West Park Baptist Church

Loving God, Loving People, Impacting the World

Moses

Following the Resurrected King – Pt 2

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“Did not our hearts burn within us… while he opened to us the Scriptures?” (Luke 24:32).

I love that line in the Bible! Can you imagine walking several miles with Jesus, listening to Him teach the Old Testament… about Himself?!

Today we’ll read the story of how two disciples encountered the resurrected King on the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus.

For the sake of keeping this article brief, I won’t post all the scripture text here today. But please read first in your Bible the story in Luke 24:13-35.

Here’s the central part that I’ll focus on today:

Luke 24:25–27

[25] And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! [26] Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” [27] And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. (ESV)

What can we learn from this passage?

It seems clear enough that the followers of Jesus did not get the message that Jesus must suffer and die then be raised on the third day. Jesus, before He died, had clarified to the disciples that His primary mission included suffering and death. Still, they did not seem able to comprehend that as a necessary step for the Messiah, especially with their current view of the Scriptures.

When Jesus appears to Cleopas and the other unnamed disciple, He listens to them as they puzzle over the reports of Christ’s resurrection, but He chides them for not understanding how these things fit with the revelation of the Christ in the Old Testament. Jesus says that the message of Moses and all the Prophets was all about Him!

Sometimes we may be guilty of avoiding the Old Testament for how strange the stories are or for how many details are constantly repeated in sections of the Law in Exodus through Deuteronomy. We tend to not grasp the link between those times and teachings with the Lord Jesus that we see revealed in the New Testament. Yet Jesus Christ teaches that He Himself is the key to unlocking all the richness and glory hidden in the Old Testament. Pastor Michael Barrett in his book Beginning at Moses, teaches,

The Pentateuch, the first five books with all their religious rituals, prepares the way for the perfect Priest to stand between God and people as the perfect sacrifice for sin. The Historical Books draw attention to the perfect King, who would come to rule His people and subdue His enemies. The Prophets anticipate the perfect Prophet, who represents and reveals the only true and living God to humankind. The Poetical Books put it all together with the Christ as the great theme for worship and praise. What an authoritative clue for interpretation this is!1

Application:

  • Christ-centered Bible teaching and preaching is a rich blessing, and we can be thankful for pastors, Bible study leaders and children’s class leaders who teach Jesus Christ as He is revealed in all of the Bible. I’m particularly grateful for the Gospel Project that my kids participate in through our church. They recently learned about prophecy in Daniel, but the link to Jesus Christ was there in every lesson!
  • Teachers, we who know the Bible through years of study: do “our hearts burn within us” as we see Jesus in each text we prepare to teach? Do we worship Him through our times of study? Or have we settled into a rhythm of joyless preparation in hopes of simply fulfilling a duty or perhaps getting the approval of others? I recommend this resource for you to aid you in your study and worship of Christ.
  • Everyone, do you see that it was necessary for Jesus to suffer, die and rise from the dead for you and your sins? The work Jesus accomplished was God’s plan all along to bring you back into His family.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, our hearts burn within us whenever we hear You preached and taught in the Bible. Thank You for helping us know You. We praise You for suffering and dying on our behalf. We glorify You that You rose from the dead, leaving in that grave all our sin forever. Thank You that You stayed true and faithful to Your mission, even to the point of death. Amen.

Worship:

‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus

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  1. Michael Barrett, Beginning at Moses: A Guide to Finding Christ in the Old Testament (Ambassador International, 2nd Printing 2001), 14.

Global Perspectives on Coronavirus – Pt 4

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Have you been following the news lately? Admittedly it’s hard to put our devices down and turn off our tv’s for fear of missing the latest developments. But truly the best news comes as we look back in faith instead of ahead with fear. David, today’s author, takes us back in history to learn how God’s people trusted Him and how we still must trust Him today.

Be Strong and of Good Courage

As the world faces the current pandemic, I am reminded that the nation of Israel is no stranger in responding to crises. This goes for the small, yet strong body of believers as well. In 2014 Israel found herself having to respond to the daily barrage of rockets coming out of Gaza that were aimed at her civilians. The situation had deteriorated to being more than a thorn in Israel’s side. The daily disruptions had shut down schools and was causing an entire population to live in fear. The government was considering sending a ground force into Gaza to root out the source of this terror. It would certainly be messy and cost innocent lives. Those on the front line consisted of Israel’s youth—the 18-year-olds who are conscripted for 3 years after high school. These soldiers included the sons and daughters of our friends that we served alongside in ministry. Many were calling for a strong, hammer-like response to the terror.

In contrast to the outcries for blood, our pastor in Jerusalem, along with the elders, drafted a letter to the Prime Minister. In this letter, they assured the Prime Minister that they were aware of the heavy burden he carried on his shoulders. The elders let him know that this wasn’t the first time that the Jewish people faced a crisis that demanded a response. They assured him that there was a group of Jewish believers in Jesus who were praying for him. They implored him in the letter to turn to the One who would fight for them and not trust only in the weapons of war.

Our pastor wisely admonished us to pray. Pray for the Prime Minister. Pray for the soldiers and the army. Pray for the believers who live in Gaza. And pray for the terrorists who were behind the rocket attacks. Our focus was turned from one of fear leading to revenge, to one of faith leading to hope as we prayed for our enemies.

Today, we face a new enemy. COVID-19 is creating global uncertainty and panic. The world is watching how we as believers respond. On one level, we need to heed the advice and cautions of our government and medical professionals. Prudence regarding social-distancing and cleanliness is required. However, we must also respond as people of faith in the One whose hand is mighty to save. As fear and anxiety rise up in the hearts of those around us, we have the opportunity to give assurance that the One we serve cares for us and is in control. We have the opportunity to love our neighbors.

Joshua faced a critical situation after the death of Moses. The Bible tells us that the Lord exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel. Joshua in turn reminded Israel of all that the Lord had done for them as they wandered in the wilderness for forty years so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty AND that they may fear the Lord their God forever. We need to remind ourselves daily of the great things God has done for us in the past so that we can be assured of his care for us in the future. Pray for your enemies; pray for those who don’t yet believe; pray for those who disagree with you politically. The hand of our God is mighty and his love for us is great.

David has served in the Middle East for the past 15 years, along with his wife. They have three grown children.