Εμμανουηλ: God with Us Matthew 1:18-25

“Oh, come, oh, come, Emmanuel, 

And ransom captive Israel, 

That mourns in lonely exile here 

Until the Son of God appear. 

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel 

Shall come to you, O Israel!”



With the dawning of Christmas Eve/Day there are few carols that ring more clearly the message of the season then this one. This popular carol is played in the local Wal-Mart, coffee shops, and sung in Churches all across the United States as little children “wait for Saint Nick” and as families come together, even though they may not always agree with each other. The music itself is dissonant and haunting with the eight stanza of the carol adding image after image of Biblical truth. Yet what is so important about Emmanuel? Who is Emmanuel and why is he coming? Why Israel and what is the exile? These questions are important, not just to the carol but to the New Testament passage where Emmanuel is found, Matthew 1:18-25. An examination of the Biblical text is in order.


Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).

When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

In the context of Matthew, the author is just now beginning the narrative. Matthew opens his Gospel with the royal genealogy, linking the Messiah back to the King David and the patriarch Abraham. Then with the repetition of 14 generations from Abraham to David, David to the Exile, then from the Exile to the Messiah, Matthew is rooting the Messiah in the story of Israel. This Messiah is functioning within the framework of Israel, this is Israel’s story. The Exile is the background to the preceding paragraph or we could say this is the historical framework that Matthew is writing about the Messiah coming.

Now Exile wasn’t a glorious thing by any stretch of the imagination. Israel found themselves in and out of Exile throughout their history. Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, and this list could go on. YHWH had allowed His chosen to become slaves. Israel chose to rebel and now they were suffering for it. Yet this time it wasn’t Babylonian Exile but Rome Captivity. This meant Caesar was Lord. He was god and savior. He brought in “peace and safety”. Thus Israel longed for YHWH to return and deliver them from their oppressors. Their hopes for a Messiah ran from the prophets, through the intertestamental period into the first century. They wanted to be delivered from oppression. N.T. Wright states: "Until the Gentiles are put in their place and Israel, and the Temple, fully restored, the exile is not really over, and the blessings promised by the prophets are still to take place".1

These things hadn’t yet taken place yet in the mind of the Jew. Yet keep in mind, it was because of their own sin that landed them into bondage in the first place. They were “slaves in the land” (Nehemiah 9:36-38). So Israel did what they could do. Religious leaders built fences up around the Torah. Another group wanted to revolt against the authorities. Others withdraw themselves from society. Each group looking for a way to cope with their present state.

But in the midst of this loss of hope, a young girl, probably not even out of her teen years, was found with Child. This young girl Mary, had been engaged to her husband Joseph, yet they had not consummated their marriage. As the text reads, they had not known each other! This pregnancy was unlike natural conception, you see this Child was conceived by the Holy Spirit. But Joseph was a little skittish about this giving the fact he didn’t know all the details. All he knew was that he hadn’t touched his wife! Legally an honorable man would divorce his wife who had committed adultery. Yet an angel of the Lord appeared and revealed the truth about his wife and this Child.


She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”


The angel’s announcement was profound!
Could this be?
Is He here?
End of Exile?


Yet Matthew just to clarify this proclamation sees Isaiah 7:14 as the background. “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel” (which means, God with us). Yet what does this mean? Given the Old Testament context, Isaiah says that Ahaz would receive a sign. Thus in verse 14 the sign is given. This is probably speaking about Isaiah’s son in chapter 8. Yet Matthew seems to see this passage as applying to the Child. That isn’t a far stretch for him given the angels revelation to Joseph.

