found it very enlightening. One of the main points that I want to note is that the article pointed out that the act of crucifixion was so gruesome that many did not talk or write about it. As a matter of fact very little was written containing details of the crucifixion by classical writers. If they did mention it, it was brief. The gospel accounts are really the most descriptive accounts that we have of a crucifixion, and they even are pretty brief in the description. By piecing together the sources we do have that describe crucifixion, we can easily see why the act was almost taboo within the culture. The link that Dr. Foster related to in class that is a medical doctors description of the effects of crucifixion on the body sure opened my eyes a little more to see what a horrible punishment this was. As the article points out the very word "excruciating" has it's roots from that barbaric act the Romans carried out on criminals. All of the hideousness of the cross would have been readily understood by those in the first century when they read the words, "and they crucified him," but for us, who live in a very detached culture and time, these words, I'm afraid, do not carry much impact. This is very unfortunate, for our Savior died on a cross an excruciating death.

a lesson from Peter

When reading the Bible, it is hard for me not to speculate on the psychological aspects of the characters in narratives. Much of this is probably due to my background, but I believe that it can help add to the drama, if it stays within the content of the story. For instance, I cannot help but wonder what the disciples were thinking when they saw Jesus arrested. Here is there Savior, who they had put all of their hopes and dreams in, leaving everything behind, including who they were, to follow him. Now, this Messiah, who supposed to save their nation and make them kings, has been taken by the enemy, an enemy, mind you, whose torture and wrath is known throughout the world. I could see the disciples using denial and anger. I could understand their desertion. But in the midst of this I am amazed at Peter. Although, Peter denied him three times, he still followed in the distance. I think that Peter’s loyalty to Christ, as weak and controversial as it may seem, still surpassed the rest of the disciples (who deserted him completely according to the Gospel of Mark). I think that Peter needed to see everything, for this conflicted man, who would later lead the church into greatness and give up his very life and family for the cause of Christ, was being forged at the time for something greater. I think that Peter needed to fall before he could learn how to stand, and in this process, he gained courage. For before he could become Peter the great, he had to first be Peter the man. This is encouraging to me because it shows that all trials, even the ones I fail, still lead to a greater good. God still has a purpose with me. He does not give up. Again, I know that none of this is in the Bible, and it may even be construed as bad speculation. But this is what God has spoken to me about, and I thought that some may like to hear it.

wine and mur

I never paid an extreme amount of attention to the wine and mur (sp?) offered to Christ. Well, very much attention at all. Though not something I thought about directly, I guess in the back of my head I assumed that it was an act of kindness...some show of heart of the part of the people. Learning that it was actually just so that they would be able to torture him longer was really enlightening.

Jesus' Power

I believe it was Charles Richardson that made the comment about when Jesus healed the guy's ear and not just healed but put it back on How someone could not believe there was something diffrent about Jesus. I think if I was standing around and witnessed that, it would have surly gotten my attention. But then later in class it kind of cleared up when Dr. Foster said the Roman government had in their own heads what the messiah was like.

Where were they?

In class on Monday when we discussed the resurrection I couldn't help but continue to wonder why the disciples did not go to the tomb on the third day after the death of Jesus. Anyone who reads the gospels can see that Jesus was very specific in telling the disciples exactly what was to take place. Jesus did not describe to them what would happen in a parable or any other form of ambiguous comments. Jesus specifically tells them what would take place more than once as a matter of fact. In Mark 8:31 and 10:34 Jesus tells them point blank that "they will kill him and three days later he will rise again". One would think that after Peter rebuked Jesus for making the prediction the first time, being called Satan, and scolded for not having God's plan in mind but his, he would have at least understood the seriousness of the prediction. Even the enemies and skeptics of Jesus were apparently concerned with whether Jesus would rise in three days or at least worried that the disciples would try to take his body, because according to Matthew 27:62-64. None of the gospels show any sign that the women who went to visit the tomb were expecting to see Jesus alive either, and when they found that he was gone they thought someone else had taken him. I understand that the disciples were scared for their lives at this point in the story, but why didn't they tell the women to see if what Jesus had predicted was true. One would think they would have at least tried to hide somewhere close and wait to see. The bottom line is that if the disciples would have really believed that Jesus was going to rise in three days, it would have taken an army of sodiers to keep them away from the tomb. Where were they?

