Larry Devich
Thursday, April 13, 2006
GetReligion: April 13, 2006
GetReligion: April 13, 2006
One more on the Gnostic gnonsense... ¶ 4/13/2006 02:31:00 PM 0 Comments
One more on the Gnostic gnonsense... ¶ 4/13/2006 02:31:00 PM 0 Comments
Just in Time for Easter: Gnosticism, Missing Links, and Other Lies by Steven Greenhut
Just in Time for Easter: Gnosticism, Missing Links, and Other Lies by Steven Greenhut
Read this for a discussion of the "Gospel" of Judas, the da Vinci Code and other nonsense the media tries to use to discredit Christianity. Like the story a while ago about Jesus actually walking on ice not on water, the media will generally believe any story, no matter how obviously goofy it is, rather than believe the plain Gospel of Jesus Christ. ¶ 4/13/2006 02:20:00 PM 0 Comments
Read this for a discussion of the "Gospel" of Judas, the da Vinci Code and other nonsense the media tries to use to discredit Christianity. Like the story a while ago about Jesus actually walking on ice not on water, the media will generally believe any story, no matter how obviously goofy it is, rather than believe the plain Gospel of Jesus Christ. ¶ 4/13/2006 02:20:00 PM 0 Comments
Here is the Lenten Devotion for Maundy Thursday from Scholia.net
The Benediction
Maundy Thursday
Read: Numbers 6:22-27 (If you like, re-read Luke 22:7-20 and review devotion 16)
"So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them.."
(Num. 6:27)
The conclusion of the Divine Service takes us back to the tabernacle one
more time. The finishing touches had just been added at the start of Numbers,
and the people were preparing for its consecration. This took place over twelve
days, after which we read: Now when Moses went into the tabernacle of meeting
to speak with Him, he heard the voice of One speaking to him from above the
mercy seat that was on the ark of the Testimony, from between the two
cherubim; thus He spoke to him (Num. 7:89). As Israel celebrated the Passover
(!) shortly thereafter, the cloud covered the tabernacle day and night (Num.
9:15-16). Note the progression: God had made Israel His people and delivered
them by sacrifice (the Passover lamb); now He was dwelling among them, in the
Holy of Holies, for their good.
And as the Israelites prepared to dedicate the temple, the Lord gave the
blessing which Aaron and his sons were to speak to the people: “The Lord bless
Thee and keep Thee; the Lord make His face to shine upon Thee and be
gracious unto Thee; the Lord lift up His countenance upon Thee, and give Thee
peace” (Num. 6:24-27). The Lord's face was turned toward His people: He had
them in His sight, to watch over them, nearby from the tabernacle. And by this
blessing, He put His name on them: He'd called them, saved them, and they were
His.
At a Passover centuries later, Jesus ate with His disciples. He had called
them to be His own, and in a few short hours would save them—and all the
world—by His sacrifice on the cross. But again, although He would die, then
rise, then ascend into heaven, He would not be far from His people. He
instituted a new tabernacle that night, establishing that His face would be toward
His people in, with and under bread and wine. He'd called them, saved them,
put His name on them. They were His, and He would not forsake them.
Today, the Divine Service begins with the Invocation (see devotion #28),
taking us back to Holy Baptism: there, the Lord put His name on you, making
you His people. The Sacrifice has been made for your sins at the cross, and so
you remain His people; therefore, the Lord turns His face toward you and feeds
you His holy Supper and gives you peace.
This is the heartbeat of the Christian's life. The Lord has called you as His
own. He continues to speak His life-giving Word. He continues to feed you His
body and blood for the forgiveness of sins. By these means of grace, He is near
to you. He declares, “I have called you by the Gospel and made you My own. I
look upon you with favor and will not let you go. I am not far away in time of
trouble, for I give you My Word: by these means of grace, I am with you always,
even to the end of the age.” ¶ 4/13/2006 12:08:00 PM 0 Comments
Maundy Thursday
Read: Numbers 6:22-27 (If you like, re-read Luke 22:7-20 and review devotion 16)
"So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them.."
