Death is Not the End!--by Linden Malki

The obvious miracle of the Resurrection is that Jesus died, and in three days reappeared as a living man. The idea of the resurrection of the dead is not new; there are three examples in the Old Testament, four in the Gospels, and two in Acts. However, each of the others was done through the intermediation of a follower of God (except for the mention in Matthew 27:51-53 of bodies in Jerusalem tombs raised by the power of God at the time of Jesus' death).  The three instances of Jesus' raising the dead was pity on mourning families, with the addition of the raising of Lazarus being a demonstration of His power over death. There is also the appearance of Jesus to Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus. There are two instances of resurrections in the very early days of the Church, one by Paul and one by Peter.

It is also significant that the idea of resurrection through a prophet of God happened three times in the Old Testament; one associated with Elijah, and two with his successor Elisha. Both of these prophets lived in the 9th Century BC, after the separation of the Southern Kingdom of Judah, ruled by the dynasty of David and Solomon, and the Northern Kingdom of Israel, ruled at this time by Ahab.  He was the son of Omri, who had been a general in a period of conflicting claimants and emerged as a strong ruler.  Ahab's wife Jezebel was a princess from Phoenicia and a strong follower of the pagan "god" Baal. Elijah was the most famous of the Israelite prophets, and went head-to-head with the priests of Baal at a dramatic challenge on Mt Carmel, where he showed the power of God and destroyed the pagan priests. He is also remembered for raising the dead son of a widow, whose meager supply of wheat and oil fed them through a three-year drought. He also is remembered for having been carried to Heaven in a chariot of fire.

The most dramatic appearance of Elijah in the Gospels is what we call the Transfiguration, where Elijah and Moses are seen with Jesus on a mountaintop. (Matthew 17; Mark 9; Luke 9), Elijah is a fascinating character because of the strength he showed during his lifetime against pagan worship(and also his depression after that battle), and the way he was taken by God, which is an example of the life beyond this earth, and the possibility of his return.

 Elisha also had a long ministry under several Northern kings, also revived the dead son of one of his supporters. After his own death and burial, a body of an Israelite happened to be dropped during a Moabite raid into Elisha's tomb, and came back to life.

Because of the fact that Elijah did not die but was taken to Heaven (which had only happened once before: Enoch, in Genesis 5), there were many later prophecies of his return. One of them is Malachi 4:5, and another is Luke 1:17 which quotes the Malachi prophecy. During the ministries of both John the Baptist and Jesus, there were questions of one or the other one possibly being Elijah; even during the crucifixion, the bystanders thought He was calling for Elijah (Matthew 27:47-49).  Even today, traditional Jewish Passover observances leave an empty chair for Elijah, if he were to come. 

I Kings 17:17 Some time later the son of the woman who owned the house became ill. He grew worse and worse, and finally stopped breathing. 18 She said to Elijah, “What do you have against me, man of God? Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son?”19 “Give me your son,” Elijah replied. He took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his bed. 20 Then he cried out to the Lord, “Lord my God, have you brought tragedy even on this widow I am staying with, by causing her son to die?” 21 Then he stretched himself out on the boy three times and cried out to the Lord, “Lord my God, let this boy’s life return to him!”22 The Lord heard Elijah’s cry, and the boy’s life returned to him, and he lived. 23 Elijah picked up the child and carried him down from the room into the house. He gave him to his mother and said, “Look, your son is alive!”24 Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord from your mouth is the truth.”

Altogether, Enoch lived a total of 365 years. Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.  Genesis 5:23-24

5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.”[a] For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. Heb 11:5

The Best News Ever Told--by Linden Malki

One of the things that always impresses me about the Bible is that the people are real--we know people just like most of the characters. Not just goody-goody ones that one might expect, but wondering people, and hurting people, and people who mess their lives up, and people who don't know what they are doing or why. One of the interesting collection of people we read about in Scripture are the ones that we read about at this time of year. These are people that had a truly one of a kind experience--many different kinds but all reacting to one major event in the history of our world.

