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Today's Little Lift
by Jim Bullington
Life through the Promised Messiah
The expression “Prince of Life” used by Peter (Acts 3:15) is both unique and important. To appreciate its significance, let’s look at some of the other “of life” phrases in the Bible. In doing this, we will be able to better comprehend the expression “The Prince of Life!”
The first “of life” phrase is Genesis 2:7. “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” The breath of life is the life force that God specifically and uniquely breathed into man’s nostrils. Though God created animals as living creatures, there was something special about man. The Creator paused at the end of His work and breathed into his nostrils the “breath of life.”
The second “of life” phrase follows the first by only 2 verses. “And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” (Genesis 2:9). The “tree of life” was to be the ongoing source of life for the man. But for Satan’s success in blinding the perfect eyes with which man was created, Adam and Eve had the right to continually eat of the tree that would sustain their lives forever. But, alas, the primitive pair harkened to the hiss of the serpent and in so doing forfeited this right. After man’s fall, God terminated man’s ability to eat from this tree “lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever." (Genesis 3:22b).
The remainder of the Old Testament depicts man’s struggle with physical and spiritual life. Laws were revealed to ensure that man knew the sacred nature of life. Those who took life were punished directly by the Lord (e.g. Cain) or by society as they upheld God’s laws about life. The Israelite nation was given a moral code that promised a longer life based upon obedience to God. Certain foods were commanded while others were prohibited. Many believe that these regulations were directly related to life and longevity. The lives of many Old Testament characters such as Job, David and Solomon are depicted as they struggled with life and its meaning. In all of this, Hope for life burned brightly throughout the Old Testament. In spite of the actions of Adam and Eve, God-fearing men believed that a remedy for sin and its awful consequences would become available. This belief was in direct response to the actions of God in which He promised to bruise the head of the serpent through the deeds of the seed of woman (Genesis 3.15).
Finally, someone came claiming to be the fulfillment of life’s hope. After the closing of the Old Testament era, the clarion voice of John the Immerser broke the silence of the prophets! John, the apostle of love, described the Messiah who had appeared as the “Word of Life” (John 1:1-2), and He described Himself as the “Bread of Life.” (John 6:35). The hope for man’s “long home” was realized in the long awaited manifestation of the “seed of woman.” Thanks be to God that the Word of Life and the Bread of Life were manifested and glorified in the Prince of Life!
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