Jesus' followers as salt.

“Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.”¹

“What could they do in so large a province as the whole earth? Nothing, if they were to work by force of arms and dint of sword; but, being to work silent as salt, one handful of that salt would diffuse its savour far and wide...” The teaching of the Gospel is salt.²

Could it be that the Church is despised in the western world because, to a large extent we have lost our saltiness?

In Scripture, salt is used for, seasoning food³ seasoning sacrifices⁴ ratifying covenants⁵ and strengthening new-born infants⁶.⁷ Elisha used salt to purify the water in a well at Jericho.⁸

“Salt sôlt (מלח, melaḥ; ἄλας, hálas, ἄλς, háls): Common salt is considered by most authorities as an essential ingredient of our food. Most people intentionally season their cooking with more or less salt for the sake of palatability. Others depend upon the small quantities which naturally exist in water and many foods to furnish the necessary amount of salt for the body. Men and animals alike instinctively seek for this substance to supplement or improve their regular diet. The ancients appreciated the value of salt for seasoning food. So necessary was it that they dignified it by making it a requisite part of sacrifices. A 'covenant of salt' is mentioned.⁹ This custom of pledging friendship or confirming a compact by eating food containing salt is still retained among Arabic-speaking people. The Arabic word for 'salt' and for a 'compact' or 'treaty' is the same. Doughty in his travels in Arabia appealed more than once to the superstitious belief of the Arabs in the 'salt covenant,' to save his life. Once an Arab has received in his tent even his worst enemy and has eaten salt (food) with him, he is bound to protect his guest as long as he remains.

Salt was used not only as a food, but as an antiseptic in medicine. Newborn babes were bathed and salted, a custom still prevailing. The Arabs of the desert consider it so necessary, that in the absence of salt they bathe infants in camels' urine.”¹⁰

“Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God---what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect.”^{11 12}

I have referred to several English translations of the Bible in writing this which is made easy by e-sword, a free downloadable program. For further information I recommend reading the Bible.

© Ken Glasgow 2010 Last edited 14 March 2021

This page was written using Open Office 3.2.1, open source software from the www.openoffice.org this software is available to download for free.

1Matthew 5:13, “The Message” paraphrase of the Bible.

2Matthew Henery's commentary on the Whole Bible.

3Job 6:6.

4Leviticus 2:13 & Ezekiel 43:24.

5Numbers 18:19 & 2 Chronicles 13:5.

6Ezekiel 16:4.

7R. A. Torrey's New Topical Text Book.

82 Kings 2:18-21.

9Numbers 18:19 & 2 Chronicles 13:5.

10See also: Leviticus 2:13, Ezra 6:9 & 7:21-22, Job 6:6, Ezekiel 16:4 & 43:24,

11Romans 12:2, the Good News Bible.

12International Standard Bible Encyclopedia.

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Christianity is unique, being the only religion which celebrates the death of it's leader, Jesus Christ.

When sin entered the world, death and destruction came with it. Jesus died to pay the price for the sins of the world. Before His death Jesus predicted that He would rise on the third day.ⁱ

After Jesus' death His body was taken, wrapped in clean linens and placed in a new tomb freshly cut out of stone with a large stone across the entrance. While they did this Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting across from the tomb, watching where they placed Jesus' body. Then they went away and prepared sweet smelling spices for His burial. On the Sabbath they rested as commanded by the Law of Moses. After sundown the High Priests and Pharisees had a meeting with Pilate, they said that Jesus had claimed He would rise from death on the third day and requested that the tomb be guarded so that the disciples could not steal the body and claim that Jesus had been raised from the dead. So Pilate said to take some soldiers and secure the tomb the best they could. So they sealed the tomb and placed soldiers there to guard it.ⁱⁱ

When the Sabbath was over Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James and Salome bought spices to embalm Jesus' body. On the Sunday morning they went to the tomb. On the way they were wondering who would roll away the stone from the tomb. Suddenly there was an earth quake. An angel of the Lord rolled the stone away from the tomb and sat on it. The guards shook with fear and fell like dead men. When the women arrived they walked straight into the tomb and saw an angel (who looked like a young man) sitting on the right side wearing a white robe. They were frightened.ⁱⁱⁱ

The angel said to the women “ Do not to be afraid. Jesus isn't here because God had raised Him to life, look here is the spot where Jesus' body was laid. Go quickly, tell His disciples that Jesus has been raised to life and is going ahead of them to Galilee. They will see Him there. The women hurried off to tell the disciples the good news. Matthew records Jesus appearing to the women at this time. At first the disciples did not believe them.^iv

Peter and John took off running to the tomb. John got there first, stopped outside, looked in and saw the linen cloths laying there but didn't go in. Peter arrived and went straight in. Peter saw the cloths lying there with the cloth that had been around Jesus' head rolled up separate from the others. John went in also. Then they walked away wondering what had happened.^v

More information on this can be found in the final chapters of the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

For those who would like to get right with God I suggest a simple prayer:

• God I admit that I have sinned and fallen short of your standards.

• Thank you that you sent your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ to die for me, paying the price for my salvation from sin, to be raised on the third day and to later ascend to Heaven. as an assurance

• I choose to place my faith in your Son, Jesus Christ.

• Thank you that Jesus' resurrection and ascension to Heaven are my assurance that you will take me to live with you there forever after my life on Earth is over.

You should now develop a habit of reading the Bible and talking to God every day. You should also join a Bible believing church (that does not add any other books to it) and fellowship there regularly¹.

I have refered to several English translations of the Bible in writing this which is made easy by e-sword, a free downloadable program. For further information I recommend reading the Bible.

© Ken Glasgow 2009 edited 11 April 2021

This page was written using Open Office, open source software from the www.openoffice.org this software is available to download for free.

1Hebrews 10:25

iMatthew 16:21, 17:23 & 20:19; Mark 8:31 & 10:34; Luke 9:22, 18:33 & 24:6 See also: Matthew 26:16, 27:40; Mark 14:56-58, 15:29; John 2:18-22

iiMatthew 27:57-66, Mark 15:42-47, Luke 23:52-56, John

iiiMatthew 28:1-6, Mark 16:1-6

ivMatthew 28:7-10, Mark 16:7-11, Luke 24:1-11

vLuke 24:12, John 20:2-10