Absolute Concert - July 31, 1993

Fifteen years ago today we held the Absolute Concert in Shamel Park in Riverside. Featuring musical guests P.O.D., Rose, and Mike Stand, we had a couple of hundred people show up that day to listen to music and hear the gospel preached.

Man! Time sure does fly. I can't believe it's been that long. If anyone has pictures or stories to share about this event, please comment on my blog. Thanks!

Shaking Christianity?

A recent article detailing an ancient, stone tablet that dates possibly 100 years before Christ has gain much interest. The article details how this three-foot tall tablet written in Hebrew talks about a "suffering messiah" and that he would "live after three days".

As a Christian, I find this very interesting. The reality is that Christ doesn't need validation from archeology, however, it is fascinating to find historical evidence to support the idea that some of the ancient Jews understood that the coming Messiah would suffer, die, and rise again on the third day. If you read the writings of Moses, Isaiah, David, and other prophets, you'll see that the coming Messiah's agenda wasn't to liberate Israel from it's occupiers, but rather to liberate them from their sins. And how might this Anointed One go about doing this? He would be the final and perfect sacrifice. He would die taking the wrath meant for sinners and rise again on the third day conquering death and Hell. (You can read an article by John Piper on Redemptive History and the Messiah here.)

But once again, so-called "experts" (see Justin Crandall's excellent blog on the subject of experts) are trying to retell and spin the story to make Christ seem illegitimate. Check out this quote from Israel Knohl - an expert in Talmudic and biblical language at Jerusalem's Hebrew University:

The idea of a "dying and rising messiah appears in some Jewish texts, but until now, everyone thought that was the impact of Christianity on Judaism," he says. "But for the first time, we have proof that it was the other way around. The concept was there before Jesus." If so, he goes on, "this should shake our basic view of Christianity. ... What happens in the New Testament [could have been] adopted by Jesus and his followers based on an earlier messiah story." (From Time.com)

Knohl is quoted in another article:

"Resurrection after three days becomes a motif developed before Jesus, which runs contrary to nearly all scholarship. What happens in the New Testament was adopted by Jesus and his followers based on an earlier messiah story." (From IHT.com)

This so-called expert, in a matter of a few sentences, makes a couple of very strong statements. He says this "should shake Christianity" and that this finding "runs contrary to nearly all scholarship". Those are bold and emphatic statements. He doesn't need to back them up. He's an expert. He finally has the spoking gun that just might put Christ out of his misery. After all, isn't Jesus really just a country boy who spun great yarns and made people feel good? And then those dang disciples and that rascally Paul got a hold of him and retold his story so many times that he ended up God. Now we can finally put Jesus to rest in his tomb along with Mary and Joseph and move on with our lives.

Okay. I digress. The reality is that not only does the bible support the idea of a suffering, dying, and rising from the dead Messiah, but most scholars prior to the 19th century would agree as well. (You can start your "scholarly" research here at monergism.com)

Interestingly enough, Jesus has already addressed this issue. He told the pharisees:

You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. (John 5:39-40)

The scriptures he was referring to at the time were the very writings of the Old Testament that told of Himself. And yet they did not have the eyes to see or the ears to hear. And it wasn't like they were poor souls who really wanted truth, but couldn't find it. Jesus boldly said "you refuse to come to me".

The reality is that unless God opens these "experts" eyes, they will concoct and conclude misleading and damning statements about Christ because they are "refusing" to come to Christ. It's very tragic.

I sure do hope Israel Knohl reads John 5 and the Lord opens his eyes to see the amazing Messiah that came to die and rise again for sinners like him.

John 5:46-47
For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”

All Around the World!

I just checked my "Site Meter" and since April 1, people from all over the world have looked at my blog including Australia, Ireland, England, and Canada. I've even had hits from Kansas, Ohio, North Carolina, and Texas. Amazing!

Do you know what seems to be the post that is getting the most hits? It's not about Jackson or my thoughts on the bible. It's one I did early last year about the lady with really long finger nails. Go figure!

So hello world. It's nice to meet you!

From Joy

I was reading in Matthew last night and these two words jumped off of the page - From Joy! They're found in a very short parable that Jesus told in chapter 13 v. 44:

The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid; and FROM JOY over it he goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field.

I don't have time this morning to dig into this simple yet profound parable. I do, however, desire to live for Christ today because of the JOY I have found in him. He is my treasure. By his grace I "found" him so long ago and more and more I realize that there is nothing in this world's so called "treasury" that compares to the eternal treasure he is for me.

By his Grace and for his good pleasure I have joy in giving up the world and gaining Christ!

The Truth Will Set You Free

Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8: 31-32

This verse is quoted and misused so often in America. It's used by lawyers in the court room. It's used by advocates of "global warming". It's used by homosexuals enticing people to "come out of the closet".

Needless to say, the power found in these words is attractive to both Christian and non-Christian alike. But what did Jesus mean? Did he simply want people to confess whatever was true to them "out loud" and feel good about it?

We have to look at the context. Within this chapter of the book of John, Jesus is teaching about who he is and what his mission to the earth is all about. Though many were skeptical about Jesus' claims and words, verse 30 says that as he was teaching "many believed in him".

And it is to those "believers" that he challenges with this idea: true disciples will abide by his word. He doesn't tell them to earn their salvation. He doesn't tell them to practice rituals. He doesn't tell them to listen for a mystical whisper in their ears.

He tells them to abide by his word.
VS 31 “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples"

This is the part that the world leaves out. They don't want to hear from Jesus. They're afraid he might enslave them to some ancient religion with rules and regulations. They'd much rather be "free" to define what "truth" is rather than having Jesus define it for them. By ignoring him, they believe they are "set free" from the constraints of Christ.

Yet it is ironic that Jesus himself says these people are slaves. He says in verse 34 that "everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin." We know that the entire world is born into sin. Thus the entire world is enslaved to sin. The only chance anyone has to be set free from sin is by the power of Jesus Christ. Jesus puts it so well when he says "if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed (vs 36)".

There's great hope for sinners in this section of John chapter 8. If the Son decides to set you free from your sins, you will be set free. What Amazing Grace!

It makes perfect sense that Christ's disciples would abide by his word. We were dead in our sins and only heard the wanton words of the world. We were hell bound. We had no wisdom. We saw no light. Yet Christ broke through the darkness to shine his glory into our hearts. Paul puts it best when he says, "For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6)."

True disciples revel in the gospel light. Like the first warm day after a cold, snow storm, Christ's ransomed people step out into the light and bask in it. We're set free from the cold, dead winter and are risen into the warm, life giving light. We don't scurry from it any more like rats or roaches. As John wrote in chapter 3, "For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light." This was once our reaction to Christ, but now it is so different.

We want to hear his word. We want to be near him. We expect him to be in every aspect of our lives. We are set free from our sins and forever enslaved to him. But it's not an evil slavery. Jesus describes it best when he says, "my yoke is easy, and my burden is light (Matt. 11:30)."

To be set free from one's sin is the greatest liberty we can ever know for it is the one thing we can not do on our own. The only hope for mankind is found in this wonderful statement by our precious savior: if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed (vs 36).

If you have found this freedom, embrace it all the more. It wasn't yours to earn. It was by his good pleasure that he gave it to you. Praise him for his grace and mercy!

If you haven't found forgiveness of sins. If you are still enslaved to this world, cry out to Christ for mercy! He is your only hope. Oh that you would hear his words and that they would be liberating to your soul! May you know the truth and may the truth set you free.