(Scripture: Psalm 16 and Acts 2:22–32) In the course of the Christian era no fewer than four Roman Popes and two Roman Emperors have taken to themselves the name “Anastasius.” But what enormous presumption! For this is a Dame that rightly belongs to Christ alone. It is a latinization of the Greek word “anastasis,” which means “resurrection.” Jesus […]
Fear not; I am the first and the last, and the living one; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive for evermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.” Revelation 1:17b, 18 John, the evangelist, is well known as one of the most beloved of Jesus’ disciples. He had his […]
In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. Matthew 28:1 The first Easter service was a gloomy one, shrouded in grief and doubt for the disciples. They […]
Sing, O Daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O Daughter ofJerusalem! The Lord has taken away your punishment; He has turned back your enemy. The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm. On that day they will say […]
God established the family in the dawn of human history when He made Eve out of Adam’s rib to be his wife. Since then, the family has become the foundation of human society, the cornerstone of all of our institutions. There is no other place where children can be properly taught the virtues of truthfulness, […]
Christ arose! That is the holy conviction that brings joy to our hearts on Easter Day. Without that certainty, the assurance that our Lord broke the bars of death on the third day could not be real. Without that certainty, there could be no real Easter joy in our souls, for there would be no […]
Some time (years) ago I wrote some critical comments about the Committee for Ecumenicity of the URC with regard to its contacts with the Canadian Reformed Churches. The point of what I said was this: We should strive for unity with the Canadian Reformed Churches short of federative unity. That was not taken kindly of […]
It has been correctly stated that we are only a breath away from death. Newspaper obituaries and funerals are a constant reminder of death. To be reminded of the reality of death is not a pleasant thought, yet funeral services occur daily throughout the land. Just as we are surrounded by death, so also we […]
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. (1 Cor. 15:20) If Christ has not been raised—then what? Have you ever sat down for a few minutes of quiet meditation and asked yourself that question? How would you answer it? If Christ had not been raised—then […]