God had revealed that He would restore right relationship through Jesus.
- I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring;
he shall bruise your head,
and you shall bruise his heel.” Genesis 3:15
- 16 For dogs encompass me;
a company of evildoers encircles me;
they have pierced my hands and feet—
17 I can count all my bones—
they stare and gloat over me;
18 they divide my garments among them,
and for my clothing they cast lots. Psalm 22:16-18
- 10 “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn. Zechariah 12:10
When God brought judgement on Egypt for holding His people in captivity, He would pass over the homes with the blood of lambs over their doors. This was the first pass over.
The shedding of Jesus’ blood on the mount of crucifixion, is the blood of the second pass over.
You and I are invited to “place His blood over the doors of our lives.”
- For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 1 Corinthians 5:7
God’s judgement upon our sin is taken by Jesus on the cross. Jesus is our Passover Lamb.
- 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21
John 20:1-9 shows two different journeys to the Resurrected Jesus.
20 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 3 So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. 4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.
John and Peter journeys to the Resurrected Jesus were substantially different.
John traveled fast and quickly believed what he saw.
Peter traveled slower and believed and took extra time to reflect.
John’s journey to the Resurrected Jesus could be seen as, “I have seen and I am convinced.”
Peter’s journey could be described as, “I have seen, contemplated the evidence and I am convinced.”
Among the children of God all of them have not a like speed. Some of them get a sight of Christ before others. But whoever they be that have the life of God in them, and so are walking on towards Him, they shall, either first or last, meet with Him without doubt. Samuel Rutherford
May I encourage you to “go in” to the place of our Lord’s resurrection?
- If, like John, you quickly arrive to belief, go into the place of God’s great triumph and celebrate.
- If, like Peter, you reflect upon the evidence, go into the empty tomb of victory and become convinced.
Go ahead. Step inside the empty tomb of Jesus’ triumph. Waiting for you there is….
- 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus[a] from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
The Good News of Your Journey to Living Faith is that the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead gives you life, here and now and Jesus, the Lamb of God becomes YOUR Passover Lamb.
Spirit life. Soul life. Body life.
Online Bible Fellowships
Message Title: The Good News of Journeying to Living Faith
Primary Concept: The journey to Jesus, the Passover Lamb, may be rapid or delayed, yet both paths find the Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead available to them.
My Story
- Is or was your journey to faith in Jesus rapid, like John or slower, like Peter?
- Share a bit of your story.
Digging Deeper
- Please read Luke 19:1-10.
- Was Zacchaeus’ journey to faith in Jesus rapid or delayed?
- Was Zacchaeus more like the Apostle John or the Apostle Peter?
- Please read John 3:16 and John 19:38-39.
- Was Nicodemus’ journey to faith in Jesus rapid or delayed?
- Was Nicodemus more like Apostle John or the Apostle Peter?
Taking it Home
- Where are you in your journey to living faith in the resurrected Jesus?
- Do you have a friend, relative, associate or neighbor who is journeying like the Apostle John? Peter?
Prayer
- Please pray for yourself and your journey to living faith.
- Please pray for those in your bible fellowship and their journey to living faith.
- Please pray for the financial needs of our members.
- Please pray for many to bring God’s tithes and offerings into His local MCA house.