Cross Works

I had always wondered how so many crosses were used during, before, and after Christ Jesus time when wood was scarce. When Dr. Foster started to speak on the frame work of the cross a light bulb came on. I do believe that Christ probably carried a full cross, though it does not matter if he only carried an arm post. He still took on the wait of the sins for all.

It makes perfect sense that mainly the arm peaces were the only thing replaced. The Roman government pinched coin when and where ever possible. Thus they would pinch on capital punishment in labor, wood resources, and money.

Interesting information about the Crucifixion.

I never realized that the mur and wine were used as an act of brutality. I have always thought that it was an act of compassion for his suffering. A crucifixion usually lasted three to five days, it was mentioned in class that it depended upon how badly they may have been beaten. Jesus' crucifixion lasted only a few hours which gives us an idea of how much he truly suffered so that we might live forever in Heaven with him. Also God was in control of the exzact time he was to die. Another thing that stood out to me this week is the presence of the women. They stuck by Jesus all the way to the cross this was true devotion. Why did the disciples run it was most likely because they feared they would lose their own lives. At this time they still did not understand who he was they finally do realize who he was once he rises from the dead. After they realize this we see that the majority of the disciples become true servents. Jesus came to them and restored his relationship with them just as he does with us when we make mistakes.

The Resurrection

Since Easter happened just a few days ago and since this is what we have been discussing in class, I, thought I would write about the Resurrection. As I sat through the class yesterday, I, once again amazed at who Jesus is. Yes, he died a horrible death and you can not take any of that away, but without the Resurrection then would his dying on the cross been more than just another death? No, and during Easter service on Sunday I just thought to myself how important the Resurrection was. Many good people have died for good causes, but have they rose from the dead? No, they have not and I do not mean anything by this, but their decaying bodies and bones are still in the grave. I am just amazed week after week at what Jesus did and he did not have to do it.

alone but faithful

Christ's final words on the cross have always struck me as rather strange. I mean, why would the Son of God express such emotion to the fact that he is abandoned by God. Then while in class on Monday I think I finally started to understand what was going on. Yes, Christ did feel abandoned, his words show this. His friends, who just hours before had said they would never leave, him had run, he was also being tortured and mocked constantly. How could anyone not feel abandoned at a point like this. The fact is that Jesus did feel abandoned, but he always had faith and knew that God was on the throne. The quoe tthat he used is from Psalm 22 which shows that even though the world can crash around you God is still on the throne. This why Jesus suffered and stayed on the cross, he was completing the will of God. Christ set a model for us to day to remember that even in the darkest times in our life God is in control and his plans are always for the best.

37 Days and Counting...

First off, It might have been just me but when Charles Rikard was reading the Resurrection narrative in Mark 16:1-8 Monday in class, I noticed that in the NIV translation says in verse 2 "Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise..." In the translation that Charles read from the passage said something similar except for "just after sunrise", it said "the sun had already risen." I didn't have my bible on Monday, so that kind of stuck out to me as in it said "the SON had already risen. I thought that was pretty funny, but I don't want to read to much into that. It's just a cool thought I guess.

I noticed this last week and I thought that it was rather interesting. Has anyone thought about what if we only had the book of Mark that told us what happened to Peter? The book of Mark leaves Peter in saying "And he broke down and wept" in chapter 14 verse 72. I was thinking what if this was the end for Peter? We learn in John 21 and in the book of Acts that this event was not the end for Peter. It was actually rather a catalyst that made Peter a major figure in the early church. Thinking of this helps me because sometimes I feel like when I fail that God is finished with me and he can't use me, but actually it could also be a catalyst that causes me to change the way I live and allow God to work through me even more than he does now.

Sorry for the "devotional" post. This is just what I felt I needed to say.

