Resurrection Motif and the Gabriel Stone

Recently a new archaeological discovery has come to light from the Jordanian banks near the Dead Sea. A local antiquities collector purchased a large stone inscription approximately a decade ago that details (as one archaeologist claims) a messianic resurrection motif that predates the birth of Christ by a few decades. (For more on this story, see the TIME Magazine article at http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1820685,00.html, and the CNN video at http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2008/07/11/wedeman.gabriel.cnn?iref=videosearch.)

The stone inscription is approximately three feet tall and consists of ink inscribed on the stone, and has been chemically dated to a few decades before the time of Christ. The stone theoretically describes the death of a messianic figure, followed by his resurrection after a short time by the archangel Gabriel. (This reading, however, depends on creative interpretation of a smudged passage on the stone, and thus is not at all conclusive for ascertaining the actual reading of the stone.)

Many scholars have argued that the credibility of Christianity was dependant on the unique nature of the Christian claim. The idea of a murdered Messiah was an anathema to the people of Israel, and was so audacious that the Christian claim had to be true! Thus, the reliability of the Christian message, at least as posited in their arguments, relies on the audacious uniqueness of the Christian message.

And indeed, the idea of a murdered Messiah would have been a shock to the Jews. Although Christians equate the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53 (et al) as a reference to Messiah, there is no evidence that the Jews of the day had any similar ideas. The Messiah was the one who was anointed by God to be the Savior of the people of Israel, the one who would drive out the Romans (and any other conquerors), consecrate the Temple by reestablishing the holy worship of YHWH, and establish the eternal reign of God from Mt. Zion. The Messiah was to be God’s chosen instrument to bring peace to the world (and power to the people of Israel) through his military conquest of Israel’s enemies. God would once again reveal his power through his chosen people, and the Messiah would be his instrument of conquest.

(Note: There were as many different Messianic expectations as there were sects/individuals in Israel. These generalized statements sum up the gist of most of their expectations. For more on the Messianic expectations of first century Judaism, see John J, Collins, The Scepter and the Star, and Daniel McGraw, “Messianic Expectations of the Qumran Community in 4Q246 and 4Q521.”)

A few years ago a scholar claimed to have uncovered a Qumran connection to a Suffering Messiah, the Anointed One who died at the hands of his enemies. The passage, however, turned out to refer instead to the conquering Messiah who put his enemies to death, not a suffering Christological figure. Thus, the idea of a Messiah who suffers (or, even worse, dies) would be an anathema to the people of Israel.

The stone, however, has been verified as authentic (at least, at this time.) The question arises: How does the uniqueness of Christianity stand in light of this “new information”?

The Bible itself lends credence to the belief in a resurrection idea that developed during the Intertestamental Period, even a possible form of bodily resurrection. A group of Sadducees ask Jesus about the marriage of a seven-time widow in Matthew 22:23-33 (cf. Mark 12, Luke 20.) We are told here in this passage, as well as in Acts (4:1-3; 23:7-8), that the resurrection was not a concept believed by the Sadducees but was accepted by the Pharisees.

Two of the main sects within Judaism adhered to different ideas concerning the resurrection of the dead. However, none would have tied it to the Messianic figure. Not even the "Murdered Messiah" fragment from the dead sea scrolls (now proved to refer to the Messiah killing his enemies)would make such a claim...

But if it DOES indeed refer to a crucified messiah, does that negate the validity of Jesus' claim? God has already shown us that he works through the cultural and intellectual conceptions of humanity (i.e. Suzrainty treaty outline of Deuteronomy, the depiction of God as a Baal-like figure in Psalms, the similarities AND differences between Genesis 1-11 and other ANE literature.) Why couldn't God chose to work that way again?

What do you think? Log in and let me know your thoughts and responses.

My First Month as a Jayhawk

Dear Friends-

Hey, how's everybody doing? I hope this email finds you well! I thought I would give you an update on my life and what I have been up to! I have officially been in Lawrence for five weeks now and working for one month today. (for those of you who might not know, I am the new campus minister at KU.) The ministry consists of three actual undergrad students and a couple of grad/non-traditional students; when you add the whole group together (including those who are older but still do things with us), the group comes to approximately 12 or so.

Things are going well here. I am working on getting everything together for the incoming students; they begin arriving in three and a half weeks, which is insane! We are trying to get everything geared up for them to be here. I have 178 new contacts who are interested in our ministry. I know that not all of those will stick; in fact, MOST of them WON'T stick around. but if only 8% keep coming to things that doubles the amount of people within our group, which would be amazing! My goal is to have approximately 25 students by the end of the school year, but if God wants to send 150 I am going to be ok with that!