1.) The virgin shall conceive and bear a son (she will bear a son)
2.) They shall call his name Emmanuel (you shall call his name Jesus)

Then Matthew interprets Emmanuel for his audience, which means God with us. But what was the final clause of the angels proclamation? Lo and behold it is “He will save his people from their sins”! In short Matthew sees this Child fit Isaiah and draws the conclusion that this Child is Emmanuel! Grant Osborne says that “Emmanuel isn’t the literal name of the Child but is metaphorically describing his messianic work...”2 namely God with us is salvation! Now, “God with us” as many have seen it could be a reference to the Childs divinity, His equality with God Himself. This is indeed true given the rest of the New Testament. But as M. J. Harris pointed out “In Jesus God is present to bring salvation to his people”3, thus this Emmanuel proclamation over this Child has another important implication; the dwelling presence of God, or to say the saving activity of God. No longer is the dwelling presence of God in the Temple but it is in this Child. God’s saving activity is taking place with this Child. God is magnifying Himself in and through the Child. Salvation has dawn upon Israel and thus the whole world. Salvation from their sin and from Exile is about to take place with the birth of the Child. This only happens because of this Emmanuel. This is the same conclusion that John draws in his prologue: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the Only Son from the Father full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).


“Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.
For behold, darkness shall cover the earth,
and thick darkness the peoples;
but the LORD will arise upon you,
and his glory will be seen upon you.
And nations shall come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your rising” - Isaiah 60:1-3


God with us is one of Matthew’s themes that he carries throughout his gospel. Listen to the final words of the Messiah: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Thus for Israel and the world the announcement of the present saving activity of God is indeed Good News. The saving activity of God or to say the Kingdom of God has come but not in the way Israel expected. Seyoon Kim mentions that:

Jesus’ redemptive work did not consist in altering the political, economic, and social structures of the day to bring Israel political freedom, economic prosperity, and social justice. It consisted rather in exorcism and healing, forgiveness of sins and restoration of sinners, and bringing relief for the poor through formation of a new commonwealth.4


Israel received salvation not by military power or radical revolutionary activity but simply by humility. The blessed Mary giving birth to the King of the World who walked in humility proclaiming the Kingdom. Thus the world can taste the saving power of Emmanuel. From beginning to end, God is with us. From the humble birth through his glorious reign to the consummation of His Kingdom, God is with us. Salvation has come and Exile is coming to an end!


In conclusion, Grant Osborne gives 4 stages that God’s presence is manifested:5
1.) God is present through his “Shekinah” in the pillar of fire and cloud also through the Temple in the Old Testament
2.) Through the Son as a walking “Most Holy Place”
3.) Through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit
4.) In the Final Consummation (Rev 21:3)



From Matthew the implication can be drawn: Salvation is already and not yet. All of history points to the event of the Messiah. Therefore the birth of the blessed Messiah into the world grants an opportunity for salvation to all who believe. The Kingdom of God has dawn to make all things right. A call to be the True Israel of God is announced, Jew and Gentile alike. Eternal Life is extended to the sheep who hear. The Holy Spirit has been deposited as a guarantee of the inheritance to a new world near. The Christmas season is a reminder that God’s activity has not stopped in the world. Yes it is a time to enjoy family, put lights on your house, and cut down a Christmas tree (which is something I’ve done this season actually and I enjoyed every minute of it). But most importantly Christmas is a call to all the world that God is the God of salvation. He has sent His Son into the world to bring His saving rule. The Kingdom of God is here but not yet fully consummated. Life, peace, hope, and joy has come. The God of Israel has acted and all the world has been given a call to turn and pledge their allegiance to the True Lord.


So to echo the words of the famous carol:

“Oh, come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Oh, bid our sad divisions cease,
And be yourself our King of Peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!”




Have a Blessed and Merry Christmas. From my Family to yours, may God bless you with his presence and the grace of His Son be given to you.

