Neil Diamond: "Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show"

This man had a string of hits through the sixties and into the eighties. The song I'm featuring is about tent revival meetings which were once popular in America and Canada. Check it out here.

In the first century, synagogues were the places where Christ's disciples preached the gospel of the resurrection. As we read in Acts 5:1-5 (Bible in Basic English), "And while they were talking to the people, the priests and the captain of the Temple and the Sadducees came up to them, Being greatly troubled because they were teaching the people and preaching Jesus as an example of the coming back from the dead. And they took them and put them in prison till the morning, for it was now evening. But a number of those who gave hearing to the word had faith; and they were now about five thousand."

Jesus' first sermon in a synagogue angered the locals but it was his announcement that he was the Messiah. Luke 4:21 and 22 (BBE) records, "Then he said to them, 'Today this word has come true in your hearing.' And they were all giving witness, with wonder, to the words of grace which came from his mouth: and they said, 'Is not this the son of Joseph?'"
 
They later tried to throw Christ off a cliff but he walked through the crowd and escaped.

Jesus often taught in synagogues. Even some of the religious establishment believed him, as John 12:42 (BBE) tells us, "However, a number even of the rulers had belief in him, but because of the Pharisees they did not say so openly for fear that they might be shut out from the Synagogue:"

Of course we know that the location of meetings doesn't matter. It's the Holy Spirit who works in people to save them. Neither do we need to say a formula or act out a certain ritual. The gospel is the message and its own message.

And if Christ hasn't returned by Monday, I hope to post regarding what people call the golden rule.

The Disciples' Misplaced Expectations of Christ

I believe we shouldn't be critical of the way Christ's disciples behaved while he was still with them.  We tend to misplace our expectations too, especially when it comes to electing politicians or trusting friends.

In the first century, Rome ruled over Israel with rigger. Israelites felt especially affronted by these pagans bringing in their images and their false religions. They took seriously what God commanded in exodus 20:4 and 5 (BBE). "You are not to make an image or picture of anything in heaven or on the earth or in the waters under the earth: You may not go down on your faces before them or give them worship: for I, the Lord your God, am a God who will not give his honour to another; and I will send punishment on the children for the wrongdoing of their fathers, to the third and fourth generation of my haters;"

People at that time expected the arrival of Messiah. Consequently, we read of Peter's excitement in John 1:41 (BBE) when, "Early in the morning he came across his brother and said to him, 'We have made discovery! It is the Messiah!' (which is to say, the Christ)."

The Jews of that time remembered Daniel 9:25 and 26 (BBE) which prophecied, "Have then the certain knowledge that from the going out of the word for the building again of Jerusalem till the coming of a prince, on whom the holy oil has been put, will be seven weeks: in sixty-two weeks its building will be complete, with square and earthwork."

But they didn't understand Daniel 9:26 (BBE) which said, "And at the end of the times, even after the sixty-two weeks, one on whom the holy oil has been put will be cut off and have no ...; and the town and the holy place will be made waste together with a prince; and the end will come with an overflowing of waters, and even to the end there will be war; the making waste which has been fixed."

The crucifixion of Christ was such a shock to them, even though he said plainly he would die and be lifted up again. That's why Acts 1:6 (BBE) says, "So, when they were together, they said to him, 'Lord, will you at this time give back the kingdom to Israel?"

They didn't understand that Christ spoke of a spiritual kingdom which they were a part of.

On Thursday, unless Christ returns, I hope to post about my youthful materialism and how I've changed since the seventies.

Israel's Hope

Throughout the Bible, we read about the Messiah. Israel's hope was that he would come and rescue them from their punishment for sinning. Though the people felt abandoned, God measured out the time of chastisement for their nation time after time. And even though they kept wandering away from him, he still cared about his chosen people.

One example of Israel's apostasy and their laments is written in Jeremiah 14:8 and 9 (BBE). "O you hope of Israel, its saviour in time of trouble, why are you like one who is strange in the land, and like a traveler putting up his tent for a night? Why are you like a man surprised, like a man of war who is not able to give help? but you, O Lord, are with us, and we are named by your name; do not go away from us."

I feel sad for all those generations of Israelites who waited for Messiah to come. God sent prophet after prophet, promising a coming saviour, but he seemed to take his time in arriving.

Why did it take Christ so long to come? Galatians 4:4 and 5 (BBE) explains, " But when the time had come, God sent out his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, That he might make them free who were under the law, and that we might be given the place of sons."

At the time of Christ's birth, the Holy Spirit told a man named Simon that he wouldn't die until he saw the Messiah. Luke 2:27-31 (BBE) records, "And full of the Spirit he came into the Temple; and when the father and mother came in with the child Jesus, to do with him what was ordered by the law, Then he took him in his arms and gave praise to God and said, 'Now you are letting your servant go in peace, O Lord, as you have said; For my eyes have seen your salvation, Which you have made ready before the face of all nations; A light of revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.'"

The Apostle Paul also spoke of Israel's hope to Jewish leaders when he was a prisoner in Rome. Acts 28:20 (BBE)quotes him as saying, "But for this reason I sent for you, to see and have talk with you: for because of the hope of Israel I am in these chains."

