RESURRECTION ROSE´
by Bob Wickizer
Scripture: Isaiah 11:1-10, Psalm 72:1-7, Psalm 72:18-19, Romans 15:4-13, Matthew 3:1-12
Resurrection Rose´
Bob Wickizer
Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72:1-7,18-19; Romans 15:4-13; Matthew 3:1-12
Resurrection Rose´
Comedian Richard Pryor once joked about this passage in Isaiah today. He said, "The lamb may lie down with the lion, but the lamb, he ain't gonna sleep too good that night."
Because of the greed, selfishness, and corruption of their kings the Jews faced exile and calamity. Isaiah confronts them with the image and promise not only of new leadership, but all of creation reset and restored to the time before the apple in the Garden of Eden. Since day one, Christian interpreters have viewed this messianic prophesy as an image of the second coming of Christ.
We all love movies with heroes swooping in at the last moment to rescue a desperate situation and my guess is that is the way most Christians view Christ's return to judge the world in righteousness and the people with his truth. As Revelation tells us, the tribulations will come and then the cosmic battles between good and evil. You can almost visualize this like a cartoon with "bam bam" cutouts. Then the triumphal return (ta ta ta da') of Christ (not Jesus), followed by a thousand years of peace. And the souls of all the chosen Christians are released to a heavenly world where we float around with wings and eat bon bons for eternity.
You wanna get on that train bound for glory, don't you? Then just give all your money to the church and we'll give you a ticket.
While that may be a popular notion immortalized in American spirituals, I am not convinced this is a good image for the Israelites in captive exile, nor for Christians facing their final days. Why? A) Because it is too much like a Hollywood movie. In fact, two authors made millions on a series of books about exactly this scenario. And B) Because this view of the return of the triumphant, righteous king in judgment is 100% spectator. That is, those of us in the crowd do absolutely nothing while the savior does it all. I j ...
Bob Wickizer
Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72:1-7,18-19; Romans 15:4-13; Matthew 3:1-12
Resurrection Rose´
Comedian Richard Pryor once joked about this passage in Isaiah today. He said, "The lamb may lie down with the lion, but the lamb, he ain't gonna sleep too good that night."
Because of the greed, selfishness, and corruption of their kings the Jews faced exile and calamity. Isaiah confronts them with the image and promise not only of new leadership, but all of creation reset and restored to the time before the apple in the Garden of Eden. Since day one, Christian interpreters have viewed this messianic prophesy as an image of the second coming of Christ.
We all love movies with heroes swooping in at the last moment to rescue a desperate situation and my guess is that is the way most Christians view Christ's return to judge the world in righteousness and the people with his truth. As Revelation tells us, the tribulations will come and then the cosmic battles between good and evil. You can almost visualize this like a cartoon with "bam bam" cutouts. Then the triumphal return (ta ta ta da') of Christ (not Jesus), followed by a thousand years of peace. And the souls of all the chosen Christians are released to a heavenly world where we float around with wings and eat bon bons for eternity.
You wanna get on that train bound for glory, don't you? Then just give all your money to the church and we'll give you a ticket.
While that may be a popular notion immortalized in American spirituals, I am not convinced this is a good image for the Israelites in captive exile, nor for Christians facing their final days. Why? A) Because it is too much like a Hollywood movie. In fact, two authors made millions on a series of books about exactly this scenario. And B) Because this view of the return of the triumphant, righteous king in judgment is 100% spectator. That is, those of us in the crowd do absolutely nothing while the savior does it all. I j ...
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