He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Matthew 28:6

The story is told about a store manager who overheard his clerk tell a customer, “No, ma’am, we haven’t had any for a while, and it doesn’t look as if we’ll be getting any soon.” Horrified, the manager came running over to the customer and said, “Of course we’ll have some soon. We placed an order last week.” Then the manager drew the clerk aside. “Never,” he snarled, “Never, never, never say we’re out of anything–say we’ve got it on order and it’s coming. Now, what was it she wanted?” “Rain,” said the clerk.

Although humorous, this story unfortunately illustrates a major American epidemic. Lying seems to be a way of life for many people. The book, The Day America Told the Truth by James Patterson and Peter Kim, states that 91 percent of those surveyed lie routinely about matters they consider trivial, and 36 percent lie about important matters; 86 percent lie regularly to parents, 75 percent to friends, 73 percent to siblings, and 69 percent to spouses. Other studies confirm these sobering statistics. I recently read an article about a study that was conducted at the University of Massachusetts in which researchers asked two strangers to talk for 10 minutes. The conversations were recorded, and then each subject was asked to review the tape. Before looking at the footage, the subjects told researchers that they had been completely honest and accurate in their statements, but once the tape rolled, the subjects were amazed to discover all the little lies that came out in just 10 minutes. In fact, 60 percent of the subjects lied at least once during the 10-minute conversation and told an average of two to three lies. The Associated Press also released the results from a poll on this very topic which showed about half of Americans thought it was sometimes OK to lie. However, when given specific scenarios, two-thirds said it was sometimes OK to be dishonest. (See study )

Lies like the following are said so often, you almost can’t read them without cracking a smile.

• The check is in the mail.
• I’ll start my diet tomorrow.
• One size fits all.
• Your luggage isn’t lost, it’s only misplaced.
• Leave your resume and we’ll keep it on file.
• This hurts me more than it hurts you.
• I just need five minutes of your time.
• Your table will be ready in a few minutes.
• Let’s have lunch sometime.

Although it may not seem very serious when you are the one telling a lie, the perspective drastically changes when you are on the receiving end. City-Data.com, an online forum asked its readers, “What is the biggest lie someone has told you?” The responses were heart wrenching. Broken hearts from internet dating, infidelity and breaches of trust are no laughing matter.

But every spring when Easter is celebrated, we are not only reminded of how high and deep is God’s amazing love through Christ’s death and resurrection, we are also reassured of His trustworthiness.  I love the scripture where the women come to the tomb, and the angel tells them, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.  He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. (Matthew 28:5-6) Three times, we see in the book of Matthew, Jesus told His disciples that He would be raised from the dead on the third day  (Matthew 16:21, 17:22-23, 20:18-19)  and it happened just as He said! In addition, there are several other fulfillments of God’s Word that we witness in the Easter story proving over and over His trustworthiness. He foretold:

