ATTENTION: ALL MEMORIAL SERVICES FOR JESUS OF NAZARETH ARE CANCELLED. HE IS RISEN!
Around dawn of that Sunday morning some 2,000+ years ago, Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James, went to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus. A violent earthquake took place as an angel rolled back the humongous stone that was guarding the entrance to Jesus' tomb. The Roman guards shook in fear and "became like dead men", I believe they literally passed out, at the angel's lightning like appearance. But the angel spoke to the women saying, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said." But as God always does, he offers us proof or encourages us to see for ourselves; the angel had the women come look in the tomb where Jesus' body had been so they could see with their own eyes that he had risen.
The angel then instructed the women to go tell the disciples the Jesus had risen. Amidst both joy and fear, the women headed off to tell the disciples. And who should they meet on the way but Jesus himself! The women fell at his feet and began worshipping him. Jesus then instructed the women to proceed on to Galilee to tell his disciples of his presence.
The guards went to the city and told the chief priests about that had happened with the tomb and Jesus' body. And wouldn't you know it, the elders were so distraught over what happened that they bribed the soldiers to tell people that the disciples had stolen Jesus' body during the night.
Jesus appears several times to people after his resurrection, including the two Mary's at the tomb, the disciples on two occasions, two of the disciples fishing, and over 500 other eye-witnesses. During one of his last encounters with disciples, Jesus gave them The Great Commission. Some still doubted but he assured them that all authority in heaven and on earth had been given to him. He then said, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age" - Matthew 28:19-20.
Thoughts:
- Jesus gave the women and the disciples instructions to go see him in Galilee but he already told them he would be there. "After I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee" - Matthew 26:32. I know any of you with kids know what it's like to have to tell them the same thing over and over. But how many of us as Christian children have to be reminded and told time and time again by our Heavenly Father of what we should be doing to serve him?
- Jesus' resurrected body was different from his previous physical body in that he was no longer subject to the laws of nature. He kept the scars and could be touched and eat with people, but he was now able to walk through locked doors. This is important because we must know that the stone wasn't rolled away so Christ could get out of the tomb, but so that we could see in to know that he was risen.
The resurrection is the foundation of Christian doctrine, it's what makes Christianity different from all other religions. No other prophet or religion's leader claims to be the resurrection. But Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die" in John 11:25-26. I believe that Jesus rose from the grave and that God is real. Werner von Braun said, "The vast mysteries of the universe should only confirm our belief in the certainty of its Creator. I find it as difficult to understand a scientist a scientist who does not acknowledge the presence of a superior rationality behind the existence of the universe as it is to comprehend a theologian who would deny the advances of science."
Can you imagine the headlines, tweets, and social media posts that would take place today at Jesus' resurrection? If a celebrity does something now it seems to make national news in minutes. Yet we as Christians, know the reality every day that Jesus is risen and we don't tell others about it. As you eat with family, hide eggs, or whatever else you do today, please share the real reason that we celebrate Easter, Jesus' victory over sin and death!
Around dawn of that Sunday morning some 2,000+ years ago, Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James, went to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus. A violent earthquake took place as an angel rolled back the humongous stone that was guarding the entrance to Jesus' tomb. The Roman guards shook in fear and "became like dead men", I believe they literally passed out, at the angel's lightning like appearance. But the angel spoke to the women saying, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said." But as God always does, he offers us proof or encourages us to see for ourselves; the angel had the women come look in the tomb where Jesus' body had been so they could see with their own eyes that he had risen.
The angel then instructed the women to go tell the disciples the Jesus had risen. Amidst both joy and fear, the women headed off to tell the disciples. And who should they meet on the way but Jesus himself! The women fell at his feet and began worshipping him. Jesus then instructed the women to proceed on to Galilee to tell his disciples of his presence.
The guards went to the city and told the chief priests about that had happened with the tomb and Jesus' body. And wouldn't you know it, the elders were so distraught over what happened that they bribed the soldiers to tell people that the disciples had stolen Jesus' body during the night.
Jesus appears several times to people after his resurrection, including the two Mary's at the tomb, the disciples on two occasions, two of the disciples fishing, and over 500 other eye-witnesses. During one of his last encounters with disciples, Jesus gave them The Great Commission. Some still doubted but he assured them that all authority in heaven and on earth had been given to him. He then said, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age" - Matthew 28:19-20.
Thoughts:
- Jesus gave the women and the disciples instructions to go see him in Galilee but he already told them he would be there. "After I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee" - Matthew 26:32. I know any of you with kids know what it's like to have to tell them the same thing over and over. But how many of us as Christian children have to be reminded and told time and time again by our Heavenly Father of what we should be doing to serve him?
- Jesus' resurrected body was different from his previous physical body in that he was no longer subject to the laws of nature. He kept the scars and could be touched and eat with people, but he was now able to walk through locked doors. This is important because we must know that the stone wasn't rolled away so Christ could get out of the tomb, but so that we could see in to know that he was risen.
The resurrection is the foundation of Christian doctrine, it's what makes Christianity different from all other religions. No other prophet or religion's leader claims to be the resurrection. But Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die" in John 11:25-26. I believe that Jesus rose from the grave and that God is real. Werner von Braun said, "The vast mysteries of the universe should only confirm our belief in the certainty of its Creator. I find it as difficult to understand a scientist a scientist who does not acknowledge the presence of a superior rationality behind the existence of the universe as it is to comprehend a theologian who would deny the advances of science."
Can you imagine the headlines, tweets, and social media posts that would take place today at Jesus' resurrection? If a celebrity does something now it seems to make national news in minutes. Yet we as Christians, know the reality every day that Jesus is risen and we don't tell others about it. As you eat with family, hide eggs, or whatever else you do today, please share the real reason that we celebrate Easter, Jesus' victory over sin and death!
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