The Jesus Tomb Unmasked

Two years ago there was a "documentary" produced by the Discovery Channel called "The Lost Tomb of Jesus". The "documentary" would lead the viewer to believe that Jesus never rose from the dead. The film maker who made it had come to his conclusion before viewing any evidence.

The Jesus Tomb Unmasked has been long in coming as they interview many archaeologists including those interviewed in the Discovery Channel documentary. This true documentary does a great job in debunking "The Lost Tomb of Jesus".

If you are located in the US you can buy this DVD from Amazon.com, you can also watch this video online for free at Expedition Bible. I watched it online and I think it was about 25min long.

This is a great resource for anyone you know who put stock in the Talpiot Tomb as being Jesus' tomb.

Matthew 28:6

Never An Empty Word

"For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it."

Isaiah 55:10-11

I was meditating on these verses this past week. God's Word does not return void (empty). It always accomplishes what He sent it forth to accomplish. So often I speak words in vain. There are times I speak and nothing results from my words. Not too long ago I wrote a lengthy e-mail to someone to offer counsel on a trial they were going through. My e-mail programme crashed and I lost the e-mail. That meant 30 minutes of work lost instantly. I sensed my typing was in vain and I set out to retype it.

Unfortunately we can project our own vain efforts onto the Lord. Since we can do things in vain we often times subconsciously approach God as if He suffers the same limitations. However, God's Word is never ineffective or in vain. The purpose it accomplishes is His purpose, which may not be in accord with our own.

To help see how effective His Word going forth from His mouth, accomplishing His work, and returning to Him when the work is fulfilled, we look to Jesus!

Jesus is the Word of the Father (John 1:1). The Father sent Jesus (John 17:3). Jesus accomplished the work that He was sent to accomplish (John 19:30). Jesus returned to the Father (Eph 4:10). The Word of God did not return to Him void, but accomplished what God pleased (Isa 53:10).

As we speak God's Word to people and God's Word is spoken to us, let us acknowledge that God will use it. It may not be in the way we think, however we know it will be as the Father pleases and will not return to Him empty.

Children's Bibles

There are numerous children's Bibles on the market. We must have about a dozen in our home. Some of them as you read you wonder if the author has ever even read the Bible! Not all books are created equal. Discernment is important even (or should I say especially) at the children's level.

Usually children's Bibles take each story as a unique and disconnected pericope and neglect to weave the story into The Story.

In our desire to read good books with our little ones, I have recently come across two children's Bibles that I enjoy greatly.

The Big Picture Story Bible
amazon.co.uk eden.co.uk
This book written by David Helm and illustrated by Gail Schoonmaker fits the title: THE BIG PICTURE. Reading through this book with my kids was exciting! Each story leads to the next chronologically through many Bible stories, but each one is connected. They build upon each other, unfolding God's divine plan of redemption.

At the end of each chapter a door is opened to discuss God's purpose for man and God's reason for sending Jesus.

ISBN: 978-1-58134-277-2


The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name
amazon.co.uk eden.co.uk
This volume is written by Sally Lloyd-Jones (no relation to "the Doctor", MLJ) and illustrated by Jago. The tagline in the title says it all, "Every story whispers His name".

All of Scripture is about Jesus and S. Lloyd-Jones, brings this to light as each story points to one who is greater: Jesus. Again this book is a great conversation starter with the kids and it teaches the kids at a very young age to look for Jesus in the Scriptures.

ISBN: 978-0-310-70824-4


If you find yourself looking for a children's Bible for your family or as a gift for another family I would recommend either of these. Especially if the family are unbelievers (great bedtime reading with the kids), these will lay out both the need for the gospel and the promise of a Redeemer for those who believe throughout Scripture.


btw - Here's my review of the Jesus Storybook Bible over at Living Social:

This is a great children's Bible. I think the 2 that have really nailed it for me are this one and "The Big Picture Story Bible". So many children's either emphasis some peripheral aspect of the story as opposed to the Bible's main objective. Others have absolutely appalling theology. One children's Bible I read began with creation and went on to say that God rested on the 7th day because He was so exhausted from all his work. In trying to be 'cute' and relatable, the story denied the omnipotence of God relegating him to some demi-god at best.

This Bible puts the emphasis where it should be - Jesus. Jesus told the religious leaders in John 5, "You search the Scriptures and in them you think you find life, but these are those which testify of ME."

If we read a Bible and don't walk away with Jesus, then we walk away without life. Often times children's Bibles will have you walk away with a moralistic nomism or quaint tales akin to Aesops Fables painting proverbial wisdom which is not much different than Confucism. This children's Bible points to Jesus in every story. Jesus is the Hero. Jesus is man's only hope of salvation. Behold the volume of the book is written of Jesus.

