By Bill Brettschneider. April 28, 2011. BLOWING ROCK -- Each Tuesday morning, the Men's Connection meets at Chetola Mountain Resort, Blowing Rock, for breakfast (7:30 am), fellowship and Bible study. Blowing Rock News is pleased to share these weekly meditations, by discussion leader Bill Brettschneider.

Meditations

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

The “empty” tomb against the backdrop of the Cross!  He is Risen!  He has overcome death!  What greater time than now to borrow from the Christmas season – “Joy to the World.” The promise of the coming of Christ at His birth has been fulfilled in Easter.  “Oh, happy day.  Oh, happy day.  When Jesus washed my sins away!”

The Cross – an instrument of sorrow and suffering transformed by God’s power for His purpose: the salvation of mankind.  This timeless symbol was neither known nor used by the Jewish community.  Their tradition was the “stoning” of a criminal to be put to death.  It was not until their captivity at approximately 600 BC that they were exposed to the cross and the process of crucifixion – both a Greek and Roman custom.

Those facts are made all the more astounding when we consider the Psalms of David written roughly 1000 BC and the prophecies of Isaiah dated to around 700 BC.  As you read the examples below, can you “see” the foretelling of the suffering and triumph of Christ during the Easter season?  Can you “see” the foretelling of the crucifixion, unknown to the authors at the time of their writing?

Psalm 17:1-6                          A prayer of David.

Hear me, LORD, my plea is just; listen to my cry. Hear my prayer— it does not rise from deceitful lips. Let my vindication come from you; may your eyes see what is right. Though you probe my heart, though you examine me at night and test me, you will find that I have planned no evil; my mouth has not transgressed. Though people tried to bribe me, I have kept myself from the ways of the violent through what your lips have commanded. My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not stumbled. I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer.

Psalm 22:1-2; 6-8; 14-18      A psalm of David

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest.

But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by everyone, despised by the people.  All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads. “He trusts in the LORD,” they say, “let the LORD rescue him.  Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.”

I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted within me. My mouth is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death. Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet. All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me. They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.

Isaiah 53:1-10                      A prophecy / A “Gospel”

Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.

Even as these words tell of that which was to come for Jesus, the “suffering servant”, the authors also “saw” the heart of Easter – the Resurrection and the life to come!

Psalm 17:15

As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.

Psalm 22: 27-31

All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, for dominion belongs to the LORD and he rules over the nations. All the rich of the earth will feast and worship; all who go down to the dust will kneel before him - those who cannot keep themselves alive. Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord. They will proclaim his righteousness, declaring to a people yet unborn: He has done it!

Isaiah 53:11-12

After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Both time and space do not permit a full and thorough examination of the rich prophecy detail fulfilled in the Easter story.  In your study time, consider the Gospel accounts and use the following to draw your connections and conclusions:

THE PASSION OF CHRIST – PREVIEWED

Betrayed by a Friend Psalm 41:9; Psalm 55:12-14 

Sold for 30 Pieces of Silver Zechariah 11:12-13 

Forsaken by His Disciples Zechariah 13:7 

Accused by False Brethren Psalm 35:11; Psalm 109:2

Mocked and beaten Micah 5:1; Isaiah 50:6; Isaiah 52:14 

Pierced in hands and feet Psalm 22:16, Zechariah 12:10, Zechariah 13:6 

Crucified between thieves Isaiah 53:9, 12

Pray for His Crucifiers Psalm 109:4; Isaiah 53:12 

Object of Ridicule Psalm 109:5; Psalm 22: 7-8, 17

Garments Gambled for Psalm 22:18

Deserted by God Psalm 22:1

Agonize with Thirst Psalm 22:15; Psalm 69:21

Commit Himself to God Psalm 31:5

Have his Friends stand far off Psalm 38:11; Psalm 88:8

Spared Broken Bones Exodus 12:46; Numbers 9:12

Hid by Darkness Psalm 22:2; Amos 8:9; Joel 2:31-32

At His Birth, the darkness of night was turned into the brightest glory.  At His Death, the brightness of day was turned into the darkest hour.  At His Resurrection, He confirmed John 8:12 – “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Will you walk in the light today?

Join us this coming week Tuesday, May 3, 7:30 AM, as we explore the Mission of Jesus – His Resurrection, His Ascension and His Exaltation.  Bring your Bible . . . and bring a friend.

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