Monday, April 13, 2009
Diane Bish - Toccata on 'Christ the Lord is Risen Today'
Christ, the Lord, is risen today, Alleluia!
Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heavens, and earth, reply, Alleluia!
Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
Lo! the Sun’s eclipse is over, Alleluia!
Lo! He sets in blood no more, Alleluia!
Vain the stone, the watch, the seal, Alleluia!
Christ hath burst the gates of hell, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids His rise, Alleluia!
Christ hath opened paradise, Alleluia!
Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Once He died our souls to save, Alleluia!
Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!
Soar we now where Christ hath led, Alleluia!
Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!
Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!
Hail, the Lord of earth and Heaven, Alleluia!
Praise to Thee by both be given, Alleluia!
Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia!
Hail, the resurrection, thou, Alleluia!
King of glory, Soul of bliss, Alleluia!
Everlasting life is this, Alleluia!
Thee to know, Thy power to prove, Alleluia!
Thus to sing and thus to love, Alleluia!
Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia!
Unto Christ, our heavenly King, Alleluia!
Who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia!
Sinners to redeem and save. Alleluia!
But the pains that He endured, Alleluia!
Our salvation have procured, Alleluia!
Now above the sky He’s King, Alleluia!
Where the angels ever sing. Alleluia!
Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia!
Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!
Who did once upon the cross, Alleluia!
Suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia!
--------
"Christ the Lord Is Risen Today is a Christian hymn associated with Easter. Most of the stanzas were written by Charles Wesley, and the hymn appeared under the title Hymn for Easter Day in Hymns and Sacred Songs by Charles and John Wesley in 1739. It remains the traditional processional hymn on Easter Sunday.
Wikisource has original text related to this article:
Jesus Christ Is Risen TodayThe hymn is a variation of an earlier hymn Jesus Christ Is Risen Today, a 14th century Latin hymn which had been translated into English and published in Lyra Davidica in 1708 (and later in 1749 in Arnold's Compleat Psalmodist). In some hymnals, Jesus Christ Is Risen Today is in fact the 3 stanza Compleat Psalmodist version with one or more of the additional stanzas written by Wesley appended."
Happy Easter!
This came out pretty small. You can click on the images to enlarge them. I really like it. Our friend Jenny sent it to us.
Friday, April 10, 2009
The Veil of the Temple Torn in Two
Matthew 27:50-52
50And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
51At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split.
52The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.
Mark 15:37-39
37 And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last.
38 Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
39 So when the centurion, who stood opposite Him, saw that He cried out like this and breathed His last, he said, “Truly this Man was the Son of God!”
Luke 23:44-46 (New King James Version)
Jesus Dies on the Cross
44 Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
45 Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two.
46 And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’” Having said this, He breathed His last.
John 19:29-30
29 Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth.
30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
------
I have been thinking about this great miracle of the temple veil being torn from top to bottom at the very moment Christ died for our sins. He had been on the cross, pouring out His lifeblood for us. He was made sin for us there on the cross. He died in our place. He took our punishment on Himself.
John records His words, "It is finished!"
Nothing more needs to be done to save us. Nothing more can be done to save us. We cannot add to or take away from the finished work of Christ. We in Him believe. We receive Him.
John 1:12,13
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
So, because our sins were paid for on the cross, and the Father accepted the sacrifice of His Son, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). His wrath can now turn away from the sinner who accepts the sacrifice of Christ for his sin. He can now look at the sinner in a merciful, propitious way. He can now forgive the repentant sinner who believes in Christ. Now the sinner can be reconciled to God by faith in Christ.
Because of that, we can now enter right into the presence of God without fear of death. We don't have to stand on the outside looking in, so to speak. We can enter into fellowship with God Himself. Now the veil separating us from God has been torn in two.
No man tore the physical curtain in the temple from top to bottom. Think about it. It was a heavy object, made of several layers of material. It would be hard to start tearing it from the bottom in order to split it in two. The Bible says that this veil was split from top to bottom at the very moment Christ finished dying for our sins! When I was a kid, this miracle fascinated me and gripped my heart. How amazing!
