“Behold, I Am Doing a New Thing” April 6, 2025
“Behold, I Am Doing a New Thing”
Isaiah 43:16-21
Philippians 3:4-14
John 12:1-8
Have you ever wondered why Jesus acted the way he did in those few months before his arrest and crucifixion in Jerusalem? First of all, by telling his disciples well in advance of the events to come, he made it all that much more difficult to make this fateful journey. The disciples dragged their feet and begged and threatened; they did most anything they could to stay away from Jerusalem city. I wouldn’t doubt if they even discussed amongst themselves the idea of holding him captive somewhere, just so that he would be safe. But Jesus wouldn’t have it. The harder they tried to keep him away The stronger was his drive to arrive in the holy city of Jerusalem. You might remember his lament after he was told that Herod wanted him dead: (Lk 13) 4 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!” So yes, Jesus had no illusions of the rotten things that this beautiful city on the hill was capable of doing.
It was a tense time, it was a bizarre time. For the last few months we have followed the Lord on this journey. There have been times, even, when we might have taken sides with the disciples. I mean, think about it: if Jesus could have stuck around for another 3 to 5 to even 10 years, just imagine the huge impact he might have had. But that was not the plan. I believe that one of the benefits for those of us who follow the Lenten season, is that we get a chance to relive those weeks and months that led to his death.
It is not morbid curiosity that prompts us to relive this story. (2) Granted, there is plenty of blood and gore to be had. Mel Gibson’s movie ,”The Passion of Christ” sent a shiver up many backbones, I’m sure.
But I have always been intrigued by a strict adherence to the prophesies throughout this entire period. Jesus made references to events coming up as if they were planned, and the more we become familiar with prophetic scriptures, the more we may come to realize that there seems to be something uncanny about the whole “words of the prophets” thing because . well. they tend to come true. From the moment that Jesus set off for the long journey to Jerusalem, it was obvious that he was following a script and this “script”, if we dare to call it such a thing, guided the Christ every step of the way. Take, for example. a recent story from Luke 13 that we read a few weeks back: “At that very hour, some Pharisees came to Jesus and told Him, “Leave this place and get away, because Herod wants to kill You.
But Jesus replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘Look, I will keep driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach My goal.’
Now, that in itself does not provide some sort of instant understanding, it does help sometimes to look at other translations. So, let’s have a look at Jesus’s reply to the bad news that Herod was on the warpath, especially as he gives his reply as to why he will not leave despite Herod’s threats. This from the NIV:
He replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.’
and the ESV tells us of Jesus explaining that he will continue– (3)
casting out demons and healing people today and tomorrow; and the third day I will accomplish my purpose.
And the Legacy Standard changes things up a bit, reading “:today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish.”
It is the King James version that started a trend by reporting: in Luke 13: “‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.” I don’t know, but it seems to me with that kind of open defiance, on the third day Jesus it’s going to be in trouble. But if we look back, we will find numerous prophecies that speak of the significance of the third day. The first one that often comes to mind is from the prophet Hosea, the first few verses of chapter 6: “Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence. Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him.” The short version of this prophesy would be “After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His sight.”
Some interpret this as a prophecy of the resurrection of both the nation of Israel and her Messiah.
The rabbis, citing Hosea 6:1-2, also thought of the third day as signifying resurrection.
The 10th and 11th verse of the 16th Psalm, often interpreted as messianic, speaks of the soul not being left in the underworld and the body not seeing corruption, suggesting a resurrection.
Granted, there are those who have been a bit overzealous in finding(4)
scripture that prompts us to look again and again at the three day period before The resurrection. . Some are a bit of a stretch. It brings to mind the old saying, “When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.”
For example the story of Jonah in the belly of the fish for three days is seen by some as a type of foreshadowing of Jesus’ time in the tomb. Now, I don’t want to get myself in trouble here, but it seems to me that we don’t need to go searching for every little coincidence that can be found mentioning some sort of three-day period to bolster our belief that resurrection of the body was and is a reality.
Jesus himself predicted his resurrection on the third day in the Gospels.
Luke 24:46 states, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead.”
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 emphasizes the importance of Christ’s resurrection on the third day, stating that it is “of first importance”.
Jesus himself prophesized that he would arise from the dead on the 3rd day (Matthew 16:21: 17:23; 20:19; Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:34; Luke 9:22…
Jesus gave a clear foreshadowing of his resurrection in front of the Pharisees and Jewish leaders many times: “And the third day I will accomplish my purpose, “ and on the third day I finish.” and the third day I shall be perfected.”
Right about now you might ask me, “Where are you going with all this?
I mean, we know this stuff already. What’s your point? “ (5)
And that would be a fair question. The truth is that it was the words
of the prophet Isaiah that turned me around today: (vs 18 ) “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” So as we approach Holy Week and the glorious celebration of Easter and the resurrection, let’s be mindful of the new things that lie before us: new hope, new wonder, and the newness and glory that lives on through the example of Jesus Christ. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” Mary poured out perfume upon Jesus’s feet only to wipe it up with her hair, it was an act of extravagance, an act of desperation, an act of love that is almost beyond understanding. The fragrance of that love lingers with us yet today.
I’d like to close with a piece by a man named Thom Shuman to remind us, perhaps, of the new things that God has in store for the days to come .
BECAUSE Thom Shuman
we have preserved our joy in manna jars for the long winter of despair storing them in the dark corners of our souls,
we have forgotten its gritty taste;
because we have put a tight lid on our joy, and put it in the back
of the pantry, we have forgotten how it can tickle our noses;
because we are so busy prattling pious platitudes
about the poor, the least, the lost, we ignore your words
which anoint them as your children;
because we have put up the shutters and storm doors (6)
to keep your future from sneaking in,
we have missed the sweet breeze carrying your hope to us;
because we are who we are,
restore us, Holy Grace,
and make us
a fragrant offering
to the world.
Amen & Shalom
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