Archives: Episode
Episode 2: Why Is The First Day Of The Week Important To Christians?
While the Sabbath Day (Saturday, the seventh day of the week) was important under the Old Testament, the first day of the week (Sunday) is important to Christians today. Christ’s new law teaches us the significance of the first day of the week. Let’s consider three specific reasons why this day is so important to Christians. 1) Jesus was raised on the first day of the week. Jesus was crucified on a Friday and hastily put into the tomb to avoid the Sabbath (Mark 15:42; Luke 23:54). Jesus’s body was in the tomb for parts of three days – Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Matthew 28:1 marks the timing of Jesus’s resurrection. “After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to view the tomb.” Of course, Jesus’s body was no longer there. He had risen just as He had promised! So, the first day of the week (Sunday) is important to Christians because it marks the zenith of all that Jesus had come to earth to accomplish. For, without Jesus’s resurrection, there would be no hope of anyone experiencing a resurrection from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:12-19). The first day of the week, then, signifies the completion of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection! 2) Jesus’s church began on the first day of the week. The day of Pentecost in Acts 2 (after Jesus’s resurrection) fell on a Sunday (Leviticus 23:15-16). The Holy Spirit (according to Jesus’s promise) came on the apostles on this day and they began preaching to all the Jews who had assembled in Jerusalem for Pentecost. They preached salvation through Jesus Christ, demonstrating that He is now reigning as King. About 3,000 obeyed the gospel that day (verses 36-41). So, the first day of the week (Sunday) is important to Christians because it was the day Jesus’s church (kingdom) was established. This day of Pentecost in Acts 2 was the day all the prophecies concerning the establishment of God’s kingdom were fulfilled. The Lord began adding to the number of people in His church/kingdom from this day forward (Acts 2:41, 47). This is the same church all true Christians are part of today. 3) New Testament Christians assembled on the first of the week. While there is authority for Christians to meet on any day of the week, it is essential for Christians to assemble with the local church on the first day of the week (unless unable to do so). For example, this is when the local church assembles to partake of the Lord’s Supper in remembrance of Jesus Christ. Acts 20:7 says, “On the first day of the week, we assembled to break bread….” Then, this is also when the local church assembles to take up a collection. 1 Corinthians 16:2 says, “On the first day of the week, each of you is to set something aside and save in keeping with how he is prospering….” So, the first day of the week is important to Christians because the New Testament pattern shows it to be the day Christians must assemble with the local church and worship God together. Although this should not be the only time Christians worship and may not be the only time the church assembles, it is specified in the New Testament as a day for assembling. And, it is the only day there is New Testament authority to engage in the two acts of worship of the Lord’s Supper and the collection. The first day of the week is important to Christians today for these three reasons. Although it is important to serve and worship God every day, the first day holds a special place. And, there are some added responsibilities Christians have on the first day of the week.
Episode 1: The Miracles Jesus Didn’t Perform
While Jesus walked this earth, He performed many miracles. In fact, He did so many wonderful things that the apostle John said that he supposed the world itself could not even contain the books that could be written about them (John 21:25). The Scriptures do record many specific miracles of Jesus in order that we might know that He is the Christ, the Son of God (John 20:30-31). But, we can also learn great things about Jesus through the miracles He did not perform. Consider a few examples.
1) Jesus did not turn stones into bread. Jesus had been led into the wilderness by the Spirit “to be tempted by the devil” (Matthew 4:1). During His time in the wilderness, He fasted forty days and nights (Matthew 4:2). Afterward, he was hungry. Then, Matthew 4:3 says that the “tempter approached him” and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” As the Son of God, Jesus could have done this. But, in doing so, He would have given into the temptation and failed to fulfill the purposes of God. Furthermore, Jesus did not perform miracles on earth to fulfill His own selfish purposes (i.e. like seeking physical food). Instead, His miracles were used to glorify God and bring about faith in those who saw and heard about them. Neither of these would be accomplished by turning these stones into bread. So, even though Jesus could have performed this miracle, He responded, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).