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore. - Isaiah 9:6-7

______________________________________________________

1.) N.T. Wright, The New Testament and the People of God (Minneapolis, Augsburg Fortress, 2004), pg 270

2.)Grant Osborne, Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: Matthew (Grand Rapids, Zondervan, 2010), pg 79

3.) Murray J. Harris, Jesus as God: The New Testament Use of Theos in Reference to Jesus (Grand Rapids, Baker, 1992), pg 258

4.)Seyoon Kim, Christ and Caesar: The Gospel and the Roman Empire in the Writings of Paul and Luke, pg. 147

5.) Grant Osborne, Exegetical Commentary of the New Testament: Matthew, pg 82

Unity, Humility, and the Lordship of Christ

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. - Philippians 2:1-11





The Beautiful of Unity

The natural reaction for most Americans is to do anything that is not for unity. That could be because of the temptation to seek the bigger better things or the most money. The unity of the church is what makes up our identity. Our identity as a community under the Lordship of Christ is the maker of our faith that makes us different from other communities. Whether that community is for the promotion of nationalism, politics, religion, club, or what not. Those groups are under some kind of authority or rule. But the difference between the Kingdom community is that we claim that those things (nationalism, politics, clubs) take a far second place to the true Lord, Jesus Christ. Those other communities promote selfishness, greed, and pride. While the community of Christ function under the principle of humility. Since the Kingdom is a reality that can experienced in the present, we should be able to claim that you can experience the foretaste of the New Creation now. Therefore for if you want to know what Heaven is like, you can say come visit my church. If you want to experience the Kingdom, follow me. But can we really say that? Is that true for the American church? How about your own fellowship? The Kingdom is already here and the Kingdom has created the Church but do we work more for an organization or the Kingdom? Kingdom unity is the purpose. Not disunity. Not big buildings filled with people who are looking for their best life now, but a community of people looking for the Kingdom of God now and the Fathers will being done on earth. This unity is found by being of the same mind and same love. Walking by the Spirit and not by the flesh. This community is not about being selfish.





Humility is the Means

Since the community works on the principle of humility we work of others. It isn't about our personal individual salvation whereas we go to heaven when we die. But about laying down our lives for others just as the King laid down His own life for the Church. Humility counts others more significant than yourself. You place others above your own personal wants, desires, and needs. The community meets the needs of others. This is where unity is truly realized. If humility isn't present than there would be no way or chance one could serve another. Because it would be about...you and your needs. See how selfish that is? Most say: I go to church so I can feel good about myself. Where I get fed. Church is the place where I experience God on a personal level. Me, myself, and I. Church is about me. What a selfish church! Church is a community that works for others. I go to church so that I can encourage others. Church promotes experiencing God as a family. Church functions for the joy of others whereas people minister one to another, pray for one another, and love one another. Humility brings about the destruction of pride. If I'm serving my brother I can not be thinking about myself. The Kingdom Church is about the killing of pride and the promotion of humility.




The Lordship of Christ

Jesus Christ is Lord and God has raised Him from the death. This was the first confession of the early church. The Lordship of Christ is the cry of the Kingdom Community. Nothing comes close to His Lordship! Yet here is where we find the truth about humility and unity. In the death of Him, humility is revealed. He didn't die for Himself but for others. Therefore God exalted Him to the place of Lord. Which is where we find unity. Under his rule and reign! He is King and nothing else! Submission to His Lordship with humility brings unity to the community. Christ is the head of the Church. Christ is the Lord of the world. Christ is the King of the universe. Therefore submit your allegiance. Repent of pride and selfishness and seek humility and unity. The Kingdom is here...live for it.




Walk by the Spirit, live in community, submit to the Lord, seek unity and humility.

Once Was a Slave but Now a Son: A Place at the Table

For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. - Romans 8:14-17


So I just finished watching the movie Prince of Persia with a dear friend of mine. I enjoyed it, not just the movie but the time with my friend. Our friendship goes back a ways and I really think this movie was a good one to go see together. And as we were watching there was a certain part that stood out that really caught my attention. Now I'm not a guy that watches a movie to try to find the "spiritual implications" in it but I feel that there was a series of lines that spoke directly to the heart of Christianity.

In this series of lines between Dastan and Tamina (the male and female lead) Tamina (female princess) was following Dastan (one of the male princes of Persia) in the desert. They were both fleeing the city that Tamina was a princess over due to an overthrow by the Persias. Dastan by this time has been framed for the murder of his father. But previously in the movie there is some background laid.

