Resurrection Morning
"But the angel answered and said to the women, 'Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.' So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word." Matt.28:5-8 [NKJV]. What a roller coaster of emotions Jesus' followers experienced that week. Palm Sunday, the crowds were lining the streets crying out, "Hosanna! Hosanna!" But by the end of the week, that same crowd was crying out, "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!" With the exception of these few brave women, all of Jesus disciples were cowering in fear and remained in hiding. That's why the angel told these women to go tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead. And note, when they left the tomb, they left with fear and great joy. Mixed emotions. The unexpected (on their part) had happened. He's Alive! He's Alive!
Let me stop right there to say this. As the time of Easter is upon us again, once again we have controversy. Simcha Jacobovici and Charles Pellegrino have written a book, The Jesus Tomb, in which they claim that the bones of Jesus, Joseph, and Mary have been found in a tomb near Jerusalem. And now that book has been made into a documentary film. Check your calendar, watch and listen, and you know it's Easter because another controversy comes out. Last year it was the Divinci Code. This year, The Jesus Tomb. Next year, who knows, but mark it down, there'll be something. Why is the world always trying to disprove the fact of our Resurrected Lord? Look at the verse above for your answer. At first, the women were seeking a 'crucified Christ.' The world is always seeking a crucified Christ. They don't deny that. What they deny is the Resurrected Christ. But the very thing they deny, is the very thing that will save them. It's not enough for Christ just to die. He must raise again, or there is no victory over sin, death, hell and the grave. And my friends, that is exactly what He did. He rose from the grave to give us victory over death by giving us eternal life, when we place our faith in Him.
Now back to our story. After the angels told the women to go tell the disciples, Jesus appeared many times to them. And by the time He ascended back to Heaven, back to the right hand of the Father, these men now had a new boldness. The fact of the Resurrection of Christ had radically changed their lives. No longer were they cowards huddling in a corner. Now they were courageously proclaiming the truth: "Jesus Christ rose from the dead and He is alive!" They proclaimed this truth until it cost them their lives. They died a martyrs death. And listen to me, people don't die for a lie. They die for truth. If the resurrection was a hoax, then when the persecutors were about to kill these disciples, they would've said, 'Hold it; wait a minute. This is not true. Don't kill me. I confess, this was not true.' But my friend, that didn't happen. Instead they said you can kill me, behead me, crucify me, do whatever, but what I'm telling you is truth. He is Alive! John said (in I John) we looked upon Him, touched Him, handled Him.... I'm telling you, He is alive! And thank God He is. For without the resurrection we would have no hope. Or as Paul said, "And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.....and if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!....If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. BUT now Christ IS risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep....!" I Cor.15:12-20 [NKJV]. Praise God! He's Alive!
"I serve a risen Savior, He's in the world today;/
I know that He is living whatever men may say;/
I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer,/
And just the time I need Him He's always near./
He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!/
He walks with me and talks with me along life's narrow way./
He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!/
You ask me how I know He lives?/
He lives within my heart."
[Hymn by Alfred H. Ackley]
Praise God! He lives in my heart. What about yours?
Hope to see you in church on Resurrection morn.
Let me stop right there to say this. As the time of Easter is upon us again, once again we have controversy. Simcha Jacobovici and Charles Pellegrino have written a book, The Jesus Tomb, in which they claim that the bones of Jesus, Joseph, and Mary have been found in a tomb near Jerusalem. And now that book has been made into a documentary film. Check your calendar, watch and listen, and you know it's Easter because another controversy comes out. Last year it was the Divinci Code. This year, The Jesus Tomb. Next year, who knows, but mark it down, there'll be something. Why is the world always trying to disprove the fact of our Resurrected Lord? Look at the verse above for your answer. At first, the women were seeking a 'crucified Christ.' The world is always seeking a crucified Christ. They don't deny that. What they deny is the Resurrected Christ. But the very thing they deny, is the very thing that will save them. It's not enough for Christ just to die. He must raise again, or there is no victory over sin, death, hell and the grave. And my friends, that is exactly what He did. He rose from the grave to give us victory over death by giving us eternal life, when we place our faith in Him.
Now back to our story. After the angels told the women to go tell the disciples, Jesus appeared many times to them. And by the time He ascended back to Heaven, back to the right hand of the Father, these men now had a new boldness. The fact of the Resurrection of Christ had radically changed their lives. No longer were they cowards huddling in a corner. Now they were courageously proclaiming the truth: "Jesus Christ rose from the dead and He is alive!" They proclaimed this truth until it cost them their lives. They died a martyrs death. And listen to me, people don't die for a lie. They die for truth. If the resurrection was a hoax, then when the persecutors were about to kill these disciples, they would've said, 'Hold it; wait a minute. This is not true. Don't kill me. I confess, this was not true.' But my friend, that didn't happen. Instead they said you can kill me, behead me, crucify me, do whatever, but what I'm telling you is truth. He is Alive! John said (in I John) we looked upon Him, touched Him, handled Him.... I'm telling you, He is alive! And thank God He is. For without the resurrection we would have no hope. Or as Paul said, "And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.....and if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!....If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. BUT now Christ IS risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep....!" I Cor.15:12-20 [NKJV]. Praise God! He's Alive!
"I serve a risen Savior, He's in the world today;/
I know that He is living whatever men may say;/
I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer,/
And just the time I need Him He's always near./
He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!/
He walks with me and talks with me along life's narrow way./
He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!/
You ask me how I know He lives?/
He lives within my heart."
[Hymn by Alfred H. Ackley]
Praise God! He lives in my heart. What about yours?
Hope to see you in church on Resurrection morn.
posted by Royce Hendry at
7:45 AM
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