(Num. 6:27)
The conclusion of the Divine Service takes us back to the tabernacle one
more time. The finishing touches had just been added at the start of Numbers,
and the people were preparing for its consecration. This took place over twelve
days, after which we read: Now when Moses went into the tabernacle of meeting
to speak with Him, he heard the voice of One speaking to him from above the
mercy seat that was on the ark of the Testimony, from between the two
cherubim; thus He spoke to him (Num. 7:89). As Israel celebrated the Passover
(!) shortly thereafter, the cloud covered the tabernacle day and night (Num.
9:15-16). Note the progression: God had made Israel His people and delivered
them by sacrifice (the Passover lamb); now He was dwelling among them, in the
Holy of Holies, for their good.
And as the Israelites prepared to dedicate the temple, the Lord gave the
blessing which Aaron and his sons were to speak to the people: “The Lord bless
Thee and keep Thee; the Lord make His face to shine upon Thee and be
gracious unto Thee; the Lord lift up His countenance upon Thee, and give Thee
peace” (Num. 6:24-27). The Lord's face was turned toward His people: He had
them in His sight, to watch over them, nearby from the tabernacle. And by this
blessing, He put His name on them: He'd called them, saved them, and they were
His.
At a Passover centuries later, Jesus ate with His disciples. He had called
them to be His own, and in a few short hours would save them—and all the
world—by His sacrifice on the cross. But again, although He would die, then
rise, then ascend into heaven, He would not be far from His people. He
instituted a new tabernacle that night, establishing that His face would be toward
His people in, with and under bread and wine. He'd called them, saved them,
put His name on them. They were His, and He would not forsake them.
Today, the Divine Service begins with the Invocation (see devotion #28),
taking us back to Holy Baptism: there, the Lord put His name on you, making
you His people. The Sacrifice has been made for your sins at the cross, and so
you remain His people; therefore, the Lord turns His face toward you and feeds
you His holy Supper and gives you peace.
This is the heartbeat of the Christian's life. The Lord has called you as His
own. He continues to speak His life-giving Word. He continues to feed you His
body and blood for the forgiveness of sins. By these means of grace, He is near
to you. He declares, “I have called you by the Gospel and made you My own. I
look upon you with favor and will not let you go. I am not far away in time of
trouble, for I give you My Word: by these means of grace, I am with you always,
even to the end of the age.” ¶ 4/13/2006 12:08:00 PM 0 Comments
Larry Devich
Larry Devich
I'm considering moving back to blogger.com for my journal. No real reason actually, just that it actually seems a bit easier to use. Then again it keeps people on their toes trying to find me.
Last night I went to a showing of The Passion of the Christ at Messiah, there were four of us watching it. As has been the case each time I've seen it I was left stunned and speechless. That movie is a masterpiece as far as I'm concerned.
After watching the movie I was struck again by the truth that while God loves us it is not a cheap and easy love. It is not a case of "Buddy Jesus" saying "I know you are not perfect, it's OK, I love you anyway." No, it is a case of a HOLY God who gives His own Son to die in our place, to give us life, and not just life but Eternal Life! It is a case of God giving Himself for us. ¶ 4/13/2006 10:43:00 AM 2 Comments
I'm considering moving back to blogger.com for my journal. No real reason actually, just that it actually seems a bit easier to use. Then again it keeps people on their toes trying to find me.
Last night I went to a showing of The Passion of the Christ at Messiah, there were four of us watching it. As has been the case each time I've seen it I was left stunned and speechless. That movie is a masterpiece as far as I'm concerned.
After watching the movie I was struck again by the truth that while God loves us it is not a cheap and easy love. It is not a case of "Buddy Jesus" saying "I know you are not perfect, it's OK, I love you anyway." No, it is a case of a HOLY God who gives His own Son to die in our place, to give us life, and not just life but Eternal Life! It is a case of God giving Himself for us. ¶ 4/13/2006 10:43:00 AM 2 Comments
