A little boy poses an obvious but sometimes neglected question: Who is it that was raised from the dead-on Easter? It is a question about God’s purpose for creation, and Peter points to that purpose when he tells his audience about Jesus’ life and ministry. Reflection on the character of the risen One helps us to see God’s goal for history and our role of in attainment of that goal and can also give us confidence in the truth of the strange but joyous Easter message. youtu.be/DQOhPQAEU8U |
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Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem took place in a way that was unexpected and set him on the path of securing our redemption. In the same way, we will experience God’s action in unexpected ways, all in keeping with God’s great plan for our lives. youtu.be/zKzIudlNMxs
God offers salvation through simple belief. Salvation is God’s initiative, not ours. We do nothing to cause it or earn it. It was already there before we knew we needed it. Jesus Christ in his ministry is living proof of this. This is our message to the world. youtu.be/E_7Ys8YNyp8 When Jesus drove the moneychangers out of the temple, he was not simply letting his human side show and blowing his top. He was actually being Christ-like in insisting that the Father be treated as holy. Likewise, we are being Christ-like as we seriously work to model our lives on Christ Jesus. https://youtu.be/LUUz1GAC9GE We expect to have things our way; we expect to have things go our way ... and we do not like it when they do not. Peter learned an important lesson from Jesus about this — and we can and should - learn the same lesson for the same reason: God is God and we are not. youtu.be/WyP4Li0YmNo “Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths” is a prayer every Christian should pray frequently. It asks God not for information, but that we be made teachable, that we learn to internalize his ways without having to learn things the hard, painful, or costly way. youtu.be/gUp5924ooho Mark does not waste words in getting to the heart of his message. The Baptist’s arrest reminds us of dangers as Jesus comes proclaiming God’s kingdom. Because the reign of God comes near, people are called to change their thinking and become part of that movement. And Jesus calls four fishermen to be the first of many to be instruments of the reconciliation that he brings. youtu.be/EjLw1YIMY2o |
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