Dastan was an orphan. Living on the streets. No father, no mother. He fought for his food and to survive. Yet one day in the marketplace to king saw Dastan act an courage. So the king adopted Dastan into the royal family.

So back to the series of lines between Dastan and Tamina. She is speaking to Dastan and makes a remark (to paraphrase) "You been told that from birth" which was in reference to his right to royalty. He began to example that "He wasn't born into royalty, he was an orphan, but the king adopted him therefore he loved his father."

This may have been a simple pass of lines between two roles. But this spoke clearly. That is the Gospel

I was a rebel, an outlaw, a slave, an enemy against the king. I had no right whatsoever to royalty and have nothing to place before the king. But out of his love He adopted me into His royal family where I am an heir. I don't sit outside waiting for the scraps to be thrown out, I actually sit at His table and feast with Him. That is the Gospel of the Kingdom.

Sitting with my friend, knowing the stuff she has walked through and knowing the junk I've been through I felt content to know that we both lived in the Kingdom of the True King. We didn't live as slaves to sin in the Kingdom of Darkness. But we were adopted as a son and daughter into His family. Not by anything we did, but all because He chose us to be part of His family.

I read this today too

An Analogy of God saving a sinner:
"You are a floating corpse, face down, dead in the water, drowned in your trespasses and sins. Suddenly, someone yanks you out of the water, throws you down on the floor of the boat and gives you mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, breathing new life into you." - Trevin Wax, Holy Subversion

The New Age Has Dawned (Matthew)

The Narrative

For 400 years, give or take a few, Israel as a nation was still suffering the effects of exile. Although people had returned from Assyrian and Babylonian captivity they still lived as though they were strangers in a foreign land. YHWH hasn't spoken through a prophet, Caesar was ruling, religious leaders were greedy, and Israel as YHWH's covenant people were longing for His Kingdom to come. YHWH's Torah wasn't being kept, the Temple itself had become nothing more then a den for thieves, now what was Israel to do? Where were they to turn when 95-97% of them were poor and broken?

Then a voice crying out from the wilderness: The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand therefore repent!

This man, John the Baptist seemed to enact an Old Testament prophetic position. The call to his nation was repentance because God's rule was arriving in the present. God is about to act so don't find yourself as a bad tree with bad fruit because the One is coming and He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. John the Baptist, as he was baptizing in the Jordan where Joshua centuries before laid 12 stones as a reminder to the children of Israel that YHWH lead them out of captivity into the Promised Land, looked up and saw the One who had the sandals he wasn't worthy to carry.

Jesus saying "Let is be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." was baptized in the Jordan. Immediately the heavens tore open and the eschatological Spirit of God descended like dove and rested open Jesus. Then YHWH spoke, "This is my beloved son with whom I am well pleased." This baptism and speaking was very important to this event. YHWH was appointing His Son to be the Chosen King by giving Him the Spirit and baptizing Him. The words of "beloved or chosen son" would have invoked the appointment of David as King and here is the Man who is now receiving this appointment Himself. Jesus is now in line of the Davidic reign not only by birth/right but by YHWH's divine choosing. Here is the One Israel has been waiting for; the Davidic Messiah who would establish YWYH's Kingdom and overthrow the pagan rulers.

Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand! The same message of the prophets, the message that Israel wanted to here, and the message that would shake the foundation of the world. Jesus went teaching and proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom. This long awaited expectation of YWYH's divine reign has irrupted in the midst of history. The New Age has broken through the Old Age and now is the day of salvation. The Age to Come has invaded the Present Evil Age and now your allegiance is no longer to the Old but the New.

So seeing the crowds, Jesus went up on the mountain, when He sat down His disciples came to him and taught them saying;

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.


