Daily Scripture:
Hebrews 2:14 Therefore, since the children share a common physical nature as human beings, he became like them and shared that same human nature; so that by his death he might render ineffective the one who had power over death (that is, the Adversary) 15 and thus set free those who had been in bondage all their lives because of their fear of death. (Complete Jewish Bible).
Revelation 5:6 Then I saw standing there with the throne and the four living beings, in the circle of the elders, a Lamb that appeared to have been slaughtered. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the sevenfold Spirit of God sent out into all the earth. 7 He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of the One sitting on the throne. 8 When he took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down in front of the Lamb. Each one held a harp and gold bowls filled with pieces of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people; 9 and they sang a new song,
“You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals;
because you were slaughtered;
at the cost of blood you ransomed for God
persons from every tribe, language, people and nation.
10 You made them into a kingdom for God to rule,
cohanim to serve him;
and they will rule over the earth.”
11 Then I looked, and I heard the sound of a vast number of angels — thousands and thousands, millions and millions! They were all around the throne, the living beings and the elders; 12 and they shouted out,
“Worthy is the slaughtered Lamb to receive
power, riches, wisdom, strength,
honor, glory and praise!” (Complete Jewish Bible).
Revelation 19:16 And on his robe and on his thigh he has a name written:
KING OF KINGS
AND
LORD OF LORDS. (Complete Jewish Bible).
Reflection Questions: In Black Panther, Killmonger seemed to kill T’Challa for the throne. T’Challa barely survived, then revived. He returned to dramatically confront Killmonger, saying, “I never yielded! And as you can see, I am not dead!” Jesus’ followers had an even more dramatic witness. Jesus was dead and buried—and then came to them, saying, “I am not dead!” In Revelation’s symbolic vision, the “Lion of the tribe of Judah” was also “a Lamb, standing as if it had been slain.” The hosts of heaven sang, “Worthy is the slaughtered Lamb.” Revelation 1:5 called Jesus “the firstborn from among the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth” (that’s what “King of kings” meant). That’s why the earliest Christians faced down the cruelest deaths the Roman Empire could devise for them. That’s why we, like those first Christians, can trust that no matter what life brings, we are on the side of the Lion/Lamb, finally prevailing through self-giving love.
- Professor Bryan Stone wrote that too many of us, shaped by human culture, believe that “Because the world is founded on violence, it can be saved only through violence. Christians…have a rival story—one that claims the world is founded on peace and can be saved from its violence only by peace.”* Pastor Hamilton often reminds us that Jesus' victory over evil, hatred and death at Easter is “our defining story.” In what ways does the story of Jesus define your life? What assumptions about life have you needed to rethink in the light of Jesus' story? How fully can you join in singing, “Worthy is the slaughtered Lamb to receive power, wealth, wisdom, and might, and honor, glory, and blessing”?
Family Activity: Fill some small balloons with water and place them in a bucket. Invite your family (and maybe some neighbors!) outside for a time of prayer and fun. Ask everyone to stand in a circle and give each person a water balloon. Explain that on the count of three, everyone is to throw their balloon in the air and try and catch a different balloon. Count to three and let the balloons and water fly! As soon as balloons break, determine who is the wettest. Have everyone else yell out one special quality or unique gift of that person. Each time a balloon breaks, repeat the process. If someone remains dry, toss a balloon and give a shout out to them, too. When all the balloons have broken, thank God for each person’s unique qualities and gifts!
* Bryan Stone, Evangelism after Christendom: The Theology and Practice of Christian Witness. Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos Press, 2007, p. 59.
Cathy Bien
Cathy Bien serves as the Director of Communications at Church of the Resurrection. She and her husband Rick have been members of the church since 1993 and have four adult children.No one wants to see their hero die in a movie. If the hero dies, hope dies with him or her. But when the hero is revived and survives, like T’Challa in Black Panther, hope reigns and we know good will ultimately triumph over evil.
In the Gospel message, our hero, Jesus, is put to death. I can only imagine how Jesus’ followers must have felt as they watched him be crucified. I’m sure they were heart-broken and confused, mourning and crying out, “God, why?”
The apostle Paul’s message in Hebrews 2:14-15 helps us understand the "why" through the lens of the resurrection. Verse 14 reminds us that Jesus shared flesh and blood with us - he shared our human condition - and in the end, he shared death. Death is never pretty, and is seldom painless, and Jesus suffered a cruel death on par with the worst that anyone else has experienced.
But Jesus didn’t just share human death. He defeated death, destroying “the one who holds the power over death” (verse 14b). The Gospel message for followers of Jesus is that death will never have the final word.
We are human, and someday we will die. But through Christ we have the hope of the resurrection and an eternal life that begins here and now.
We have two choices. We can live our entire lives enslaved by our fear of death (Hebrews 2:15), or we can trust that no matter what life brings we are on the side of the King of kings, the Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16), the one who defeated evil, hatred and death.
I choose life and hope and freedom. I choose Jesus.
© 2018 Church of the Resurrection
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