Right now I am teaching a class over Deuteronomy on Sunday mornings called "Advice for a New Adventure," examining how Moses' advice to the people in the midst of their time of transition fits the situation the Hawks for Christ are facing. They have new leadership, a new vision, and a new group of people, but they are still part of the people of God (much like the n ew generation of Israelites at the beginning of Deuteronomy!) I will be starting a class on either spiritual disciplines or the book of John on Wednesday evenings in August, and teaching on "The Life of Christ" in our Thursday evening Bible studies on campus. I also have a number of new students who are wanting to either host or lead Bible studies/prayer groups in the dorms and Frat Houses, which is awesome! ! I know God will do some great things through these endeavors.

I did my first baptism in Lawrence two weeks ago. Tim and Blair started coming to Southside frequently about the time I showed up; she had grown up in the church and he had grown up nominally Catholic, but had been attending with her for the past 6 years. He discovered that you didn't have to know everything to put Christ on in baptism, so I got the joy of baptizing him on Thursday, July 10th. It was kinda funny though; someone had cranked the heater on the baptistry up, so when I stepped into the water the thermometer read 120 degrees! We had to dump 4 10lb bags of ice in and then run cold water for 10 minutes before it was even cool enough to get into. We wanted to wash his sins away, not boil them out!

Right now I am just trying to get our ministry's name out and about on campus. I am working on some new ways to go about doing that, but if you have any suggestions they would be GREATLY appreciated!

That has been the last month, in a nutshell. In the next two weeks I am going to the Global Missions Conference in Dallas (so if any of you are going to be there let's do lunch), and the National Campus Ministry Seminar in Denver, and in between Megan comes home from five weeks in Japan. (I can't wait for that!) Three awesome things within a week!

I hope everything is going well and that God is blessing you guys in so many ways. Write back and let me know how things are going for you guys. I feel kinda out of touch, removed from all of you. God bless you as you work in his Kingdom!

In Christ,
Daniel McGraw
Hawks for Christ -- Campus Minister

A New Addiction...

It is shameful to admit, but I have an addiction. I am not sure how to handle it, but I have been without my fix for the last four days and I am really starting to feel the effects. I am having a withdrawal (of sorts), and I am not sure how much longer I can go without another taste...

My addiction is the Food Network. I simply cannot get enough. People taking everyday ingredients (or the weirdest stuff on the planet I wouldn't even imagine putting into my mouth) and making the most incredible looking meals. I make steak, salad and potatoes; they make garlic and horseradish encrusted NY Strip Steak topped with sauteed mushrooms, a bleu cheese topped salad of fresh greens and potatoes al gratin that simply would make a Stoic weep with delight.

The resident Wizards of the Order of the Golden Spatula include such culinary greats as Bobby Flay, Emeril Legasse, Rachel Ray, and (my personal favorite) Giada de Laurentiis (who is a total hottie). It is amazing what they can do with immense creativity and so little effort. I am envious!

By the way, if anyone DOES have a great idea for what I can cook Megan tomorrow night, please let me know...

Message from the land of Toto, Dorothy, and the Wizard

I have now become a Jayhawk. It is official. Although I guess I am not totally a Jayhawk because I definitely went to bat for the Memphis Tigers tonight against those who wore the National Champions shirt. Sigh... Free throws will kill you.

Today was difficult, having my family leave me. It has set in that I am in a new phase of my life. I am living in a place where I have no set length of stay and no set time before I leave. This phase is completely foreign and new to me, and I am not sure how to handle it. I am applying for a new license, changing my insurance, etc. It's insane how much work you have to go to in order to simply live in a new place!

I am also missing Megan like crazy. She is busy with Wildcat Warm Up (WWU), an extended program at K-State. Yes, I am dating a rival in the Big Twelve. I also get harassed for this ALL OF THE TIME! But she is so amazing. I cannot wait to see her again this weekend. We plan to spend time eating dinner, watching movies, and packing her apartment. I just got done UNPACKING, and she starts with the packing. At least we can use the same boxes. Megan is about to leave for five weeks in Japan. For the last six months we have been apart, and I am excited to be able to be around her for longer periods of time now. Plus, it won't cost us $300 to see each other from now on! Whoo hoo! But first we have to endure five weeks of being an ocean apart. This is gonna be INCREDIBLY tough, but I am sure we will get through it with flying colors. She is one amazing woman!

Hope you guys are having a wonderful day... God bless you!

Truths from Packing

As many of you know, I am in the midst of moving from my home in Memphis to Kansas. Aside from college (and various missions experiences overseas), I have lived in Memphis for the last almost 26 years. Throughout that period of time I have accumulated quite a wealth of stuff. Some might even say a plethora. ("Jefe, would you say that I have a plethora of piñatas?")