The Gospel of the Kingdom and its ethics were being unpacked for His followers. In the midst of exile the one that follows the Messiah in this New Age will by blessed. The Kingdom of Heaven is theirs now. This is good news for those who have been looking forward to this day! Yet how can this be if Caesar is still presently ruling over Israel? This is the tension that the followers of the Messiah lived in; Their loyalty was to the Messiah's Kingdom and not to Caesar's. They were to live differently then others around them. Followers of the Messiah turn the other cheek, go the extra mile, and give to those who ask. They love them enemies and don't kill them like Caesar would have done. They give in order to be blessed by YWYH not so others will see them. They pray for YWYH's Kingdom to come and His will to be done. They seek His Kingdom in order that they might live. So they should ask, seek, and knock because the Father will give them what they need. This Kingdom is viewed as a narrow gate and a hard way. Those who walk this hard way will have good fruit and not bad. But beware because not everyone who call Him LORD will enter the Kingdom but only those to actively do YWYH's will. So once they hear the Messiah's words, they do them, their house in built upon the rock. If you they His word's and don't do them, they are a fool (Ps 14) and their house is built upon the sand. Therefore when judgment comes, they will fall.

This New Age that has broken in the midst of history caused an uproar in the religious establishment. The Messiah has come yet they don't recognize Him due to their blindness. It didn't look like the Kingdom they heard about from the rabbis. When will He go to Jerusalem and set up the Kingdom? Caesar is still reigning it looks like! Jesus said that He was the fulfillment of the Torah so follow Him. Don't live for greed and gain but live in humble submission to the Kingdom. Don't abide by the traditions of man but the commandments of the Messiah.

So the Tension

In the midst of exile and Caesar present reign how was one to live with their allegiance to the True King? Easy...follow the True King. Don't follow the system of Caesar and the form of "life" the Roman system lived on. Repent of your allegiance from one king to Another. This long awaited message of the Kingdom rubbed many in Israel the wrong way. It wasn't what they expected. Messiah was a humble servant who ate and drank with sinners. His followers weren't the brightest in Israel. Also His content message in the later part of His career was "taking up your cross". To enter into the Kingdom in the mind of Jesus meant that one must die. He must lose is life to find it. Your allegiance isn't to yourself, Caesar, or the greedy religious establishment, it is to the True King. Therefore...die. Simple...right? No not that simple. As the disciples, we get the message wrong too. Jesus gives us the radical call to die to ourselves but we rebuke Him. He shows us the way of the Kingdom but we'd rather follow our own way. But as the True King, He is always good to His followers. He allows repentance. The tension is between this world and His world. This Kingdom and His Kingdom. The Old Age and New Age. The question is where is your allegiance? Will you be anger at the Messiah because He ruins your theological strongholds? Will you get upset because He calls you to serve and not be served? Will you follow this present system of things or actually die in order that you might live?

Kingdom Living and the Radical Call

From debates that stem from the Kingdom of God, Calvinism, eschatological, narrative flow, and interpretive options my life has been wrapped up in "Christianized" type lingo for a while now. Although it is not totally bad to be consumed in "Christianized" things, I feel sometimes when I read the New Testament that I'm missing something. I have to admit, I am a recovering sinner and don't claim to have all the answers but I do notice a clear call in the New Testament to living radically different from the status quo. For the disciples the call was to take up their cross and preach the kingdom of God. For Paul it was to be crucified daily and not walk by the flesh. For John it was not to give allegiance to the beast but to be a faithful martyr.

I want to live a life that reflects Kingdom characteristics in a world that does not. I think this is the problem that the New Testament church faced too. Since the Kingdom has been inaugurated in the present therefore I must be able to live according to the radical call it preaches; That God reigns! What does Kingdom living look like? What does it mean to live a nonconformist lifestyle when the given norm tells you that something else is presently reigning? I believe this is the basic question that underlines the simple narrative throughout the Bible.

Who is King and who should I pledge my allegiance to?

In the coming weeks I'll try to explore that question by walking through the New Testament little by little. It may take some time but in the end I hope it will be a blessing to you.