Though Your Sins Are Like Scarlet, They Shall Be As White As Snow

The whole appearance of Leatherhead changed yesterday. Snow, snow and more snow. Dianna and I took the kids out for the day as we walked all over Leatherhead. There was a great vibe in the town as an abundance of people were about enjoying the snow. A real gladness was visible on everyone's faces. It was a lot of fun.

As we were walking through the foot deep snow which covered everything, we enjoyed the newly created landscape from the snow. We passed people building snow men in various places, random snowball fights breaking out across the town. Starbucks coffee shop's windows were steamed over for the multitude of people buying hot beverages. There was a sense of celebration.

What a joy the snow brought, but snow does not last. Even now I look out my window as I blog and the snow is melting. It is temporary. What lies underneath will soon be visible again and the pure white snow will have disappeared.

I am reminded of what God said through the prophet Isaiah...

"Come now, and let us reason together," says the LORD, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool." (Isaiah 1:18)

The Lord says that He wants to take our scarlet / crimson sin-stained heart and turn it pure white as snow. People in Leatherhead and indeed throughout the U.K. were enjoying the beauty of pure white over the land. Yet, there is a greater beauty for those who put their trust in Jesus as their Saviour. The sin stained heart is cleansed and made white as snow. This isn't simply a passing enjoyment such as the snow that melts away and what was previously there is revealed. This is a transformation of the heart as Jesus gives a new heart, a clean heart. What Jesus does is eternal. Our enjoyment then isn't simply white on the town, but white in the heart. With a clean heart we can worship God and enjoy His goodness for His favour will never melt away.

On Purpose

We have a wonderful gospel that we preach. It is the power of God unto salvation for all who believe (Rom 1:16). Yet so often we walk with that gospel haphazardly, and lose the intentionality of Jesus.

When reading of Jesus' ministry in the Gospels, it's vital to remember that He didn't minister on accidentally, but rather purposefully.

His view of His time of earth was to summed up in a word: MISSION. Jesus was a missionary. Do a study of the statements Jesus makes in the Gospels regarding His purpose for coming. Time and again Jesus says things like.

Mark 1:38 But He said to them, "Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth."

John 6:38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

John 12:27 Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save Me from this hour'? But for this purpose I came to this hour.

John 18:37 Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?" Jesus answered, "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."

Jesus, the Missionary, sent out by the Father, lived with intentionality and purpose. This is what He taught His disciples as well. They too lived with purpose. Acts 8 is extremely revealing.

Acts 8:1-4 Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison. Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.

The church went out of Jerusalem (except for the Apostles) to the surrounding region, but notice that they went preaching the gospel. Circumstances caused them to change location, but the whole body of Christ had a sense of the mission to spread the Gospel. They walked with intentionality in their purpose, the shoes of the gospel on their feet and the Holy Spirit over-flowing their heart. Here we see the Master's reflection in the life of His disciples. May our Master see His reflection clearly in our gospel purposed lives.

John 20:21-22 So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you." And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.

Quote from Last Sunday's Teaching

Last Sunday we were looking at Christmas in a message entitled Christmas Revisited. In the message I quoted Napoleon from memory which means, I got the meaning right but the wording all wrong. Here is the actual quote:

“I know men and I tell you that Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between Him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded His empire upon love; and at this hour millions of men would die for Him.”(1)

It is amazing the weakness of man to try to control others by force. Jesus using true power won His followers by His love!

John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
1 John 4:19 We love Him because He first loved us.

(1) McDowell, J. (1999). The new evidence that demands a verdict. "Evidence that demands a verdict, volumes 1 & 2, now together in one volume." (317). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

`°º¤ø,¸,ø¤º°` Finding Christmas `°º¤ø,¸,ø¤º°`

Ah, December. Hmm, there is a nostalgia about this time of year. Winter sets in, Christmas lights go up, work parties, dinner parties, gift exchanges, decorating Christmas tree, decking the halls with baughs of holly... All these pleasant traditional roots embraced and held onto coupled with the absolute stress of maxing out credit cards, waiting in staggering queues, stalking people to their cars so you can be first to snatch their parking space!

But is all this what Christmas is about? Christmas has been hijacked. However there is one thing that people do at Christmas that does have at least a root of merit. Gift-giving. But what we miss is that God is the Gift-Giver! As this season marches on and the temptation to go another year with the true meaning of Christmas being lost in the blizzard of materialism and narcicism, I would encourage you to listen to the message here entitled "To You Is Born A Savoiur". This is the glory of Christmas!

• To You Is Born A Saviour (mp3)

May you be blessed as you see the Christ in CHRISTmas.

We will be having a family service on Christmas Day from 10am-11am, click here for more information.