Believe it. Receive it. Christ's death is for you.
-----
Question: "What was the significance of the temple veil being torn in two when Jesus died?"
Answer: During the lifetime time of Jesus, the Holy Temple in Jerusalem was the center of Jewish religious life. Here was the place that animal sacrifices were carried out and worship according to the Law of Moses was followed faithfully. Hebrews 9:1-9 tells us that in the Temple a veil separated the Holy of Holies—the earthly dwelling place of God’s presence—from the rest of the Temple where men dwelt. This signified that man was separated from God by sin (Isaiah 59:1-2). Only the High Priest was permitted to pass beyond this veil once each year (Exodus 30:10; Hebrews 9:7), enter into God's presence for all of Israel, and make atonement for their sins (Leviticus 16).
From: Got Questions?
50And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
51At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split.
52The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.
Mark 15:37-39
37 And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last.
38 Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
39 So when the centurion, who stood opposite Him, saw that He cried out like this and breathed His last, he said, “Truly this Man was the Son of God!”
Luke 23:44-46 (New King James Version)
Jesus Dies on the Cross
44 Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
45 Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two.
46 And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’” Having said this, He breathed His last.
John 19:29-30
29 Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth.
30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
------
I have been thinking about this great miracle of the temple veil being torn from top to bottom at the very moment Christ died for our sins. He had been on the cross, pouring out His lifeblood for us. He was made sin for us there on the cross. He died in our place. He took our punishment on Himself.
John records His words, "It is finished!"
Nothing more needs to be done to save us. Nothing more can be done to save us. We cannot add to or take away from the finished work of Christ. We in Him believe. We receive Him.
John 1:12,13
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
So, because our sins were paid for on the cross, and the Father accepted the sacrifice of His Son, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). His wrath can now turn away from the sinner who accepts the sacrifice of Christ for his sin. He can now look at the sinner in a merciful, propitious way. He can now forgive the repentant sinner who believes in Christ. Now the sinner can be reconciled to God by faith in Christ.
Because of that, we can now enter right into the presence of God without fear of death. We don't have to stand on the outside looking in, so to speak. We can enter into fellowship with God Himself. Now the veil separating us from God has been torn in two.
No man tore the physical curtain in the temple from top to bottom. Think about it. It was a heavy object, made of several layers of material. It would be hard to start tearing it from the bottom in order to split it in two. The Bible says that this veil was split from top to bottom at the very moment Christ finished dying for our sins! When I was a kid, this miracle fascinated me and gripped my heart. How amazing!
Believe it. Receive it. Christ's death is for you.
-----
Question: "What was the significance of the temple veil being torn in two when Jesus died?"
Answer: During the lifetime time of Jesus, the Holy Temple in Jerusalem was the center of Jewish religious life. Here was the place that animal sacrifices were carried out and worship according to the Law of Moses was followed faithfully. Hebrews 9:1-9 tells us that in the Temple a veil separated the Holy of Holies—the earthly dwelling place of God’s presence—from the rest of the Temple where men dwelt. This signified that man was separated from God by sin (Isaiah 59:1-2). Only the High Priest was permitted to pass beyond this veil once each year (Exodus 30:10; Hebrews 9:7), enter into God's presence for all of Israel, and make atonement for their sins (Leviticus 16).
From: Got Questions?
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Holy Week Timeline
This is a good Timeline for Holy Week. Many Evangelicals are more unfamiliar with these events than we should be. It would be good to take some time to meditate on this most holy of weeks. It is holy since after these events, Christ's work was finished. We can now be saved and set apart to God through the merits of Christ and Christ alone. It isn't the week itself that makes us holy, set apart for God. It is what Christ did that makes us holy, sanctified, set apart for His service by faith in Him.
Superstitious religion sees the week itself and reinacting the events as somehow imparting merit. They miss the point. It is faith in the finished work of Christ that saves us, not the observation of religious ceremonies and traditions.
Even so, we are blessed when we remember what Christ did for us as recorded in the Word of God. This is the heart of the Gospel - Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the 3rd day, then appeared alive to many people.
