6 April 2010
Psalm 103; Exod. 12:28-39; 1 Cor. 15:12-28; Mark 16:9-20

The fulfillment of a long-ago promise. In Genesis 15 we read of the Lord’s promise to Abraham concerning the people being enslaved in Egypt for 400 years and now the Lord is fulfilling the promise to deliver them. It seems a horrible thing to destroy the first-born males in Egypt yet there were so many signs before that, if they had been heeded by the Egyptians, could have averted this disaster. Pharaoh had been exposed as insignificant to the God of the Hebrews so they have no excuses for not leaving Pharaoh and he has no excuses for not letting the people go. It would be hard to imagine this incredible procession of people and animals out of Egypt and into the wilderness, bound for the Promised Land.

Having lived in the south my entire life I have always been aware of people handling snakes and drinking poison as part of their religion in the name of Jesus. It continues to baffle me how this does not also fall under the category of not tempting God. The ending of the book of Mark that contains this particular verse is much in dispute as to whether it actually belongs in the canon of Scripture as it isn’t in the oldest and best manuscripts. Even if we include it, it doesn’t seem to encourage the “practice” of picking up snakes. We see Paul once bitten by a snake in Acts 28.3-6 but the event looks nothing like the worship practices of these folks. The larger picture of the Gospel simply tells us to believe and to be on mission trusting Him in all circumstances, resting in the promise of presence.

Paul rightly argues that if there is no resurrection then we believe in vain. The very hope of the Christian is the resurrection to eternal life, if this is not true then there is no Gospel at all. Paul’s proclamation begins at the cross but even the cross finds its significance in the empty tomb. From the empty tomb we know that death is not the final answer, that God has power over death itself. Our hope is that as Jesus ascended to be with the Father in heaven, so too will we one day share with Him that same blessed fellowship. Paul then gives the progression from Jesus ascending to reigning to defeating death forever and the fullness of His kingdom established. We live in faith believing as Abraham did, that one day the kingdom will be established and in the meantime it is our joy to proclaim this wonderful message of redemption.

Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.