The greatest blockbuster ever
Genesis 2, Matthew 2, Ezra 2, Acts 2
The Bible is better than Star Wars.
The bad guy is meaner, and the hero is more valiant. The predicament is more dire, and the rescue is more amazing.
And it all starts to play out in today’s reading.
In Genesis 2 we see villainous Death rear its ugly head.
“And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” — Genesis 2:16–17
Death is the Dark Side of this great story, and the need for its defeat is urgent.
And God himself led the Rebellion.
He sends the long-awaited Jesus to earth to finally crush Death in Matthew, and wise men from the east, who knew the Old Testament prophets and knew that God would send forth a great King to save earth eagerly sought after the promised one at the first sign of the great star.
And after making their way to Jerusalem by way of the evil King Herod these wise men were blown away when the star reappeared to guide them directly to the Savior.
“When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. ”— Matthew 2:10
I don’t know what rejoicing exceedingly with great joy looks like, but I can only imagine that it involves hugs, high fives, jumping up and down, laughter, smiles and maybe a little dancing. Being considered wise men, these guys probably weren’t young. Wisdom comes with age. So, imagine a group of old men acting like giddy teenage girls and I think you might have a glimpse at how unique this moment was. These guys were stoked. What could make them this happy?
A great rescue. A good King. The hope of salvation. The promised Savior had come. Death had finally met its match, and it’s time was short.
The promise of victory over Death is a cause worth dedicating your life to.
That’s why those guys in Ezra 2 went back to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple. They knew they needed God if they were ever going to escape the curse. They were eager to rebuild his temple, and they gladly gave.
“Some of the heads of families, when they came to the house of the LORD that is in Jerusalem, made freewill offerings for the house of God, to erect it on its site. According to their ability they gave to the treasury of the work 61,000 darics of gold, 5,000 minas of silver, and 100 priests’ garments. ”— Ezra 2:68–69
Those guys wanted the rescue plan kept in motion, and they gave willingly to the cause.
Flash forward to Acts 2.
Peter tells them what the great and good King Jesus had finally accomplished.
“God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.” — Acts 2:24
“Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” — Acts 2:36
And when the Jews gathered at Pentecost finally realized that God had defeated Death through Jesus Christ they nearly came undone.
“Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” — Acts 2:37–38
Death was defeated. Let us rejoice!
The Daily Bible Journal is just one man’s attempt to meditate on God’s word as he studies it in the sequence set forth by the M’Cheyne Bible Reading Calendar.
