Ask Mr Bible

Strangely enough it might be evermore indicative than that of the empty tomb.  Imagine the following:

While visiting a foreign country you are suddenly seized by some terrorists and held hostage in solitary confinement for 90 days.  During this time you are permitted absolutely no contact with the outside world.  After three months (for no apparent reason) you are released and allowed to return home.  Upon arrival however, you learn some incredible news.  During your absence all Christian churches everywhere no longer gather for worship on Sunday, but instead assemble on Monday of each week.  Your immediate question of course would be what in the world could have happened during those 90 days causing Christians to abandon their 2,000-year-old custom of worshipping on Sunday.

Yet this is exactly what happened in Palestine shortly after the resurrection of Christ.  As ingrained as the Sabbath was in the hearts and history of the apostles, it would have taken some fantastic event to change their thinking here.

What Would He Say About YOU?

In essence it would be radically different from how someone would write regarding a physical biography.  It would doubtless begin with your birth date and place, your parents, early life, education, marriage, vacation, family, etc.  But an angel would go back much earlier, in fact, even before the creation of the world.

Here’s how it might read:

Title:      The Full Spiritual Biography of John Smith
Author:   Michael the Archangel
Story:     John Smith was first in view when God chose him before the foundation of the world in regards to salvation.  At the same time God assigned to him certain good works which would follow his conversion.  (Eph. 1:4; 2:10)

Smith’s next appearance was a sad one, for he was seen in the Garden of Eden partaking of the forbidden fruit with Adam.  (Rom. 5:12-14, 18)

Many centuries later he reappears for the third time, nailed to a cruel cross with Jesus just outside Jerusalem.  (Rom. 6:3)

Finally, three days later we watch in amazement as he walks out of an empty tomb with his Savior!  (Rom. 6:4, 5)

At present He is being prepared to rule and reign with Christ for one thousand years upon this earth!  (Rev. 5:10; 20:6)

Behold and See if There Be Any Sorrow Like unto My Sorrow (Lam. 1:1-2)

A broken-hearted Jeremiah once sobbed out these pitiful words as he viewed the terrible destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonian armies some six centuries before Christ.

Sometimes we feel this way.  Does anybody know my pain?  Does anybody care?  Consider the following:

Many believers feel the apostle Paul was the greatest and most spiritual Christian who ever lived.  Certainly he was a powerful and effective prayer warrior.  When Paul talked with God, prisons were shaken, doors were opened, chains were loosed, and people were saved (Acts 16:25-34)!  With all this in mind let us suppose that in the midst of your darkest hour of pain and grief the phone rings and the apostle Paul is on the other side of the line.

“Fellow Christian,” he begins, “I just wanted you to know I am very much aware concerning your terrible sufferings, and therefore plan to spend the next 24 hours on my knees crying out in prayer just for you!”

What an incredible reassurance and comfort that would be!  Think of it—the great apostle Paul, writer of half the New Testament is praying for you!  But wait!  Amidst your tears and travail you now hear another voice.

“My dear child, you need to know I am fully acquainted with all your sad grief and despair.  Therefore, I plan to do today that which I have previously done since the time of your salvation and will continue to do as long as you live, and that is to spend every single second of every single minute of every single hour of every single day at my Father’s right hand, PRAYING FOR YOU!”

Would not this serve as a blessed balm to soothe one’s wounded soul?  Would it not heal the raw hurt of the human heart?  Indeed it would and should, for this is exactly what the Savior is doing at this very moment for each believer reading these words!

Historically speaking, He died on Friday (many believe), March 30, A.D. 33 at 3:00 P.M.

“Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost”

“And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost”

“And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost”

“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost”

Theologically speaking, He died before the foundation of the world.

At least four New Testament passages bring this out:“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love … In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace”

“For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God”

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you”

(Eph. 1:4, 7). (Heb. 10:4-7).(1 Peter 1:18-20). (Matt. 27:50). (Mark 15:37). (Luke 23:46). (John 19:30).

“And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world”

(Rev. 13:8).

Stated another way, in the mind and plan of God, the last Adam was already on the cross of Calvary before the first Adam was in the Garden of Eden!