During the darkest time in the northern hemisphere, we acknowledge and celebrate the Light of the world: Jesus the Christ. Through him, all who call upon him for salvation are rescued from hell.

This is the main theme of my next book, You Think You're Going to Heaven? May the Lord bless this work of my hands.

Thursday's post will be about why Christ is called the Prince of Peace.

What is This Hope We Celebrate?

I feel sad that most people today are missing the point of Christmas. All they hear in the malls are songs about Santa, trees, and snow. None of those things were part of the first Christmas.

Even though we don't know which day Christ was born on, December 25th is when we remind ourselves, and the unsaved world, of the fulfilled hope of the saviour.

As early as Genesis 3:14 and 15, (BBE), we read of God's plan to rescue us from Satan's deception. "And the Lord God said to the snake, 'Because you have done this you are cursed more than all cattle and every beast of the field; you will go flat on the earth, and dust will be your food all the days of your life: And there will be war between you and the woman and between your seed and her seed: by him will your head be crushed and by you his foot will be wounded.'"

This pictorial language shows that Christ, who is the seed of the woman, will be killed but his resurrection will crush Satan's power of eternal death over us.

When God called Abram and gave him the name Abraham, he promised something wonderful. Galatians 3:8 (BBE) says, "And the holy Writings, seeing before the event that God would give the Gentiles righteousness by faith, gave the good news before to Abraham, saying, 'In you will all the nations have a blessing.'" That blessing was Christ.

And defying our kind of logic, Christ's birth was announced to the lowest individuals in first-century Jude an society. Luke 2:10 (and 11 BBE) tells us what the messenger of God said to certain shepherds. "And the angel said, 'Have no fear; for truly, I give you good news of great joy which will be for all the people: For on this day, in the town of David, a Saviour has come to birth, who is Christ the Lord.'"

By the way, Christ means the anointed one; the messiah which Israel waited so long for. And as we just read, Jesus is he who would conquer Satan, giving us life eternal.

I plan on emphasizing these truths in my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? The world doesn't understand our joy. Therefore, we Christians must proclaim why Christmas begins with Christ. Our rejoicing  shouldn't end there either as he is the fulfillment of God's ancient promise.

On Thursday, I'll expand more on the hope of Christmas.

Why is Christ's Birth Like Apollo 11's Launch?

I realize that this sounds like a strange comparison. Even so, the Birth of Jesus is like the launching of three American astronauts to the moon and back.

Firstly, both were promised beforehand. President John F. Kennedy declared America's intention to land a man on the moon by the end of the 1960s.

The Old Testament is filled with God's promises to send a messiah to save those who believe in him. The first mention of the "seed" who would be born as messiah was in Genesis 3:15 (KJV) Where God said to Satan in picturesque language, "And I will put enmity between thee and the  woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy  head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." The Word "his" indicates a single person, namely Jesus.

As Matthew 1:21 (KJV) reads, "And she(Mary)  shall bring forth a son, and thou (Joseph) shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins."

What we call Christmas is only the beginning of Jesus' mission to save humanity from eternal damnation. He did so in part by fulfilling the law through living a perfect life for thirty-three years. As Hebrews 4:15 (KJV) explains, "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."

Furthermore, Jesus knew that he was sent to die for whosoever repents and believes in him. As Mark 8:31 (KJV) reads, "And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again."

Just as Jesus completed his mission on earth, so the Apollo 11 astronauts blasted off, landed on the moon, and returned safely. As the launch of the rocket started that historic voyage, Christmas is only the beginning of the greatest mission in history.

I greatly hope that readers of my blog have yielded their lives to Christ. God's Word says that the only other destination for souls after death is hell. This is why I feel constrained to write my book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? Far too many people assume that most everybody goes to heaven when the truth is that most won't.

Why Care About Christ's Birth?

What a mad rush everybody is in today. An observer from another world would be astonished at the huge deal we make of Christmas. "All this fuss for one day?" our imaginary visitor would exclaim upon seeing all the cooking, baking, shopping, decorating, and so many other frenzied activities we insist upon doing.

Lost in the rush each year is the birth of Christ. Apart from an hour-long service at churches this evening, Christians seem to act just like the rest of the world. Our traveler would be most amazed at the way we celebrate the birth of the Son of God.

There was a time when I turned my back on the Lord for nine miserable years. Two years into my rebellion, I quit celebrating Christmas the traditional way. It seemed pointless, and I still feel that way today, to decorate and buy gifts for those who would just return the favour.

What re ignited my fascination for Christ's birth once I returned to my senses was the myriad of Old Testament prophecies fulfilled by his birth. Read the gospels of Matthew and Luke. You'll see so many references to Old Testament prophecies mentioned there. And if you study other passages, you'll find more predictions regarding the life, death, and resurrection of the Messiah.

God willing, I hope to write a new book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? My hope is to deal with many objections people make to the truth about God's criteria for entry into eternal life. Contact me regarding this and previous books which I've written.

Have a blessed Christmas.