Celebrating the Resurrection: The Purpose of Easter

"We could cope—the world could cope—with a Jesus who ultimately remains a wonderful idea inside his disciples' minds and hearts. The world cannot cope with a Jesus who comes out of the tomb, who inaugurates God's new creation right in the middle of the old one." – N.T. Wright

The world has a hard time with the fact that the man Jesus Christ rose again from the dead. They can’t believe that He isn’t in the grave. They ask; “Where are his bones? Are they in the tomb? Where is the tomb?” So it seems that this aspect of the Christian faith causes problems for the skeptics, boggles the minds of the scientist, and is the area that the atheist attempts to attack. Yet the belief of the resurrection of Jesus is the cornerstone that provides the foundation for our faith and practice. If Jesus Christ was not raised from the dead, there is no Christianity. Again there is no reason to believe in Jesus if He was not resurrected from the dead. So it is, that the confession “Jesus Christ…died on the cross for the sins of the world, was raised bodily and exalted to God's right hand...” is the reason why we celebrate Easter. 2000 years ago Jesus Christ was put to death on a cross. Yet three days later, God raised Him from the dead. In the event of the resurrection, Jesus Christ started the New Creation. No longer will death have dominion over creation because it was defeated. In fact death is the greatest enemy of the world but the event of the resurrection, Jesus Christ changed the entire sum of creation. “Jesus’ return from the grave is the dawn of the new day: God’s people and all creation will share in his resurrection life.” Easter is the celebration of the resurrection, the celebration of the New Creation, the celebration of the defeat of death. I’ll provide you with 8 New Testament passages that speak about the resurrection that have impacted my walk with Christ. They are all found within different context and applied differently but you’ll see the emphasis of the New Testament authors: the resurrection of the Son of God, the Messiah; Jesus.


1.) Luke 24: Interacting with the Resurrected Jesus
On the road to Emmaus, the two disciples walked with their heads held low. They placed their faith in the man who called himself the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth. They had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. But of course that didn’t happen, because Jesus of Nazareth died at the hands of the Romans. Yet they were met by a man on the road who asked them why they looked so depressed. They explained the story of the man and how he died. But to their surprise the one who met them was the One who died. Jesus Christ was resurrected from the dead and to prove that He was resurrected had a meal with them. He revealed Himself to them in the most intimate way. He interacted with those two disciples and restored their hope and expectations.



2.) Acts 2:22-36: Preaching of the Resurrected Jesus
Peter after being filled with the Holy Spirit stood up in the midst of Jerusalem and began to preach the first evangelistic sermon in church history. With the radical statements about the Spirit of God being poured out in the last days and the death of Jesus by the hands of lawless men under the sovereignty of God, Peter began to speak about the resurrected Jesus. He made the point that this Jesus God raised up from the dead, and they were all witnesses to the event. With the preaching of the resurrected and exalted Christ, 3000 men were baptized.

3.) Romans 6:5-11: Application of the Resurrected Jesus
Paul, in his argument about sin and grace makes the point that in the midst of sin the grace of God abounds all the more. But before his hearers can go out and sin habitually he quickly gives a series of questions: “Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? No way!! How can we who died to sin live in it? Do you not know that those who were baptized into Jesus were baptized into His death?” Paul then makes the statement that we are united into His death and also in His resurrection. Therefore baptism is the act in which the death and resurrection of Jesus is applied to a believer as a metaphor. Paul concludes that “We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over Him.”

4.) 1 Corinthians 15:12-28: Defending the Resurrected Jesus
In his defense of the resurrection of Jesus, Paul as he does so often starts his argument with a question. “If Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?” If Christ isn’t raised then the preaching of Paul is in vain. Also if Christ isn’t raised, we are dead in our sins. If that is so, then Christians should be the most pitied in the world! But Christ was raised as the first fruit of all those who have died. The promise is to believers who have died. They will be raised from the dead and death will be defeated. The last enemy will be destroyed!