2) Jesus did not call legions of angels to deliver Him. Throughout Jesus’ life, He knew He was going to die – and how He would die (Matthew 16:21-23). Whenever the time for His betrayal and arrest was drawing near, He went to the Garden of Gethsemane and fervently prayed to the Father that there would be another way to accomplish His purposes. But, if not, He would do whatever was the Father’s will (Luke 22:39-46). No other way was provided. He would have to suffer and die to fulfill God’s plan of redemption. Whenever Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss and His enemies arrested Him, Peter wanted to fight. However, Jesus instructed him to put his sword away, saying, “Or do you think that I cannot call on my Father, and he will provide me here and now with more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matthew 26:53). So, even though Jesus could have performed a miracle to be delivered from suffering and death, He was focused on fulfilling God’s plan of salvation and let Himself be arrested (Matthew 26:56).
3) Jesus did not take Himself off the cross. After being tortured, Jesus had nails driven through His hands and His feet, affixing Him to the cross. There He hung – suspended between Heaven and earth, struggling for each breath, and awaiting His death. During this time, people were watching Him die and mocking Him. Matthew 27:39-40 says, “Those who passed by were yelling insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, ‘You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!’” The chief priests, scribes, and elders joined in the mocking, saying, “He saved others, but he cannot save himself! He is the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God rescue him now – if he takes pleasure in him! For he said, ‘I am the Son of God’” (Matthew 27:41-43). Even the robbers being crucified next to Him joined this mockery. Yet, Jesus let Himself die. Even though Jesus could have performed a miracle to take Himself off the cross, He loved you enough to die for you!
Yes, Jesus performed many great miracles that demonstrate Him to be the Son of God. But, there is also power in knowing that Jesus did not use His miracles for self-fulfilling purposes. His love for the Father and for all people took precedence over His own desires!
Episode 1: The Miracles Jesus Didn’t Preform
While Jesus walked this earth, He performed many miracles. In fact, He did so many wonderful things that the apostle John said that he supposed the world itself could not even contain the books that could be written about them (John 21:25). The Scriptures do record many specific miracles of Jesus in order that we might know that He is the Christ, the Son of God (John 20:30-31). But, we can also learn great things about Jesus through the miracles He did not perform. Consider a few examples.
1) Jesus did not turn stones into bread. Jesus had been led into the wilderness by the Spirit “to be tempted by the devil” (Matthew 4:1). During His time in the wilderness, He fasted forty days and nights (Matthew 4:2). Afterward, he was hungry. Then, Matthew 4:3 says that the “tempter approached him” and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” As the Son of God, Jesus could have done this. But, in doing so, He would have given into the temptation and failed to fulfill the purposes of God. Furthermore, Jesus did not perform miracles on earth to fulfill His own selfish purposes (i.e. like seeking physical food). Instead, His miracles were used to glorify God and bring about faith in those who saw and heard about them. Neither of these would be accomplished by turning these stones into bread. So, even though Jesus could have performed this miracle, He responded, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).
2) Jesus did not call legions of angels to deliver Him. Throughout Jesus’ life, He knew He was going to die – and how He would die (Matthew 16:21-23). Whenever the time for His betrayal and arrest was drawing near, He went to the Garden of Gethsemane and fervently prayed to the Father that there would be another way to accomplish His purposes. But, if not, He would do whatever was the Father’s will (Luke 22:39-46). No other way was provided. He would have to suffer and die to fulfill God’s plan of redemption. Whenever Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss and His enemies arrested Him, Peter wanted to fight. However, Jesus instructed him to put his sword away, saying, “Or do you think that I cannot call on my Father, and he will provide me here and now with more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matthew 26:53). So, even though Jesus could have performed a miracle to be delivered from suffering and death, He was focused on fulfilling God’s plan of salvation and let Himself be arrested (Matthew 26:56).
3) Jesus did not take Himself off the cross. After being tortured, Jesus had nails driven through His hands and His feet, affixing Him to the cross. There He hung – suspended between Heaven and earth, struggling for each breath, and awaiting His death. During this time, people were watching Him die and mocking Him. Matthew 27:39-40 says, “Those who passed by were yelling insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, ‘You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!’” The chief priests, scribes, and elders joined in the mocking, saying, “He saved others, but he cannot save himself! He is the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God rescue him now – if he takes pleasure in him! For he said, ‘I am the Son of God’” (Matthew 27:41-43). Even the robbers being crucified next to Him joined this mockery. Yet, Jesus let Himself die. Even though Jesus could have performed a miracle to take Himself off the cross, He loved you enough to die for you!
Yes, Jesus performed many great miracles that demonstrate Him to be the Son of God. But, there is also power in knowing that Jesus did not use His miracles for self-fulfilling purposes. His love for the Father and for all people took precedence over His own desires!
