Comments on: March 13, 2010 http://newlife-glastonbury.org/bibleplan/2010/03/13/march-13-2008/ Mon, 02 Jan 2012 17:15:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Gordon http://newlife-glastonbury.org/bibleplan/2010/03/13/march-13-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-281 Gordon Thu, 13 Mar 2008 12:05:56 +0000 http://newlife-glastonbury.org/bibleplan/2008/03/13/march-13-2008/#comment-281 The mention of miracles, and their potentially deceptive nature is important for us to understand, as is the mention, particularly by John, that Jesus's miracles were "signs", not proofs; they were indecations if you like, that Jesus should be looked at and taken seriously. This was brought home to me several times while traveling in Asia. On one occasion, a Muslim in Pakistan told me of a very specific miracle that had happpened to him, and for him it proved that Islam was true. I found that I could not doubt the miracle, clearly I was not there, and the guy believed what he saw. I had the same experience with a Budhist in Burmah (Myanmar), he spoke of a very specific miracle that he had seen, and for him it was proof; and again, I could not doubt that he had seen what he thought he had seen. What struck me that day was that in the end a Christian's faith is not based on signs and miracles, but is based on if it is true, did Jesus rise from the dead? Jesus said "blessed are they that have not seen, yet believed--". As I read these verses in Matthew, I am struck that we need to be sure where our faith is based, because it will be challenged so that even the elect with be deceived "if that were possible". This suggests some pretty big challenges as we go through life. Am I sure where my faith is today? The mention of miracles, and their potentially deceptive nature is important for us to understand, as is the mention, particularly by John, that Jesus’s miracles were “signs”, not proofs; they were indecations if you like, that Jesus should be looked at and taken seriously.

This was brought home to me several times while traveling in Asia. On one occasion, a Muslim in Pakistan told me of a very specific miracle that had happpened to him, and for him it proved that Islam was true. I found that I could not doubt the miracle, clearly I was not there, and the guy believed what he saw. I had the same experience with a Budhist in Burmah (Myanmar), he spoke of a very specific miracle that he had seen, and for him it was proof; and again, I could not doubt that he had seen what he thought he had seen.

What struck me that day was that in the end a Christian’s faith is not based on signs and miracles, but is based on if it is true, did Jesus rise from the dead? Jesus said “blessed are they that have not seen, yet believed–”. As I read these verses in Matthew, I am struck that we need to be sure where our faith is based, because it will be challenged so that even the elect with be deceived “if that were possible”. This suggests some pretty big challenges as we go through life.

Am I sure where my faith is today?

]]> By: Eric Stillman http://newlife-glastonbury.org/bibleplan/2010/03/13/march-13-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-280 Eric Stillman Thu, 13 Mar 2008 10:35:38 +0000 http://newlife-glastonbury.org/bibleplan/2008/03/13/march-13-2008/#comment-280 Commentators say the "abomination that causes desolation" that was spoken of by Daniel was a prophecy of a desecration of the altar in the temple that would happen in the future, and which was fulfilled in 167 BC when Antiochus IV erected an altar of Zeus upon the altar of Yahweh in the temple. That phrase became a common phrase among the Jews to describe when someone would desecrate God's temple. Jesus uses the same language to prophesy the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, and to warn his disciples to flee from Jerusalem instead of being caught up in the battle against Rome. However, like many prophecies, it may also have a view towards the whole end times. Certainly v. 24-27 are timeless, that fale prophets will always be appearing to deceive people and pull people away from worshiping Jesus. It is important to note that these false prophets will even perform great signs and miracles. Seeing someone do something miraculous can be convince many people that their message is legitimate, but Jesus here says that signs and wonders don't necessarily mean the person doing them is a true prophet. We still need to pay attention to their message and whether they point to the true Christ. Commentators say the “abomination that causes desolation” that was spoken of by Daniel was a prophecy of a desecration of the altar in the temple that would happen in the future, and which was fulfilled in 167 BC when Antiochus IV erected an altar of Zeus upon the altar of Yahweh in the temple. That phrase became a common phrase among the Jews to describe when someone would desecrate God’s temple. Jesus uses the same language to prophesy the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, and to warn his disciples to flee from Jerusalem instead of being caught up in the battle against Rome.

However, like many prophecies, it may also have a view towards the whole end times. Certainly v. 24-27 are timeless, that fale prophets will always be appearing to deceive people and pull people away from worshiping Jesus. It is important to note that these false prophets will even perform great signs and miracles. Seeing someone do something miraculous can be convince many people that their message is legitimate, but Jesus here says that signs and wonders don’t necessarily mean the person doing them is a true prophet. We still need to pay attention to their message and whether they point to the true Christ.

]]>