Cross Works

A Wierd Easter

I was at a church this past Sunday where I got to hear a preacher prove scientifically (or at least he gave it a try) that Jesus did in fact rise from the dead. I sat in astonishment as this preacher droned on and on about things he knew nothing of, and spouting off greek words which he couldn't even pronounce correctly (not to mention he didn't know what they meant). As I sat their, I began to look around at the faces of those around me. Some were screaming "amen" as though we were showing those atheists a thing or two. But the majority had problems keeping their eyes open. Has easter really come to a place where preachers have to prove Christ rose from the dead, and a congregation sits bored silence? Isn't this supposed to be one of the greatest days of our year? Why do we always have to prove? Why can't we just believe? The Word of God says what it says. Believe it. Live it. Don't prove it. Because a day is coming (and has already come) when non-believers won't care what science has to say. They just want an awesome experience.

Diffrent angle of the Cross

I think Mondays class was one of the most absorbing I've been in this semester. I was really interested in Dr. Foster's take on Jesus' words on abandonment. I never knew/thought about how Jesus might have been simply making reference to a scripture from the Old Testament. When you read through Psalm 22 it is amazing how it paralels the suffering and heartache Jesus was/could have been going through. I feel like I just recieved a new vantage point on the cross. I know I will never look at this verse the same way again.

Diffrent angle of the Cross

I think Mondays class was one of the most absorbing I've been in this semester. I was really interested in Dr. Foster's take on Jesus' words on abandonment. I never knew/thought about how Jesus might have been simply making reference to a scripture from the Old Testament. When you read through Psalm 22 it is amazing how it paralels the suffering and heartache Jesus was/could have been going through. I feel like I just recieved a new vantage point on the cross. I know I will never look at this verse the same way again.

The blood of the Cross

These past few days we have been looking at the ressurection (in class and due to the Easter season). Between reading about these events and studying for Christian Doctine, I have been pondering the question of the actual bloodshed on the cross. So many times we refer to the blood that was shed for us on the cross. Well, how much blood was actually shed on the cross? Would not most of the bloodshed come through the 39 lashes that preceded the crucifixion? I do understand the symbolism to this, I just think may times we try to picture Jesus shedding all of this blood on the cross and dying, when, in all actuality, it was the suffocation rather than blood loss that led to the death. Blood = Symbolism; yes, but do we truly see it, teach it, and sing about it this way?

Christians flee in 70--proof of Jesus' prophetic ability?

The other day I was wondering whether, or not, there are any first century accounts of Christians explaining that the reason they were fleeing (or fled) Jerusalem, instead of fighting along side other Jews in 66-70 AD, was because Jesus had told them to do so. If there are, and they pre-date the war or the end of the war, then they would serve as one more proof that Jesus was, at least, a very special being with true prophetic abilities. I am going to spend some time searching this summer, but I wonder what explanation secular scholars might provide to counteract the Christians claim (I realize it would depend on the specificity of the recorded accounts).

Would you like a some cheese with that Wine?

Until Monday's class, I had never thought much about the wine offered to Jesus while he was on the cross. Prior to class, when I had read this account I always just kind of passed over it, thinking that this was simply an act of compassion by one of those present. However, when looking at the context and discussing what was going on until this point in the story, the reason for the offering of the wine becomes a little clearer. Dr. Foster said that the wine might allow Jesus to live for a longer period of time, pointing out that they could have done this act often saw as mercy as an act of torture. Thus, if Jesus lived longer they could continue to inflict pain causing Jesus to suffer even more before he finally died. Though we do not know for certain whether this act was for those present to see Elijah or for prolonged torture, when considering the context if Jesus had lived longer I don't think that they would have offered him cheese next . Based on this assumption, this act was most likely done with negative intentions in mind and not Jesus' best interest.

Christ in the Tomb

Many question what Jesus did in the tomb and how he got out of the tomb. I have heard many explanations on how all of this has occurred. Today in class we had an interesting discussion on how the women were to roll the stone away and we wonder who moved the stone. Many of these kinds of questions are interesting but I do not think that we should focus all our attention on them. We should not let these issues bog us down to where we are completely frustrated with the text. We need to just accept the fact that God did it and if he wanted us to know exactly how everything was done we would have it in writing.