July 3, 2015 HE IS NOT HERE
Matthew 28:6: “And the angel answered and said to the woman, ‘Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.”
I can’t even imagine what it must have been like to be in Mary’s place that early morning! What a moment! One could rightly say that there are two divisions of time-pre resurrection and post resurrection-and this account of Mary is the first recorded event that is post resurrection. The four words-“He is not here”-is the greatest news that you and I will ever hear. Certainly, it could be said that the birth of Jesus is the greatest event ever; but had not Jesus lived a sinless life and been the perfect sacrifice, His birth would not have had its intended impact. The resurrection of Jesus was the confirmation of all scripture-sin was defeated and salvation had come to man. The resurrection of Jesus was a demonstration of the power of God and the love of God. I have heard someone ask why or how the resurrection of Jesus two thousand years ago makes any difference in their life today. We may give a quick response by saying that the resurrection of Jesus was for our salvation-and that would be true-without the resurrection, there would be no salvation. However, the resurrection of Jesus reaches for beyond being our ticket to heaven. To realize that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in us is almost unbelievable. Romans 8:11: “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through the Spirit who dwelleth in you.” The danger for us is that somehow the resurrection can become just a fact that we know, instead of being the reason for our living and our motivation in life. Keeping the resurrection “fresh” in our mind, heart and soul, is a matter of our heart; what we believe and what we do. First, we must have foremost in our heart, a desire to know God in a personal way and when it is our desire to know Him, He responds by revealing Himself to us. We must believe that He is a God who desires fellowship with us and that “He will draw near to us when we draw near to Him.” Also, we must walk in the Spirit-hearing and obeying what God is saying to us through His word and through the Spirit-He is pleased with an obedient spirit. If need be, let us re-visit the empty tomb and be awe-struck with the resurrection and what it means to us personally. We are called to live life with the same power that raised Jesus from the dead-when we do; life will never be the same again. Bill and Gloria Gather said it well: “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow-all fear is gone…”
1 Corinthians 15:17: “and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sin.”
John 10:10-11: “The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I come that they might have life, and might have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”
Blessings,
Buddy
Matthew 28:6: “And the angel answered and said to the woman, ‘Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.”
I can’t even imagine what it must have been like to be in Mary’s place that early morning! What a moment! One could rightly say that there are two divisions of time-pre resurrection and post resurrection-and this account of Mary is the first recorded event that is post resurrection. The four words-“He is not here”-is the greatest news that you and I will ever hear. Certainly, it could be said that the birth of Jesus is the greatest event ever; but had not Jesus lived a sinless life and been the perfect sacrifice, His birth would not have had its intended impact. The resurrection of Jesus was the confirmation of all scripture-sin was defeated and salvation had come to man. The resurrection of Jesus was a demonstration of the power of God and the love of God. I have heard someone ask why or how the resurrection of Jesus two thousand years ago makes any difference in their life today. We may give a quick response by saying that the resurrection of Jesus was for our salvation-and that would be true-without the resurrection, there would be no salvation. However, the resurrection of Jesus reaches for beyond being our ticket to heaven. To realize that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in us is almost unbelievable. Romans 8:11: “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through the Spirit who dwelleth in you.” The danger for us is that somehow the resurrection can become just a fact that we know, instead of being the reason for our living and our motivation in life. Keeping the resurrection “fresh” in our mind, heart and soul, is a matter of our heart; what we believe and what we do. First, we must have foremost in our heart, a desire to know God in a personal way and when it is our desire to know Him, He responds by revealing Himself to us. We must believe that He is a God who desires fellowship with us and that “He will draw near to us when we draw near to Him.” Also, we must walk in the Spirit-hearing and obeying what God is saying to us through His word and through the Spirit-He is pleased with an obedient spirit. If need be, let us re-visit the empty tomb and be awe-struck with the resurrection and what it means to us personally. We are called to live life with the same power that raised Jesus from the dead-when we do; life will never be the same again. Bill and Gloria Gather said it well: “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow-all fear is gone…”
1 Corinthians 15:17: “and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sin.”
John 10:10-11: “The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I come that they might have life, and might have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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