sunday – He Is Risen!
When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a white robe sitting on the right side. The women were shocked, but the angel said, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body. Now go and tell his disciples, including Peter, that Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you before he died.” Mark 16:5-7 NLT
In the year 2010…Easter is…? Bunnies. Colored eggs. Chocolate Rabbits. Plastic junk. And religious rhetoric?
After spending hours and hours studying the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John to find out exactly what Holy Week and Easter mean to ME, I’ve come to this conclusion:
Jesus Christ is the same today as He was on that first Resurrection Morning in 33 A.D. He is alive. He is victorious. His name is above every name that is named, in heaven and on earth. He holds the keys to my eternal life in His hands. He holds the lives and futures of those I love in His hands. There is no other way to God the Father except through God the Son and my acceptance of what He did for me personally on Calvary’s cross centuries ago. His gift of life is the only thing that makes sense today in our world of complete moral collapse, too much chocolate, plastic junk, and religious rhetoric!
Over the years I’ve learned a few things about following Christ. During this season of Lent some things have been magnified a hundredfold. A list of the high points might read:
1. Religion kills people. Christ saves them.
2. Anyone can prove any point by quoting scripture. Only a personal, Holy Spirit revealed knowledge of scripture, can provide the truth about who and what Christ really means in the life of each and every individual on the planet.
3. Following Christ is not about what I can believe. Following Christ is about what I can obey.
4. Every day of my life is about choice. I can choose blessings or I can choose curses. My choice dictates what I accomplish every day.
5. God’s Word IS alive and active and it is my owner’s manual for getting through every situation. In God’s Word there is guidance for all of life’s circumstances.
6. IF I am willing to spend the time to build a relationship with Jesus, by getting to know him personally through the living and active Word of God, my life will be forever changed. I will be blessed. I can live in peace. I have His promise!
7. !Important! I am a spirit. I have a soul (my mind, my will and my emotions). I live in a body. God IS a Spirit. There is no other way for me to be acceptable to God than by accepting my need for a spiritual rebirth.
In the year 2010 Easter is NOT about spiritual rebirth and obedience. But is should be! No one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. John 3:5-20 NLT
On the first Resurrection Sunday Mary and the disciples were amazed by the presence of the living Christ. He appeared in their midst and spoke these most profound words to one of them, “blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Dr. Luke, in chapter 24 of his narrative, tells of another encounter with the risen Christ: “Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.
He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”
They stood still, their faces downcast. 18One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
“What things?” he asked.
“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.”
He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.
When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.
While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence.
He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”
Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God. “Luke 24:13-53 NIV
Eyewitness accounts! In 2010 we know all about eyewitness accounts. Our justice system hangs its credibility on eyewitness accounts. Our idolized celebrities rise or fall based on eyewitness accounts. So why would we doubt the eyewitness accounts of so many?
On Friday Jesus Christ was crucified. On Saturday He conquered all that is dark and evil, striping the prince of this world of power; taking away the keys to death, hell and the grave. Today He walks and talks with us; he breaks bread with us. He is alive!
And because of the great love of God the Father, the great sacrifice of God the Son, and the wonderful counsel of God the Holy Spirit (who now lives within me) I am also alive! I can choose victory and peace. Nothing may enter my life that does not first pass under His name. I have His promise!
He is Risen!!! Happy Easter!!!!
