Jesus, King and Priest

Psalm 110

Such a strong passage about the Messiah, which was written hundreds of years before Jesus had entered humanity. We see a revealing conversation between God the Father to the coming Messiah. Just to read this passage is to be reminded of the authority and power of Jesus. The powerful thing is Jesus was said to be a priest according to the order of Melchizedek. Melchizedek was not only a priest but he was a king. Not only do we serve a king with the authority and power to judge entire nations and to deal with major world leaders, we also have an eternal priest who intercedes to God on our behalf. David and the Israelites got this Psalm as a revelation of the Messiah to come. We read it and know this eternal priest and king personally by name...Jesus.

Brandon

The Resurrection of Jesus

Well, Easter is here! What an incredible time for us to remember the power of our faith. Without the resurrection of Christ the Christian faith is worthless (1 Corinthians 15:17). This is why the resurrection has become a passion for me. It is hugely important.

I hope to do a series on some of the evidence surrounding the resurrection of Jesus. But for now here are three well-attested agreed upon facts:
1) Jesus post-resurrection appearances
2) The empty tomb
3) The origin of the Christian faith

So as you watch all the specials on Jesus' resurrection, you can understand why both liberal or conservative scholars are trying to explain these amazing facts. There are many theories, but only one explains all of them together.

Jesus is risen! He is risen indeed!!

Jesus doesn't meet our expectations

**short break in the family night posts. Christi will post one later today**

Easter is close and what a momentous time. I was just listening to a teaching over Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem on a donkey a week before he was crucified (Mark 11:1-11) and was hit with a powerful truth. Jesus doesn't meet our expectations. Here are a few quick context bits on this story.

1. Israel was longing for the promised Messiah. They were looking for a military leader to lead the revolt to end the control of Rome. These were tense times in Israel. (In just 40 years from this passage, Israel was in full rebellion and they would see the complete destruction of the temple in Jerusalem.)
   
2. Jesus and the Jews were intimately familiar with the prophets. In Mark 14:27, Jesus quotes Zechariah 13:7 when prophesying his upcoming death. In Jesus entry into Jerusalem, He has His disciples get a colt. Zechariah 9:9-10 prophesies this very thing.
   

I always wondered how these people could be shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David; Hosanna in the highest!” then ONE week later they are shouting, "Crucify Him!" Jesus had finally come out and said, "I am the Messiah." by riding that donkey into Jerusalem. People heard about it and were pumped. The miracle worker and great teacher is going to lead us out of the rule of Rome. They came out and put branches and cloaks on the road praising Jesus. But when Jesus gets there...nothing. No speech! No big rally! He looks around and leaves. Wow, talk about anti-climatic...and, I am guessing, quite dis-heartening to the excited crowd.

Expectations can be a dangerous thing. Jesus was the Messiah, the one all of Israel was looking for, but they could not see him because of their expectations. Not only that, but they turned against him when He did not fit their expected Messiah. Wow, this sounds too familiar. We are a culture that puts our own expectations on God, and when they are not met, we resent or run from God. Nice reminder from the happenings of Palm Sunday. It is not circumstances or personal agendas we expect God to work out according to our desires. It is God Himself we expect. Jesus is Lord! That far exceeds our highest expectations.