Holy Week and Easter

April 3, 2023The Good Word2 Comments

Good Morning!

It’s Holy Week. As with the tradition during Holy Week, today’s blog will be a simple post with scripture about the resurrection and a link to the full story of Easter.

Matthew 28 (English Standard Version)
The Resurrection
28 Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he[a] lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” 8 So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

The Report of the Guard
11 While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. 12 And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers 13 and said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14 And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.

The Great Commission
16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[b] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Source: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+28&version=ESV

Story of Easter: https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-stories/the-easter-bible-story.html

Have a Happy Easter! He is Risen!

-Chris

Islam’s Biggest Problem

March 27, 2023The Good Word2 Comments

With Holy Week week approaching we Christians always reflect on Jesus’ death and resurrection.

But today I want to look into the historical side of Jesus of Nazareth, particularly comparing the Jesus of the Bible and Historical documents to the Jesus or Isa of the Quran.

It is estimated that we have 30 independent sources written by 25 different authors from around the time Jesus walked the Earth. Which is a staggering amount for an ancient historical figure. Jesus’ death on the cross is part of history and can not truly be denied. Atheists, Christians and other religious (non-muslim) historians are in a consensus that Jesus died on the cross. To the point that Atheist historian and vocal Bible critic Bart Ehrman said, “One of the most certain facts of history is that Jesus was crucified on orders of the Roman prefect of Judea, Pontius Pilate.”

But what does the Quran say? The Quran says Jesus AKA Isa did not die on the cross but only someone of His likeness. The Quran which was written between 610-632 AD. Long after Jesus walked the Earth. There is no reason to believe a source that contradicts other documents that were written long after the original documents.

Jesus’ death on the cross is a historical fact. There is no evidence of someone else dying in His place.

We only have words written close to 600 years after Jesus walked the Earth.

No one died in Jesus’ place, Jesus died in our place.

Because we deserved death and hell, He saved us with His sacrifice.

Muhammad claimed an angel visited him with the truth, just like Joseph Smith the founder of Mormonism, just like several other religions that claim they have special knowledge about the truth of God. It is always an Angel with the message to contradict the Bible. Did these people make all this up or were they visited by someone or something? If so, then who or what?

Well I believe the Bible has that answer…

2 Corinthians 11:14 ESV: “And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.”

There is the answer. Think about it, because we Christian’s believe Jesus defeated satan and the grave by dying on the cross and being resurrected, man wouldn’t it be convenient to the devil if he could convince people it never happened?

Don’t be deceived, follow the Way, the Truth and the Life.

Have a Blessed Week,

Chris

Orthodox Easter

April 21, 2022The Good WordLeave a comment

Usually on Thursdays I re-post an old entry for “Throwback Thursday”. However instead this week I am going to post an article of something that is a Throwback to my old life. I grew up in the Greek Orthodox Church and I get a lot of questions when I mention this so today I will be posting an article about “Orthodox Easter”.

Without further ado here is the article…

https://www.christianity.com/wiki/holidays/orthodox-easter-origin-and-date.html

Easter Sunday Service 2022

April 20, 2022The Good WordLeave a comment

Easter Monday

April 18, 2022The Good Word1 Comment

Hello everyone,

First I just want to say I hope everyone had a nice Easter. If you’re Orthodox well, I hope you have a nice Easter this Sunday and Christos Anesti!

I am tired today, here in Maryland the weather has felt like August, June and April the past week. Well today the weather was like January with a lot of rain. I am wiped out and have writer’s block.

I ended up googling, “Easter Monday” assuming it was just a day that many like my wife have off for travel or rest purposes but I found this on Got Questions….

“Easter Monday, also known as Bright Monday, Renewal Monday, Wet Monday, and Dyngus Day, is the Monday immediately after Easter Sunday. It is observed by many Christian groups, but primarily by the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic traditions. It marks the beginning of Easter Week (Roman Catholic) / Bright Week (Eastern Orthodox).

Different cultures observe Easter Monday very differently. For some, Easter Monday is a solemn remembrance of Christ’s death and resurrection marked by an outdoor procession. For others, there are Easter egg-rolling competitions. For still others, siblings and/or spouses wake each other up by pouring buckets of water on each other (hence the name “Wet Monday”). And others celebrate with a large gathering and a polka festival (Dingus Day).

Some of these observances have more Christian symbolism in them than others, but none of them are explicitly biblical. The Bible does not say anything about what happened on Easter Monday, the day after Jesus’ resurrection. The Bible does not instruct followers of Jesus Christ to observe Easter Monday, so there is no obligation to celebrate it. As with many holidays, there is nothing wrong with observing some cultural traditions, but it is important to not allow traditions to detract from the message of the gospel. “

I had no idea of this and found the information interesting. I figure I would pass it on. Consider it an extra Easter Egg or Treat.

Hope you all have a good and blessed week,
Chris

Scripture Reading

Monday – Acts 5:27-32

Tuesday – Psalm 150

Wednesday – Revelation 1:4-8

Thursday – John 20:19-31

https://www.gotquestions.org/Easter-Monday.html

Easter 2022

April 11, 2022April 11, 2022The Good WordLeave a comment

It’s Holy Week. As with tradition I am simply going to post the story of Easter from the Bible…

Matthew 28

Jesus Has Risen

1 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.

3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.

4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.

6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.

7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.

10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

The Guards’ Report

11 While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened.

12 When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money,

13 telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’

14 If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.”

15 So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

The Great Commission

16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.

17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

He is Risen!

Have a Happy Easter,
Chris

The Entire Easter Story

https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-stories/the-easter-bible-story.html

Daily Scripture Reading:
Monday – Acts 10:34-43

Tuesday – Psalm 118

Wednesday – 1 Corinthians 15:19-26

Thursday – John 20:1-18

Fifth Sunday of Lent 2022

April 6, 2022The Good WordLeave a comment

Palm Sunday 2022

April 4, 2022The Good Word2 Comments

This Sunday is Palm Sunday.

Let’s get ready by looking at Jesus’ triumphant entrance from scripture.

John 12:12-19

Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King

12 The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna! ” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! ” Blessed is the king of Israel!” 14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written: 15 “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” 16 At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him. 17 Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. 18 Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”

More Good Things…
Here is an awesome link to an article about Palm Sunday from Bible Study Tools
https://www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/palm-sunday-bible-verses/

This is a video of a compilation of movies depicting Jesus’ Entrance: