John 20:1-31 – How We’re Set Apart

Read John 20:1-31

As believers, we’re set apart by the promise from our risen Savior. We “will have life by the power of his name.” This Resurrection story beautifully recounts what happened to Jesus’ followers just days after he was brutally killed. Jesus’ death was on purpose; it had to happen because God loved us so much. Because Jesus was God, He could not stay dead. The impact of his resurrection from the dead is huge, and without it our faith would be meaningless. The apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:14, “And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless.”

This was a long reading, and there are so many nuggets of truth and wisdom for us to meditate on. We see Mary and his disciples at the tomb, angels, several appearances of Jesus, a doubting disciple, and so much more. Can you imagine how hard it would have been to make sense of what had happened that weekend? Jesus had died, and then he was back. The fear of association, the doubts, would have been crippling. And yet everything Jesus had told them was coming true. We can all learn from this that Jesus’ word is to be trusted. Continue reading “John 20:1-31 – How We’re Set Apart”

Numbers 19:1-22 – Purification is a Big Deal

Read Numbers 19:1-22

This isn’t the only place the Bible speaks of the importance of purification. You may recall Leviticus 11-15 as well as a couple other places in the law of Moses. However, it is my understanding this is the only account that talks about the red heifer. An interesting reference to be sure! While color usually didn’t matter for animal sacrifice, this one must be perfect and resemble the color of blood.

The mere necessity to talk about touching dead people in more than one Biblical text leads me to believe it was a big deal in those days. Was it a “thing” for people go around touching dead people? What made it so defiling? Perhaps these texts are the reason I have never touched a dead person, and I’ve had plenty of loved ones go before me. Continue reading “Numbers 19:1-22 – Purification is a Big Deal”

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