5.) Ephesians 1:15-23: The Dominion of the Resurrected Jesus
For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. (No need to explain)


6.) Philippians 3:1-11: Being Conformed into the Resurrected Jesus
In the context of looking back on his life, Paul shows the difference between religion and following Jesus. It isn’t by the law that makes one right before God but through Jesus. You can’t work your way to God it is only through Jesus Christ. Paul says that everything he gained in his life should be considered “rubbish” (garbage, trash, dung, manure, etc). Paul concludes that his righteousness comes from God that depends on faith. But he continues by adding what that faith looks like. It consist of knowing Him, the power of His resurrection, and sharing in His sufferings becoming like Him in his death. He wanted this all because he wanted to attain to the resurrection. Paul’s desire is to be conformed into the life of Christ, by His death and resurrection.

7.) 1 Peter 1:3-5: Hope of the Resurrected Jesus
Peter gives his greeting to the elect exiles of the dispersion by giving one of the most encouraging openings in all of the New Testament. God has given them mercy because He saved them. Their hope in their salvation is rooted in the resurrection of Jesus. This hope consist of an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading which is kept in heaven. This salvation is guarded by God but will be revealed in the last time. God will show His power by raising men and women from the dead giving them full salvation in the end.

8.) Revelation 21: The Newness that will come because of the Resurrected Jesus
Then I saw, as John said “a new heaven and new earth”. This renewed/restored creation and people will the Bride of the Lamb. The New Creation is the final home for all who follower the Resurrected Jesus. God said that “I am making all things new.” This means a new people, new place, new way, and complete New Creation. No more pain, tears, mourning, death. This is the marriage of heaven and earth. As God created the heavens and the earth in Genesis, so will God create a new heaven and new earth. They will come together in the end. Everything will be made right. The full redemptive plan of God will be consummated and everything will be new, good, right, and holy. This all happens because of the work of the Lamb, who was slain and resurrected.

These 8 passages are not an exhaustive list of resurrection passages. They are simply some passages that have impacted my walk with Jesus. I pray that as the Easter season comes around in the next few weeks we will keep our eyes upon the resurrected Christ and celebrate Him together as a body of followers.

“But the good news is this: death has been defeated; our conqueror has been conquered. In the face of the power of the kingdom of God in Christ, death was helpless. It could not hold him, death has been defeated; life and immortality have been brought to life.” – George Eldon Ladd

Top 5 Books of 2009

Now these books aren’t necessarily published in 2009 but they are books that have challenged and encouraged me.

The Gospel of the Kingdom by George Eldon Ladd... See More
Aside from Scripture, this book has been the one that has shaped my outlook on the Jesus, Bible, and life. I would share this book with every Believer I come in contact with. The Kingdom of God is a central theme that runs throughout all Scripture yet it is just simply overlooked in most of Christianity today. A somewhat difficult read but amazing overall content!

Surprised by Hope by N.T. Wright
For the Christian, what does it mean to have hope? Is it a final resting place called heaven or the resurrection from the dead? N.T. Wright explains and argues that the resurrection is the hope and the driving mission of the church. Great and easy read. Excellent writer!

Drama of Scripture by Craig G. Bartholomew and Michael W. Goheen
Another easy read that every Believer needs to pick up. This book explains different themes found in Scripture; From Genesis to Revelation. Themes such as creation and new creation; covenant and kingdom; the story of Israel are explained in the book. Again easy read and all around good book.

Christ and Caesar by Seyoon Kim
Christ and Caesar is very theological book dealing with different interpretations in the camp of the “political interpreters”. Was Paul and Luke’s intent solely anti Rome? Kim deals with these issues with respect and finds that Rome wasn’t the problem. It is a cosmic battle between the Davidic Messiah and Satan. Though Paul and Luke drew on political themes with their language, there is a bigger issue that Jesus was facing. Good book for those dealing with political interpretations.

Mere Discipleship by Lee Camp
This book actually brought about me reading Christ and Caesar. Although I don’t agree with everything that Camp says, I was deeply challenged by this book. It made me question the role of Christians in politics, Christians and war, and America as a Christian nation. Again though I don’t agree with all his arguments I have come away with a radical desire to follow Christ without any hindrance. Good book if you can make it through. If I taught a discipleship class, this book would be a required text but handled with care!