It starts with a death of a friend of Jesus and his friends; a man named Lazarus. When he got sick, his sisters reacted with what would seem, up till then, an unusual expectation. They knew that they knew someone who could save his life--in that day, this would not be a usual expectation, But they knew Someone who had been saving lives in their area, and if He would only come, Lazarus would be healed. Jesus had gotten the message that Lazarus was seriously ill, but to everyone's amazement, Jesus didn't show much concern. When Jesus finally showed up, Lazarus had been dead for four days. To everyone's total surprise, Jesus demonstrated something they didn't expect--He healed him even from this; and explained to the sisters that He had the power over life and death. Everybody else got the message: the local authorities, the Sadducees and Pharisees and all the other religious/political big shots, that this was something out of everyone's experience and could not be tolerated. They had finely balanced political arrangements with the rulers in Rome that they would see that nothing would upset. It was already getting dicey, because there were political factions who were determined to provide that upset. The establishment leaders cooked up a proposition: it would be expedient for the most visible rabble-rouser to die.

We know the story--the authorities manipulated the crowds to turn their unrest onto Jesus, and He allowed it to happen. There were those who expected legions of angels to rescue Him and eliminate the Romans, but they didn't. He was arrested and executed and buried, and--He didn't stay dead. This was hard for the people, even his followers, to understand; there have always been those who still think it's fake news. Even His follower Thomas didn't believe it at first, and demanded proof--which to his credit, he recognized the truth as soon as he saw it.

It started with the small group of followers, and then larger groups, and then the impassioned preaching of His followers who "turned the world upside down", for which we are-- literally--eternally grateful.

Remembering The Greatest Day in History--by Linden Malki

On the third day after Jesus was crucified, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James and Jesus, came to prepare the body for its final burial. Mary is crying, and all she can say is "This has got to be the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. Mary Magdalene coming up behind her, exclaims "I'm wondering how are we going do move that enormous stone!" Mary shakes her head. "You know very well that the stone is not what I'm talking about; I would never have believed these last three days. I don't what to think. But then I never have understood. From the beginning. From the angels to the prophecies; old Simeon at the Temple once told me that a sword would pierce my soul. I thought of that when that spear... Just a week ago they were calling him the Messiah; a few days later they were a bloodthirsty mob."

Mary Magdalene, asks "But how could they do it? He never hurt anybody in his life!"  "Well, not anyone who had even the faintest idea what he was talking about. But look! What happened to the stone?" replies Mary. "And Who is THAT?"  Mary Magdalene, not sure what she is seeing: "Who are you, and what have they done with Jesus?" Whoever has just appeared, replies, "Why are you looking for a living man among the dead? He is not here; he has risen, as he said. Go and tell his disciples!" As a totally astonished Mary backs out toward the gate, "Yes, we need them ..." as she runs out of the garden.

Mary Magdalene lags behind, looks into the tomb, and begins to cry. The being in white sitting on the stone asks her, "Why are you crying?"  Mary Magdalene, blubbering and sniffing, can only say "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I don't know where they have laid him." She hears someone else behind her who asks "Why are you crying? Who are you looking for?" All she can say is "Sir, if you have taken him away, tell me where, and I will go and get his body."

And then she recognizes Him, as He calls out "Mary!" She falls at his feet, and reaches out for Him. He steps back, and answers "Don't touch me; but go to my brothers, my disciples, and tell them that I am alive." She looks around, looks back at the empty tomb, and runs away.

Jesus tells us "You, also, go tell what you know about me, what you have experienced with me. And I am with you, to the end of the age."

Special: Palm Sunday from the "Living Word" series @Calvary Baptist

MK 11:1-11    THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY         DRAFT III  03/22/98

SETTING: Courtyard of the Temple
CHARACTERS: Peter, Pharisee, Scribe, onlookers?

