Rev. David G. Bostick
03-22-09
Last week I quoted an article from the Arizona Daily Star which stated that President Obama issued an executive order that reversed President Bush's limits on federal funding of stem cell research. Matt brought to my attention that there was more to the story than the information I read in the Star. (Arizona Daily Star, front page, March 9, 2009) Days after he issued his executive order, President Obama signed an appropriations bill into law which has an amendment that bans federal funding of stem cell research, thus rendering his executive order worthless. Thanks for the information Matt. This information does not change the point I was trying to make which is the fact that many of the victories we think are permanent, are really only temporary victories. What we hope for is a certain, decisive, and final victory. The cross and the empty tomb of Christ are a prophetic message of hope for a coming final victory for you and I today.
Communion is symbolic of the act of Christ's torture and death on the cross. The broken bread represents His broken body and the wine represents His shed blood. Last week we learned that victory comes out of a battle or struggle of some kind. The battle on the cross was necessary for the victory of the empty tomb. So communion, which is symbolic of the cross, is the hope of the empty tomb. The empty tomb promises the joy for a coming victory. In other words, the empty tomb shows proof of a victory that becomes a possibility because we now see that resurrection is possible. When Christ came out of the tomb it revealed the possibility that one day I can come out of my tomb. That is the victory I hope for and the thought of that victory brings me joy. My hope will be fulfilled, my joy will be complete, my victory is certain in the consummation of the Kingdom of God.
Understanding what the word consummate means helps us to understand the final victory of the Kingdom of God. The dictionary says, "consummate 1. complete in every detail: PERFECT" (Merriam-Webster)
In other words when we talk about the consummation of the Kingdom of God we are talking about the time when it will be complete in every detail, PERFECT. That is the final victory we hope for. We have joy in anticipation of its completion. There are three characteristics of the consummation of the Kingdom of God: Hope, Joy, and Victory.
Hope has seven aspects. (03-01-09)
Joy has three aspects. (03-08-09)
Victory has four aspects. (03-15-09)
There is a story in the New testament that ties hope, joy, and victory together to show the hope we have for eternal life.
Luke 24:13-49 (NIV)
On the Road to Emmaus
[13] Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. [14] They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. [15] As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; [16] but they were kept from recognizing him.
[17] He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”
They stood still, their faces downcast. [18] One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
[19] “What things?” he asked.
“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. [20] The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; THE BATTLE! [21] but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. [22] In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning [23] but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. [24] Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.”
Notice in verse 21 there is hope; hope in a redeemer. Not just hope that a friend and comrade had come to life again, but hope that this was Messiah.
In verse 22 there is joy expressed as amazement. After all of the
trauma of the torture and death of Jesus; after the finality of knowing He is in a tomb dead; now all of a sudden there is the report that the tomb is empty.
In verse 23 there is victory expressed in the fact that Jesus is alive, His tomb is empty.
[25] He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! [26] Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” [27] And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
Hope is based on a reliable promise from a reliable source. This is not just an accidental moment in history when some man came out of the grave by some mysterious power. This the
incarnation of God. This is the carefully planned work of God to restore mankind to a right relationship with Himself.
[28] As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. [29] But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.
[30] When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. [31] Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.
It was in the act of breaking the bread, an action of communion, that these men recognize the risen Lord. This is the seal of eternal victory, Jesus is alive, He has been victorious over death.
[32] They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
Victory erases all doubt. There is no doubt that God is at work here.
[33] They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together [34] and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” [35] Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.
Jesus Appears to the Disciples
[36] While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
[37] They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. [38] He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? [39] Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”
[40] When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. [41] And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” [42] They gave him a piece of broiled fish, [43] and he took it and ate it in their presence.
[44] He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”
Hope is based on a reliable promise from a reliable source.
[45] Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. [46] He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, [47] and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. [48] You are witnesses of these things. [49] I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
Then the disciples realize that right now, in this room, Hope, Joy, and Victory have all come together in an explosion of revelation. God has come to save mankind and He is here now.
Luke 24:50-51 (NIV)
[50] When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. [51] While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.
His ascension up into heaven is a declaration of final victory, and it is a message of victory for all who follow Jesus Christ.
I know that it is great to dream about what heaven might be like and surely we should do that from time to time. But the reality that faces us in our minds every day is weather we are going there or not. I'm talking about something beyond the choice we make to believe, confess our sins, and commit our lives to Christ. What about the questions that Satan presents to us. Is it real, is there really life after death, or are we destined to turn to dust and vanish away forever? Is there really a final victory or is there only a final end? When we look at the life of Jesus we see the reality of things to come. In Him we see our hope, joy, and victory. Our communion together is an act of corporate hope and joy in anticipation of a final victory, a victory that is as certain as the empty tomb of Jesus Christ.
Eschatology is where all of us are headed.
Merriam-Webster, Inc. Merriam-Webster 11th collegiate Dictionary. 2003
NIV - The Holy Bible: New International Version (NIV). Cedar Rapids: Laridian, 2003.
The Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. The NIV Center-Column Reference System, copyright © 1984 by Zondervan.
NIV – The Holy Bible: New International Version (NIV). Grand Rapids: 1984