We Must Remember His Words
Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday are about death and life. Words are a matter of life and death to each one of us. Unfortunately, the world is filled with endless blethering, and there is no end to books and electronic devices filled with words. This is one reason why so many miss out on the Word of God, which is the Word of life (1 Jn 1:1).
If faith in Christ is an essential element to eternal life, then the Word of Christ is essential for faith (Rom 10:17). Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life (Jn 5:24).”
When we think of resurrection life, we immediately think of Jesus (Jn 11:25). Read the last sentence in the previous paragraph once again but think resurrection as you do. Christians have already undergone a spiritual resurrection called, “regeneration.” One part of our own resurrection has already taken place. What raised our dead souls to life? It is the same Word that raised Lazarus from the grave (Jn 11).
Jesus had taught His disciples about His pending death, burial, and resurrection, “And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again (Mk 8:31; Lk 9:22). This teaching only occurred a few weeks before it was fulfilled. So, we marvel at the disciples’ forgetting such a vital teaching.
The Saturday before Jesus’ resurrection from the dead must have come with much musing and consternation. Why did they not remember? What was the prompt that caused them to remember? What can we learn from the disciples’ forgetfulness and prompt to remember?
First, the disciples did not remember Jesus’ dire prophecy because they could not believe it. Jesus seemed larger than life, especially when the crowds were numerous. The exuberance of Palm Sunday had a lasting effect, at least for a few days, like when your team wins the tournament. People tend to embrace the good and discard the bad. It is why we move on from the news of subway bombings so quickly.
Second, the disciples did not remember Jesus’ dire prophecy because they were so distracted. Give a human something to think about and he bears the image of God. Give a human two things to think about and he may become a devil. Which would you prefer? Thinking about Jesus’ death, or your place in the Messianic kingdom? That was the reality on Maundy Thursday eve en route to the Garden of Gethsemane (Lk 22:24–30).
Perilous, today, is the volume of information and the speed with which new information comes to us. We are information addicts who cannot put down our smart phones. With all the information flying at us, we miss the still small voice of God (Ps 46:1).
Third, the disciples did not remember Jesus’ dire prophecy because of fear. Nothing controls our thinking like fear does. Not even greed can compete with fear. Fear may constrain us from sin, and this is good. Fear may enslave us from ever taking any action. This is not good.
The disciples experienced the roller coaster ride of ministry with Jesus. One day He was more popular than ever, and the next it was Him and them (Jn 6; 12–13). Fear paralyzed the disciples from the time of Jesus’ arrest in the Garden. Fear caused the disciples to run away like scattered sheep. Fear caused Peter to deny even knowing Jesus at Caiaphas’ house courtyard. Fear caused all, but John the beloved apostle, to be absent at the crucifixion on Calvary’s hill. Fear kept the door locked in the upper room all day Saturday and into Sunday morning. Darkness, earthquakes, opened tombs, torn temple veils were the talk of Jerusalem. Crazy times cause people to fear and forget the promises of God.
Rescue from the malaise of fear, distraction, and unbelief sometimes comes with a supernatural prompt. The angel said to the women at the empty tomb, “He is not here, but He has risen. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, 7 saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.” 8 And they remembered His words (Lk 24:6–8).” It reminds one of the proverb, “Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances (Prv 25:11).” The women heard the prompt and remembered.
When the women heard and remembered, they went, ”…and returned from the tomb and reported all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now they were Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James; also the other women with them were telling these things to the apostles. 11 But these words appeared to them as nonsense, and they would not believe them (Lk 24:9–11).” The empty tomb was not enough, but the angels convinced the women. The women, however, could not convince the apostles. They had not remembered His words.
What is the probability that you and I would forget the death, burial, resurrection, ascension, enthronement, and promised return of our Lord Jesus Christ? Unfortunately, it is one hundred percent. We periodically celebrate the Lord’s Supper for the express purpose of “remembering.” This is proof we would forget, and do we not have enough evidence of what is lost when just one generation is unfaithful?
The numeric pinnacle of church attendance in Scotland was in 1955, when over 50% of the nation’s population was in church on Sundays. Today, it is less than 3%. The Billy Graham crusade of 1955 was accompanied by an internal Scottish evangelism endeavor entitled, “Tell Scotland.” Something went terribly wrong. The granite church buildings are still there, but the hearts of the next generations have turned to stone. Praise the Lord for the remnant who remembers His Word. May Scotland prosper in remembering to preach the Word.
There is hope. When Peter heard the cock crow, he remembered the words of Jesus’ prophecy of his denial (Mt 26:75). How could he forget when Jesus asked him if he loved Jesus (Jn 21:15)? God’s Word is powerful, like a double-edged sword (Heb 4:12). Something in the words the women relayed from the angel finally moved the apostle, ”But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings only; and he went away to his home, marveling at what had happened (Lk 24:12).” Thomas would continue the problematic receipt of Jesus’ words to remember (Jn 20:27). In Thomas’ experience, we see and feel the pain of unbelief. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe!
Why do we believe the Gospel of Jesus? Why do we accept and even defend the sinless life, atoning death, genuine burial, and bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ? It is because we remember the Word of God through the supernatural prompting of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who carried along the human authors of the Bible to write the inspired text (2 Pet 1:21).
It is the Holy Spirit who employs the Sword of the Word to circumcise the heart (Dt 30:6; Rom 2:29), opening it to respond (Acts 16:14). Jesus assured the fearful and distracted disciples, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you (Jn 14:26).”
The written Word of God was the key to supporting the previously preached Word of God in Peter’s case, “This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you in which I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, 2 that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles (2 Pet 3:1–2).” Jude adds, “But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ (Jude 1:17).” We must remember His words.
As we remember Resurrection Sunday again this year, please recognize how much we need the tools of remembrance to cut through the fear, the distractions, and the unbelief. The Holy Spirit, the Word of God, and the preacher are essential for our faith to flourish and multiply. Lest we forget.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
March 28, 2021