PETER: It had been a really long day.  Jesus and his entourage arrived at Jerusalem and went up to the Temple, but this was not your usual pilgrimage.
(Moves downstage R)

PHARISEE enters L, followed by SCRIBE (who is holding a palm frond and looks nervous). (Moves around, Looks around, picks up mike, moves to L/Center): WILL someone please tell me just WHAT has been going on around here!
SCRIBE (picks up mike, moves toward Pharisee): Well, there were these all these people in the road coming up the hill.  All I could hear was "Hosanna!" and something that sounded like  "Kingdom of David".
PHARISEE (Looks around, spots Peter): I ... wonder... You there! (Gestures to Peter) Come here!
PETER (Goes toward Pharisee, bows slightly): Yessir?
PHARISEE: You hang around with this Jesus fellow; I know I've seen you. Did he have anything to do with this..this riot today?
PETER: I didn't see anything like a riot, but yes, he was here.
SCRIBE: Yes, that was him! He was riding on this little donkey, and ...
PHARISEE (interrupting): What is that? (Points to palm branch)
SCRIBE: This? (waves palm branch) Oh, this! Like I said, I was trying to find out what was going on, and somebody stuck it in my hand.
PHARISEE (To Peter): Please, start at the beginning. What is going ON here?
PETER: All I know is that he sent a couple of us to get this colt--the guy was expecting us. As soon as he started to ride toward the city, somebody started the Hosannas, and the chant about the Kingdom of David. Jesus didn't say anything at all--honest!
PHARISEE (To Peter): Yeah, sure, uh-huh. You do realize, don't you, you can't take on Rome with a few children armed with nothing more than palms. It takes money--political action committees--maybe buy a few Senators. Three years this man has been talking about a Kingdom, and here he is--coming into Jerusalem--the Holy City itself--like some sort of conquering king. If he is who he says he is, there ought to be legions of angels, as well.
SCRIBE(Looks around): Where is he now? 
PETER (Puzzled): Gone home
SCRIBE: I don't believe it. He had that whole crowd in the palm of his hand--they would have done anything he asked. And what does he do? He goes HOME! Blows the whole thing!
PETER: What else? Even you should know by now that whatever he means by "kingdom" is not about power and influence.
PHARISEE: Well, you'd better keep whatever power and influence you have with him to keep him under wraps before he gets into REAL trouble! Let's go..(Exits L, followed by SCRIBE, who has dropped his palm branch.)
PETER picks up branch, looks at it wonderingly, carries it off R.

@ Cal

Using our Good Sense--by Linden Malki

 
       

As the corona virus spreads, one side-effect is the realization that the recommendations to avoid public gatherings means that traditional church and community activities are possible sources of transmission of the virus.  In fact, there is a case up in the Pacific Northwest (where I have family) of a musical group that had held a rehearsal just before the crackdown on meetings, that has discovered that several members of the group now the virus, with the possibility of more. Most churches have concluded that traditional services are unwise under these conditions, and fortunately most churches in the country do have internet capability.  However, there are instances of churches, mainly in the southeastern part of the country, who believe that God requires public worship and will protect participants from illness.  Thinking, studying, and praying about the situation, the answer I was led to was that of Jesus, when being tested by Satan. He was told that He could throw himself off of the corner parapet of the Temple roof, and angels would catch Him and prevent Him from being harmed--thus providing a demonstration of His power. Jesus' reply: It is written: "Do not put the Lord your God to the test".  (Luke 3:12, quoting Deuteronomy 6:16.) The conclusion I have is that God will not do things that are not appropriate,  even when they appear at first to be good, because we are not created for God to save us from obvious and unnecessary stupidity.  Most of the Bible writings are about NOT being stupid and getting ourselves into bad situations!

When we know that there is a possibility of transferring a serious infectious disease, we should take the responsibility to avoid it whenever possible. God is not a magic genie that allows us to walk directly into danger without looking and without consequences.  (One of the distinct answers I once got from God was "I gave you a brain, use it!") God allows opportunities for us to use our best judgment--and hopefully learn things in the process; this is part of His growing us into capable and intelligent people. Just as children grow up stronger when they learn to deal with tough breaks, we need to keep growing and learning and facing new situations as long as we are on this challenging world.

  Yes, I have encountered a few people who think it's a big hoax to turn us all into puppets of some sort of conspiracy, but the odds of having as so many people experience it directly and separately makes that highly unlikely. I read a report today that says that California and Washington experiences fewer cases of illness and death than New York and some of the other Eastern states because we have been required to be more careful, stay home more, maintain safe space, and  take it more seriously. Yes, God could just zap all the viruses, but we wouldn't learn as much nor appreciate each other as much. God is willing to take care of us when we're beyond the end of our ropes, but not when we're not doing our part.