Pearls From Peace Pastor Brad & Pastor Glenn

The story of Jonah is one that we might all be familiar with. The prophet called by God to go to Ninevah runs away from God's calling. In the end, he's swallowed by a whale. Is it a whale? And while he's in the belly of the "whale" he repents. Does he repent in the belly of the "whale"? And because he repents the "whale" throws him up back on shore? Is that how the story goes? Are we really that familiar with it? And what does Jonah have to do with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ? Maybe we don't always know the story as well as we thought...

In the Old Testament, sometimes God's messages to His prophets are clear. And sometimes they make us scratch our heads. So, when God tells Hosea to go marry an adulterous woman, we might find that odd. This adulterous woman, who also indulges in prostitution, ends up leaving Hosea. Hosea is then called to buy her back, bring her home, and love her. To buy back, is a way we can define redemption. The relationship of Hosea and his wife was a picture of the relationship of God and the people of Israel, and it's also a picture of us. God is the one who loves us and we cheat on Him. God is the one who redeems us with the precious life of Christ, and who makes us His people by His grace.

Text: Daniel 6:6b-23, 25-27; John 20:1-10; Mark 16:1-8
What does Daniel and the lions' den have to do with the empty tomb on Easter Sunday? So much! As we walk this two-year journey of reading through the Bible, we can see many parallels to the story of Daniel and Jesus, lions, Satan, and the miracles that God works through the lives of His people. Daniel triumphed over the mouths of hungry lions, and Jesus triumphed over sin, death, hell, and the roaring lion Satan in His resurrection. And because of Jesus, we will triumph too!

Text: Matthew 27:11-14, 24-26, 28-31, 38-44; Luke 23:34-45a; John 19:23-37
On Good Friday, Jesus is beaten, mocked, scourged, abused, and ultimately crucified. As He looked on at all those who were responsible for Him being on the cross, He loved them. As Jesus hung on the cross, He loved us until the end. He loved us until He breathed His last breath, and it was finished. The price paid for the sins of the whole world. Taking on our punishment, the death, and hell that we deserve. Because He loves us and He wants us to have eternal life. In His death there is victory.

On Maundy Thursday, as we celebrate Jesus washing the disciples' feet and instituting His Supper, we see that Jesus "loved them to the end." Judas who would betray Jesus, Peter who would deny Jesus three times, and all the other disciples who would flee in the Garden of Gethsemane... He loved them to the end. Jesus loves us to the end, and He invites us to come and eat of His flesh and drink of His blood.

As Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego remained faithful to God, ready to face death, they were cast in the fiery furnace, only to go unharmed, while a mysterious fourth person (Jesus?) appeared with them. King Nebuchadnezzar acknowledges that their God is the only one who can rescue them like that. As Jesus heads into Jerusalem, He’s heading into the “fire” if you will, as He knows what lies ahead for him in the next week: death. As He faces that, we know Jesus will not go unharmed, but He is the only one who can rescue us because He is not just a man, but He is the same God who rescued Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.