I want to share a list of life lessons learned in the midst of all of this packing:

1. I own entirely too many books. Seriously, it is insane. Twelve boxes and counting. Now, I know that isn't much for some of you, but when you have to carry each 50 lb box by hand 100 yards from truck to office, it adds up! But I'm not getting rid of any in the near future...

2. I still have clothes from high school. When am I ever going to wear my high school letter jacket again? Or my Ridgeway band t-shirt?

3. I am a sentimental pack-rat. At least at first. By the time it comes to packing, I pick it all up, look through it, think "Why in the WORLD did I EVER save THAT?!?!?" then chunk it in the nearest trashcan, where I store all of my "precious" memories. When in doubt, throw it away! Seriously, you won't ever need it again.

4. I still own entirely too many books...

5. Everything gets heavier the longer you own it. Seriously, my TV didn't weigh this much the last time I carried it. I am seriously thinking about buying a flat-screen tv. (Random aside: How, in the midst of an economic recession, do our screens keep getting thinner and made out of liquified material from the earth's core? Is this REALLY a necessity?)

6. I own four bottles of Tylenol strategic placed around my office, and I have dipped into every one in the course of the last week.

7. It is entirely too difficult to go through 800,000 change of address forms when you move. You have to change your insurance, your bank, your taxes, your voter registration, your credit card info, your driver's license, your dog's middle name, and a whole host of other information simply to be able to change your place of residence. Someone ought to form a company to handle these logistics when you move. It seriously takes the manpower of the entire US Army Quartermaster Corp to simply inform everyone that you are moving. And... you inevitably forget one thing (usually whichever one will be the BIGGEST pain), and thus wind up owing the credit card company late fees simply because you needed to live somewhere else. Sigh.

8. People get INCREDIBLY sentimental when you move. For someone who hates goodbyes, this might be the hardest part of the whole process. So, for all of you reading this, when I got embarassed at all of the nice things you say to let me know you will miss me, let me say this to you: "Thank you! That means a lot. I will miss being here, and I will miss you too. God bless you!"

9. I still own a lot of books. And I keep finding more and more dishes from college. I forgot I even owned one of those!

10. It is hard to think about setting up a new apartment. I just feel like I was getting comfortable in the new place!

And, seriously, am I ever gonne be able to "Wave the Wheat"? No offense, but it is a goofy looking cheer. But, here goes nothing... "ROCK... CHALK... JAY...HAWK! Go KU!"

Solomon -- From Wisdom to Folly

When Solomon begins his rule, it tells us that he is loved by God (3:3). Solomon loves God and desires to build his Temple. He loves God and wants to serve him. Because of his devotion, God gives him the greatest gift imaginable: anything in the world. God offers him anything his heart desires. Solomon asks for wisdom, showing he is wiser than he thought he was to begin with!

Solomon rules in wisdom throughout his years. Yet from the very beginning we see him also acting in folly. He chooses to marry the daughter of the Egyptian pharaoh, establishing a political alliance with the strongest nation in the ANE. He breaks God's regulations from Deuteronomy 17, where God tells the kings how to behave. (Indeed, he breaks every single one!)

Towards the end of Solomon's reign he chooses to follow the gods of his wives rather than YHWH, the living God. He builds temples to these gods and worships in them. He raises the taxes of the people to an impossible point and forces them into conscripted labor in his service. He eats better than ANY subject could ever hope to, feasting on meat when most of his subjects had to subsist on bread and vegetables. Solomon's actions anger the LORD, especially because God had specifically appeared to Solomon in person!

Solomon's reign began in wisdom and ended in folly.

What does this mean for us as followers of God?

Who's Really On Trial Here?

I recently preached two sermons out of Job entitled: "Where Is God When It Hurts?" I focused on two aspects of God found throughout the text: The Transcendence of God and the Immanence of God. But something related (but still new) recently hit me:

Throughout Job we find that God reigns. God is seated on his throne, exalted, surrounded by the heavenly host, when the transcendence of God is challenged the the satan interloper. The satan argues that Job only serves God because of the blessings that Job has received; remove them, and Job will lose faith. Suddenly, the transcendence of God is challenged. God is the King, and he gives good gifts to his children. But, will his children rebel if the "gifts" are no longer available? God's reign is challenged: is he a king simply because he buys people off, or do people follow him because he alone is God.

The book of Job presents an account of the attack on Job and his faith. However, their is a deeper accusation at work: the satan is attacking GOD and accusing him of not being the true King! Job's faith is not the only thing at stake: God's reputation is on the line. Thus, the hope of heaven rests on Job's response. Although God is still God in the midst of the challenge, his reputation is in jeopardy if Job falls away in the midst of the heat...