(1 Corinthians 15:1ff)
-------
The Last Week
A.D. 30
Sunday
Jerusalem
The Triumphal Entry
Mt 21:1-11
Mk 11:1-10
Lk 19:29-44
Jn 12:12-19
A.D. 30
Monday
Jerusalem
Jesus curses the fig tree
Mt 21:18-19
Mk 11:12-14
Jesus cleanses the temple
Mt 21:12-13
Mk 11:15-18
A.D. 30
Tuesday
Jerusalem
The authority of Jesus questioned
Mt 21:23-27
Mk 11:27-33
Lk 20:1-8
Jesus teaches in the temple
Mt 21:28-23:29
Mk 12:1-44
Lk 20:9-21:4
Bethany
Jesus anointed
Mt 26:6-13
Mk 14:3-9
Jn 12:2-11
A.D. 30
Wednesday
Bethany
The plot against Jesus
Mt 26:14-16
Mk 14:10-11
Lk 23:3-61
A.D. 30
Thursday
Bethany
The Last Supper
Mt 26:17-29
Mk 14:12-25
Lk 22:7-20
Jn 13:1-38
Bethany
Jesus comforts the disciples
Jn 14:1-16:33
Bethany
Gethsemane
Mt 26:36-46
Mk 14:32-42
Lk 22:40-46
A.D. 30
Thursday night & Friday
Bethany
Jesus' arrest and trial
Mt 26:47-27:26
Mk 14:43-15:15
Lk 22:47-23:25
Jn 18:2-19:16
A.D. 30
Friday
Golgotha
Jesus' crucifixion and death
Mt 27:27-56
Mk 15:16-41
Lk 23:26-49
Jn 19:17-30
Josheph's Tomb
The burial of Jesus
Mt 27:57-66
Mk 15:42-47
Lk 23:50-56
Jn 19:31-42
Superstitious religion sees the week itself and reinacting the events as somehow imparting merit. They miss the point. It is faith in the finished work of Christ that saves us, not the observation of religious ceremonies and traditions.
Even so, we are blessed when we remember what Christ did for us as recorded in the Word of God. This is the heart of the Gospel - Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the 3rd day, then appeared alive to many people.
(1 Corinthians 15:1ff)
-------
The Last Week
A.D. 30
Sunday
Jerusalem
The Triumphal Entry
Mt 21:1-11
Mk 11:1-10
Lk 19:29-44
Jn 12:12-19
A.D. 30
Monday
Jerusalem
Jesus curses the fig tree
Mt 21:18-19
Mk 11:12-14
Jesus cleanses the temple
Mt 21:12-13
Mk 11:15-18
A.D. 30
Tuesday
Jerusalem
The authority of Jesus questioned
Mt 21:23-27
Mk 11:27-33
Lk 20:1-8
Jesus teaches in the temple
Mt 21:28-23:29
Mk 12:1-44
Lk 20:9-21:4
Bethany
Jesus anointed
Mt 26:6-13
Mk 14:3-9
Jn 12:2-11
A.D. 30
Wednesday
Bethany
The plot against Jesus
Mt 26:14-16
Mk 14:10-11
Lk 23:3-61
A.D. 30
Thursday
Bethany
The Last Supper
Mt 26:17-29
Mk 14:12-25
Lk 22:7-20
Jn 13:1-38
Bethany
Jesus comforts the disciples
Jn 14:1-16:33
Bethany
Gethsemane
Mt 26:36-46
Mk 14:32-42
Lk 22:40-46
A.D. 30
Thursday night & Friday
Bethany
Jesus' arrest and trial
Mt 26:47-27:26
Mk 14:43-15:15
Lk 22:47-23:25
Jn 18:2-19:16
A.D. 30
Friday
Golgotha
Jesus' crucifixion and death
Mt 27:27-56
Mk 15:16-41
Lk 23:26-49
Jn 19:17-30
Josheph's Tomb
The burial of Jesus
Mt 27:57-66
Mk 15:42-47
Lk 23:50-56
Jn 19:31-42
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