The Persecution of Small Farmers Goes to a New!Level
Wednesday, March 27, 2024
Easter: Why We Celebrate the New Covenant
By Andrew Heart
We celebrate Christmas and the birth of Christ, and so we should. But if our Lord had only lived here with us on the earth, but had not died for our sins as the sacrificial “Lamb of God” and risen from the grave, He would not have defeated death (Romans 6:10; 2 Timothy 1:10), and we would not be redeemed. Jesus introduced His new covenant “in His blood” to His disciples during the Last Supper. But what did that mean? His Jewish disciples would have been well acquainted with the covenant God made with Moses on Mount Sinai. But what was this new covenant all about?
Simply put, a “covenant” is a contract or an agreement. Under the “old” agreement, the Mosaic covenant, Israel was called to obey God and keep the Law, and in return, God would protect and bless them. The “new” agreement was between God and all mankind, with Jesus as the mediator (1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 7:22).
Whereas under the old covenant the shedding of blood of a sacrificial animal was repeatedly required for the atonement of sin (Hebrews 10:1–4), the new covenant was written with the blood of Jesus, who was “the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world” (John 1:29). His blood was shed “once, for all” on the cross, as He “died to sin,” and “we know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him” (Romans 6:9–10).
If the “new covenant” is genuinely new, that must of necessity make the “old covenant” old. And if it is old, is it then still valid and in enforcement? Can the old and the new coexist? Or with the introduction of the new, is the old then set to “vanish away,” as Paul explains in Hebrews 8:13?
We know that “All scripture is given by inspiration of God” (2 Timothy 3:16), and that of course includes the Old Testament. But the Old Testament must be interpreted in light of the New Testament, not the other way around.
The book of Hebrews is extremely important to this understanding and was written to explain to the Jews, who up until that point had only known the Law, that a new and better covenant had now come (Jeremiah 31:31–34; Hebrews 8:6–8). The entire book of Hebrews is about Jesus and how He is the guarantor of the new and better covenant. This is essential for every Christian to understand. Paul explains that many of the forms and rituals of the Old Testament were types and shadows of the better things to come (Colossians 2:16–17; Hebrews 8:5, 10:1).
When Jesus presented Himself to His disciples after His death, the disciples asked Him if He would now restore the kingdom to Israel (Acts 1:6). The Greek word for “restore again” in Strong’s Bible Dictionary is “apokathistemi”—to reconstitute, restore. Up until that time, the disciples could not envision any other sort of kingdom than a physical kingdom restored to Israel.
He answered their first question by telling them it was not for them to know about times and seasons, but that they would receive power by the Holy Spirit to be witnesses, first locally, and then to the uttermost parts of the earth (Acts 1:7–8). He then answered their second question regarding a restored physical kingdom by rising up into the heavens to sit on the right hand of the Father (Acts 1:9). And it was from that vantage point, sitting on that throne, that He would rule, not on an earthly throne in a physical temple on earth. Christ’s ascension confirmed the new covenant.
When Jesus was comparing “new wine” to “old” in Luke 5:36–39, He said, “No one after drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.’” In this parable the Lord was explaining how the old guard (the scribes, Pharisees, and Jewish religious leaders) longed to cling to the “old way” (or covenant) rather than receive the “new wine” that He was pouring out. That’s why the new wine had to be poured into new bottles that could receive it (Matthew 9:16–17). This was shown clearly in how the Jewish religious leaders responded to the man in John 9 who had been born blind but had been healed by Jesus: “They reviled him, saying, ‘You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from” (John 9:28–29).
In conclusion, the new covenant was initiated at the Last Supper and confirmed through Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension into glory. The reason Paul spent so much time focusing on it was because it represented a monumental change for his Jewish audience, and it was difficult to understand—much less accept.
The study of Scripture is important to understand why we celebrate Easter and the ushering in of the new covenant. The disciples in Berea received the word with eagerness and searched the Scriptures daily to see if what Paul and Silas were teaching was the truth (Acts 17:10–11).
With so many voices and so much deception in the world today, it’s more important than ever to be anchored in the truth of God’s Word, and not tossed about by every “wind of doctrine” (Ephesians 4:14). “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20–21).
https://anchor.tfionline.com/post/easter-why-we-celebrate-the-new-covenant/?
Tuesday, March 26, 2024
What is Truth?