1. He will enter Jerusalem riding a donkey (the colt or foal of a donkey) (Zechariah 9:9). Fulfillment: Matt. 21:5; Luke 19:32-37.
2. He will be hated for no reason (Psalm 69:4). Fulfillment: John 15:25.
3. He will be betrayed (Psalm 41:9). Fulfillment: Matt. 27:3-10.
4. More specifically, He will be betrayed by a friend (Psalm 41:9). Fulfillment: Matt. 27:3-10; 26:47-48.
5. The price of his betrayal will be thirty pieces of silver (Zech. 11:12). Fulfillment: Matt. 27:3-10.
6. The betrayal money will be cast onto the floor (Zech. 11:13). Fulfillment: Matt. 27:5.
7. More specifically, it will be cast onto the floor of the Temple (Zech. 11:13). Fulfillment: Matt. 27:3-10.
8. The betrayal money will be used to buy a potter’s field (Zech. 11:13). Fulfillment: Matt. 27:6-10.
9. He will not open his mouth to defend himself (Isaiah 53:7). Fulfillment: Matthew 27:12.
10. He will be beaten and spat upon (Isaiah 50:6). Fulfillment: Matthew 26:67; 27:26-30.
11. He will be “numbered with the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:12). Fulfillment: Jesus was crucified as a criminal in between two thieves (Mat 27:38).
12. He will be pierced (Zechariah 12:10). Fulfillment: John 19:34
13. His hands and feet will be pierced (Psalm 22:16; cf. Zechariah 12:10; Galatians 3:13). Crucifixion foretold. Psalm 22 graphically prophecies the Messiah’s manner of death. At the time the psalm was written (and long after), the penalty for blasphemy was stoning. Therefore, this prediction of crucifixion is particularly astonishing.
14.  The Jewish Passover sacrifice and Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death coincide exactly. The dates on which Jesus was taken by the Roman authorities, and then slain, also coincided precisely with the Jewish Passover. Jesus became the Passover Lamb, “without blemish.” Just as the angel of death passed by those Israelites who put blood on their doorposts – so Jesus’ sacrificial death also results in freedom from death and hell for those who accept His blood.
15. His bones will not be broken (Psalm 34:20; Exodus 12 states that the Passover Lamb’s bones are not to be broken.). Fulfillment: John 19:33.
16. They will divide his clothing and cast lots for them (Psalm 22:18). Fulfillment: John 19:23-24.
17. He will be given vinegar and gall to drink (Psalm 69:21). Fulfillment: Matthew 27:34, 48.
18. He will say: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Psalm 22:1). Fulfillment: Matthew 27:46.
19. He will be buried with the rich (Isaiah 53:9). Fulfillment: Matthew 27.
20. He will not decay (Psalm 16:10). Fulfillment: Acts 2:31
21. He will be resurrected from the dead (Psalm 16:10). Fulfillment: Acts 2:31, etc.

While we live in a world where deception and lies are the norm, we see in the Easter story that God isn’t a man that he would lie, or a human being that he would change his mind. He has never spoken and not done it, or promised and not fulfilled it! (Numbers 23:19) LH

(Many of the posts on this website are accompanied by a Bible Study broken up into 5 days. The Study is designed to take you no more than 10 minutes each day. For a printable copy of this Bible study  Click Here )

“Just Say Know” Bible Study

JUST AS HE SAID 

There are numerous accounts in both the Old and New Testaments, where scripture records the fulfillment of God’s Word just as He said.                                                                                             

Day 1 Read Isaiah 55:10-11; Numbers 23:19; Joshua 21:43-45; Hebrews 10:23

1. What do these scriptures have in common?
2. What is the admonition in Hebrews 10:23?

Day 2 Read Genesis 12:1-4; 15:1-6; 17:1-3; 18:2-13; 21:1-6

The story of Abraham is a wonderful example of how God keeps His promises and How nothing is impossible for Him.

1. How old was Abraham when God first promised him descendants?
2. Why did Abraham and Sarah laugh?
3. How many years did it take for God’s promise to Abraham to come to pass?

Day 3 Read 1 Samuel 10:1-9

In today’s reading we see God speaking through His prophet, Samuel.

1.             List at least 5 signs, Samuel told Saul would occur?

2.             How long did it take for the signs to be fulfilled?

3.             Has God ever spoke a word to you? Was it fulfilled?

Day 4 Read Luke 2:22-35

I love the personal aspect of this Word/promise that was given in this scripture.

1. What was promised to Simeon?
2. Who made the promise?
3. How is Simeon described in verse 25?
4.  Do you think this is why God made a promise to him? (See Hebrews 11:6 and Galatians 3:5-6)

Day 5 Read Exodus 20:16; Acts 5:1-10; Ephesians 4:25; Ephesians 6:14; Revelation 22:14-15

There are so many other examples of God’s Word being fulfilled. If you like, you can do a search of your own of the phrase “in accordance with word of the Lord” at Biblegateway.com for several other amazing stories. This last day, let’s look into what the Bible says about lying.

1. Why did God strike Ananias and Sapphira dead?
2. To whom does scripture say they lied?
3. Why does Ephesians 4:25 say we should not lie?
4. Do you have any trouble in this area?

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Lisa Hempel

is an aspiring Bounty Hunter who is always looking for God's Bounty-- His grace and goodness-- in the mundane and melancholy as well as in the miraculous. She is also a wife, mother of four adult children--two with Cerebral Palsy, grandmother and minister of the Gospel. "You crown the year with a bountiful harvest; even the hard pathways overflow with abundance." Psalm 65:11 NLT

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