Monday, April 13, 2009

THE BIBLE REPORTER, Monday, April 20, AD 29

JESUS RISES FROM THE DEAD!
Discovery of Open Tomb Made by 3 Women

The following is the first interview of the women who found that Jesus' tomb had been opened.

Q. How did you happen to make this discovery?
A. At dawn, yesterday, we were bringing spices to anoint Jesus' body. We wondered who would roll the stone away from the tomb. Suddenly we felt an earthquake. When we looked up, we saw an angel. He had rolled the stone back and was sitting on it.
Q. Where were the guards?
A. They fainted when they saw the angel. We were frightened, too.
Q. Did the angel speak to you?
A. Yes, he told us not to be afraid. He said he knew we were looking for Jesus who was crucified. He told us Jesus wasn't there. He had risen! He even invited us to see for ourselves.
Q. You mean you went inside the tomb?
A. Yes, and Jesus wasn't there! We saw two angels standing where he had been laid.
Q. What do you think happened to Jesus' body?
A. The angels reminded us that Jesus had said, "The Son of Man must be handed over to his enemies. He will die on a cross, but on the third day, he will rise from the dead." Yesterday was the third day.
Q. So, do you believe that's what happened?
A. Yes, we do.

Guards Tell a Different Story

Two of the guards who were on duty guarding Jesus' tomb as ordered by Pilate, deny that Jesus rose from the dead. "No one has ever risen from the dead!" they said. "Jesus' disciples came and stole his body while we were sleeping." So far no action has been taken against the guards.

Strong Earthquake Felt

A strong earthquake was felt in and around Jerusalem on the day Jesus of Nazareth died on the cross. Many reports continue to tell of damage to tombs in the area. One aftershock was reported yesterday, the same day the women found Jesus' tomb open.

Vandalism to Temple Curtain

Jewish rulers have offered a reward to anyone who can explain how the temple curtain dividing the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies was torn. The rip looked as if it started at the top and tore downwards. The apparent vandalism happened at the same time Jesus Christ died on the cross.

Disciples Believe Report Made by Women from their Group

"We thought they were just talking foolishness when they said they saw angels," Peter, one of Jesus' disciples, said. "But when Mary told us, 'They have taken the Lord out of the tomb and we don't know where they have put him,' John and I ran to see for ourselves. We found the tomb empty!"

Burial Cloths Still in Tomb

John, a disciple of Jesus, said he saw the strips of linen that had been around Jesus' body. He and Peter, another disciple, inspected the tomb yesterday. Peter noted that the burial cloth that went around Jesus' head lay in a separate spot. The cloth, he claims, was folded.

Woman Claims Risen Jesus Spoke Her Name

Mary Magdalene said Jesus spoke to her as she looked into his tomb. "He was behind me and asked why I was crying. I thought he was the gardener, and had taken Jesus' body away. Then he spoke my name, 'Mary.' I turned around and I knew it was Jesus."

More Jesus Sightings

Two followers of Jesus, on their way to the village of Emmaus, said Jesus joined them as they walked. They said he explained how the writings of Moses and the prophets pointed to him. These men seemed sure this "Jesus" was the same Jesus whose ministry they had followed for three years.

Ten men who were Jesus' disciples said they were in a locked room when suddenly Jesus appeared. "He showed us the scars on his hands and feet," one of them said. Another added, "He shared our dinner." Still another claimed, "We touched him!" These men had been in hiding since their Master's crucifixion. They appeared to be telling the truth. Nothing could have changed them so much - unless Jesus really did rise from the dead. Jesus must be alive!

Friday, April 10, 2009

A New Address

Isn't it interesting that when people of the Old Testament died, the usual phrase describing their deaths was "and he was gathered to his people," ( Deuteronomy 32:50) or "rested with his fathers." (I Kings 2:10)

But the New Testament uses the phrase "to be away from the body and at home with the Lord." (II Corinthians 5:8) What made the difference in the future home of believers?

John 11:25 "Jesus said to her (Martha), 'I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies."

Jesus told the man on the cross next to him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:41)

Jesus says to us, "In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." (John 14:2-3)

Jesus told his followers, "Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live." (John 14:19) "On that day you wil realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you." (vs 20)

Romans 8:1-2 "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death."

We have a new address in heaven because of Christ's death for us and His resurrection.
Insightfully yours,
Paulita

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

THORNS

Our neighbor has a lemon tree whose branches hang over our side of the fence. SO, we get to have Meyer lemons and they are good! I have learned to be careful of the huge thorns. I didn't know that lemons had thorns until my experience with this tree. They are treacherous, and they hurt when they stick you or grab your clothes.

I had often wondered why God made thorns on a beautiful lemon tree, or for that matter, on even more beautiful roses. Then I heard someone say on the radio this morning that roses (etc.) didn't originally have thorns. They came as the result of Adam and Eve's disobedience to God. Being the doubter that I sometimes am, I looked up the Scripture reference he gave, and behold:
"Cursed is the ground because of you;
through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.
It will produce thorns and thistles for you
and you will eat the plants of the field."
Genesis 3:17-18

There are many other references to thorns in the Bible, but as I looked at the thorns on the lemon tree, I thought only of the crown of thorns Jesus wore when He was crucified. Until now, I had not thought of the thorns being a symbol of the curse God put on mankind as the result of the original sin. But there displayed on Jesus head was the curse, and there He was dying for my sins.
Insightfully yours,
Paulita

Sunday, April 5, 2009

CAT

Last year I blogged on Christmas. I kept it up all year with the exception of a few droughts in the middle. I thought I'd do Easter this year, but it is now Palm Sunday, so I'm a little late starting. The older I get the more distracted I get, BUT I HAVE GOOD EXCUSES!

Number one excuse: new cat!

If you read about our Christmas, you'll understand. (christmas-paulita.blogger.com/) Said cat is now one year old (this month). She no longer climbs the drapes, eats houseplants, tries to hang herself on miniblind cords, or attacks me. She still searches for paper clips, rubber bands (and then runs like crazy when I yell and chase her), dives regularly into wastebaskets, misses her potty box (as in aim), races down the hall trying to trip anyone in her path, drinks out of any leaky faucet she can find, loves to go into the bathtub and look around, darts into the closet before the door is closed, gets into things she knows she's not supposed to get into when she wants attention, and shadows me constantly.

I missed camelia season this spring. I usually pick three different kinds of camelias and float them in a bowl on the table. Sasha (said cat) flipped them out several times a day and drank the water. The camelias weren't happy in the house so I admired them, as well as any other flowers I might have wanted to pick, in the yard.

Actually Sasha is settling into the family. She sleeps more!!! Little babies sleep less as they grow up, but cats sleep more and that is good. She stays quiet all night long locked in the family room with everything picked up so she can't hurt herself, or us, or the house. When it gets light, she says she wants out of her prison and wants to be rubbed all over as she stretches out on the floor under our feet. In the evening she wants to play with us. We play follow the laser, Ants in the Pants, and you push the ball to me and I'll push it back.

So what's my new insight on cats? If you are getting a replacement pet for a beloved pet you had to have put to sleep, don't expect a carbon copy. Don't even expect the same catlike responses. Don't expect the same eating habits, or routines. Don't expect the same ways of showing affection. I guess this is like don't expect all your kids to be the same, or if you change spouses, don't expect the new one to be like the old one, or if you move to a new city, don't expect to do the same things you've always done.

Well, this is a start. You can measure your insight against mine if you want. Hopefully this is all the insight you'll get on cats. I am going to get a life.

Insightfully yours,
Paulita