Dennis Edwards
Perhaps you might not recognize that the title above is a quotation from a famous man. He is famous for the compromise that he made. He is famous because he sacrifices the life of an innocent man. He is famous because he yields to influential political, financial and religious powers for fear of his position, for fear of not being found loyal to his party, for fear of unpopular public opinion.
Here we see his famous words, words that are so often repeated today by those claiming to be politically correct, neutral or open minded. “What is truth?” Or as often put today, “There are many truths.” Or, “You can’t be so dogmatic.” Or, “You need to be more open-minded.” Or, “Truth is relative.” Let us put these words in context so we can try to understand what was meant by them.
John 18:28-38
Then led they (the Jewish religious leaders) Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the Passover. (What hypocrisy. Here the religious rulers stay outside of the judgment hall, a Roman building, because if they entered it, they would not be able to eat the Passover meal, as they would be considered unclean.)
Pilate then went out unto them, and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?”
They answered and said unto him, “If he were not a criminal, we would not have delivered him up unto you.”
Then said Pilate unto them, “Take him, and judge him according to your law.”
The Jews therefore said unto him, “It is not lawful for us to put any man to death:” that the words of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spoke signifying what death he should die.
Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”
Jesus answered him, “Are you asking this of yourself, or did others tell it of me?”
Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you unto me: what have you done?” (It sounds here that Pilate is a little annoyed at Jesus’ reply.)
Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.”
Pilate therefore said unto him, “Are you a King then?”
Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth hears my voice.”
Pilate said unto him, “WHAT IS TRUTH?” And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and said unto them, “I find in him no fault at all.” [End of Bible quotation]
“What is truth?” The response of Pilate rings of today’s “open-minded” generation, a politically correct generation that denies that there is “a truth,” because there are many “truths” and one cannot be so narrow-minded to think his view is “the truth.”
It reminds me of what Allan Bloom wrote in his book, The Closing of the American Mind. "Openness used to be the virtue that permitted us to seek the good by using reason. It now means accepting everything and denying reason's power."
Some will tell us that as there are many colours in the rainbow, but all are part of what makes up “white” light, so the truth can have many colours. And I agree with that. Of course, there are often many different aspects of a question. Different sides may have different ways of looking at things. They see things differently and bring different “truths” to the equation and situation. That is all well and good.
But ultimately, we come to the question of Jesus. Was he the King of the Jews? Was he the expected Messiah for whom the Jewish people waited patiently for his coming in hope that he would free them from their servitude to the Romans and bring in a righteous government and world peace? Is he the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords?
What was Pilate saying when he says, “What is truth?” I propose that he was saying, like many do today, that the truth is relative, that there are many aspects of truth. “You cannot be so dogmatic, Jesus, or narrow minded. We, Romans, have our truths, also,” may have been the tone of Pilate’s response. Or maybe his tone was sarcastic and he was saying, “You want to get philosophical with me? Well, I know philosophy, also. I studied the Greek philosophers. What is truth? It’s all relative.”
C.S. Lewis made a famous statement about Jesus of Nazareth in his book Mere Christianity. He said,
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
Jesus has not given us the option to be neutral, politically correct, or “open-minded.” He is either the Son of God, or he is not. He either rose from the dead or he did not. It’s just that simple and it’s a question we all need to resolve because it could have eternal consequences.
Pilate missed his chance. Here he was in front of the very man who had performed amazing miracles which as Paul said later to one of the Jewish political leaders, “This thing was not done in a corner.”[1] In other words, everyone knew about it or had heard about it. Pilate even sends Jesus to Herod the Jewish ruler of Galilee who is visiting Jerusalem at the time of the Passover an important Jewish holiday.
We see that Pilate blew it. He was more interested in pleasing the local political and financial leaders who helped him in controlling and ruling the local people than he was in instituting just and righteous judgment. He was more interested in keeping their favour than in doing what was right. Perhaps he was afraid that word might get back to Tiberius Caesar that he had been too soft on a local criminal who had exalted himself to the rank of “King of the Jews.”
The Jewish leaders used this tactic when they saw that Pilate was set on releasing Jesus. They said, “If you let this man go, you are not Caesar’s friend: whosoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.”[2] Pilate also dismissed the warning message sent to him from his own wife, which said, “Have nothing with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day a dream because of him.”[3] Even though he knew that it was for envy that the Jewish leaders had delivered Jesus to him, he allowed an innocent man be condemned to death contrary to Roman law.[4]
How did Pilate’s decision affect his life?
