Easter worship was awesome yesterday! Thanks to everyone who helped. The Lord is risen!

So what difference does the resurrection make? This week we'll discuss several of many biblical connections to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In 1 Corinthians 15:22-23 we find our first connection. "For as in Adam all die, so  in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn, Christ the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him." Jesus' resurrection comes first. Here, His resurrection is referred to as the "firstfruits." This is a timely word picture. The "firstfruits" was the first part of the harvest. And the barley and wheat harvest begins right around the time that Jesus was resurrected. Additionally, early figs appear on the fig trees. So, here's the idea. Jesus is the firstfruits -- His resurrection happens first. Those who put their faith in Him are the rest of the harvest. That harvest follows at a later time. Specifically, that time is "when he comes." So, when Jesus returns, all who have been born again by faith in Jesus Christ will be raised from the dead, too!

And what will our resurrected bodies be like? Check out 1 Corinthians 15:35-58. The Lord is risen and we, too, will rise!

Dan has struggled for life since I met him but early this morning Dan passed away. I/we will miss him.

But it is Good Friday -- the day that we remember the horrid execution of Jesus some 2000 years ago. Because of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross death is not the end for all who put faith in Jesus. At 3 pm on the first Good Friday, Jesus gave up His spirit and died. It was the same time of day that the daily lamb was sacrificed at the temple. But on this day, something very different happened.

The curtain of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom "at that moment" (Matthew 27:51). The curtain divided the most holy place of the temple from other parts of the temple. It was 60 feet high and 30 feet wide. A LOT of force was required to tear it -- and it was torn from the top to the bottom -- as though God Himself did it. Normally, only the high priest could enter the Most Holy Place, and only once a year. Suddenly, because of Jesus' death the Most Holy Place was accessible. Through Jesus we have access to God our Father. There is no longer any separation! We have confidence to enter God's presence in the name of Jesus (Hebrews 10:19-22). And that confidence makes all the difference, particularly when each one of us, like Dan did today, steps into eternity.

"Do you have any last words?" That question is asked to a person that is to die for a crime. Reading Matthew 21-24, I just realized these were some of Jesus' last words. Let's take a listen.

With great foresight Jesus tells of the coming destruction of Jerusalem and signs of the close of the age. He closes by urging us, "Therefore you must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect" (Matthew 24:44). Jesus wails on the religious leaders with seven "woe"s that challenge their hypocrisy and then wails over Jerusalem's coming desolation (Matthew 23). I guess He wasn't trying to win a popularity contest. He answers trick questions with great savvy (Matthew 21-22) and asks those who are trying to trap Him, "If David calls him Lord, how is he his son?" This refers to King David's inspired words (Psalm 110:1) that say, "The Lord said to my Lord, 'Sit at my right end until I put your enemies under my feet.'" No one could answer Jesus' question that challenged them to probe the mysteries of who He is -- fully God and fully human, having existed forever in the past as God and also being born at Bethlehem.

My observations/response:

• Jesus is certainly no whimp but powerfully challenges people to know the "Truth" so that they can be prepared for His return.
• I wish that I could have such clarity on life -- Jesus is so perceptive!

Your thoughts?

The picture is taken from the Mount of Olives and looks down on present day Jerusalem. The perspective helps us to see how much higher the Mount of Olives is and it also shows a bit of the valley in between the Mount of Olives and the eastern wall of Jerusalem. The second picture is of the Mount of Olives looking from Jerusalem. The Mount of Olives has a large cemetery where the deceased lie in hopes of meeting Jesus there when He returns to earth and raises the dead. It is there that Jesus spoke Matthew 24-25; there that Jesus ascended into heaven and there Jesus will return (Acts 1:9-11).