Some accounts suggest that Caligula ordered Pontius Pilate to death by execution or suicide. Others say he was sent into exile and committed suicide of his own accord. In the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, they believe Pontus Pilate was converted to Christianity and he is considered a saint. Eusebius reported that Pontius Pilate committed suicide during the reign of Caius or Emperor Caligula. Eusebius records the following for us,
It is worthy of note that Pilate himself, who was governor in the time of our Saviour, is reported to have fallen into such misfortunes under Caius, whose times we are recording, that he was forced to become his own murderer and executioner; and thus divine vengeance, as it seems, was not long in overtaking him. This is stated by those Greek historians who have recorded the Olympiads, together with the respective events which have taken place in each period.[7]
One thing we know for sure is that Pontus Pilate existed. In 1961 an archaeological dig led by Dr. Antonio Frova in Caesrea Maritiama found a piece of limestone with Pilate’s name inscribed in Latin, linking Pilate to Tiberius’s reign.[8]
More accounts seem to indicate that Pilate committed suicide; a sad ending for a man of authority who, because of the pressure of others, misconstrued the importance of the judgment he was making against Christ.
Instead of having Godly convictions and following Roman law, Pilate compromised to please the local powers for fear of being reproved by the higher powers in Rome. Truth was relative and not that important, or so he thought. He let himself be influenced by others whom he knew to have alternative motives. In the end, even with a warning from his wife, he thought Jesus was not such an important issue and condemned him to death.
And what about each of us? Have we gone the way of modern man and decided that it’s all relative and Jesus is not that important? Yes, we used to believe in Jesus when we were young, but now we have decided He’s not that relative to our lives. As long as we live a good life and do not harm others, isn’t that enough?
Jesus said, “He that is not for me is against me and he that gathers not with me scatters abroad.”[9] If we have accepted Jesus as our saviour by asking Him into our hearts, we have our sins forgiven and have the hope of eternal life. In thanksgiving for the free gift we have received, we should be willing to confess Christ. Paul says, “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe with your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”[10]
Jesus said, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” [11]
There is something about declaring our faith in Christ that God blesses. No matter if we are working in fulltime service for God or in some other type of work, God expects us as Christians to let our light shine amongst men by sharing our faith with words and example whenever we have the chance. Let’s not be ashamed to share our faith in whatever way we can and share it as much as we can with our speech, our good conversation and our loving sample to others. Let's stand up for our convictions. We need to know what we believe and study to “be ready to give an answer to everyman that asks us of the hope that is in us with meekness and fear.”[12]
I’ll end here with a quote from Keith Ward professor of Philosophy at Biola University in California. He has made the following statement about modern relativism's truth claims. He says,
“It is a central heresy of our culture to say that all truth is relative; that one thing may be true for me and quite another may be true for you. This absurdity destroys the very notion of truth … and is the result of muddled thinking. No one can seriously believe that a belief which contradicts his or her own is just as true. The expression “It is true for me” is self-confuting. Either a thing is true or it is not. … Can we imagine saying, “Well, the earth is round to me; but it may be flat to you”? The earth is either round or flat; it cannot be both; and what you or I think about it is irrelevant. You may claim that religion and ethics is not a matter of truth at all. Very well, do not use the word “true”; but if you use it, do not render it unintelligible by adding that empty phrase, “for me.””[13]
So don’t tell me that “Jesus is true for you, but not for me.” The question is whether Jesus is really who he said he was or not. Is he the Christ, the Son of the living God? Is Jesus the Truth, or is he false? That’s the question we all need to answer through open and honest enquiry.
Notes
[1] Acts 26:26
[2] John 19:12b
[3] Matthew 27:19
[4] Matthew 27:18
[5] Mark 15:15
[6] http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0812.htm
[7] http://www.neverthirsty.org/pp/corner/read2/r00886.html
[8] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontius_Pilate
[9] Matthew 12:30
[10] Romans 10:9,10
[11] Mark 8:36-38
[12] 1Peter3:15
[13] Ward, Keith; The Turn of the Tide, pg. 144. http://existenceofgod.org/relativism-the-redefining-of-tolerance/
