‘He is not here’ (Matthew 28:6 NIV)
In all the madness that had transpired, and all the sadness at what the disciples did not understand had happened, this time now, was the fulfilment of what had to happen.
The disciples saw their mentor and Messiah, crucified and they did not fully understand what was happening.
Numerous times, Jesus predicted that he would die (Mark 8:31, Mark 9:31, Mark 10:33-34) yet even after this, they did not understand, and if we had been there, we would probably not have understood either.
Peter even tried to tell Jesus that he would not let him be killed;
‘Peter took him aside to correct him privately. He reprimanded Jesus over and over, saying to him, “God forbid, Master! Spare yourself. You must never let this happen to you!” ‘ (Matthew 16:22 TPT).
Jesus was quite definite in his response, that Peter did not understand the bigger picture;
‘You are a stumbling block to me, you do not have in mind the concerns of God’ (Matthew 16:23 NIV).
Even now, when I think about what Jesus did for us, for me, I am constantly amazed and awed into submission to the God who would freely give everything that he was, to come to this world and take my sins onto himself, just to give me a second chance of living a life worthy of an everlasting hope in the future.
Wow!
Even though Jesus told them explicitly that he would rise again;
‘he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life’ (Matthew 16:21 NIV).
‘and after three days rise again’ (Mark 8:31 NIV).
‘and after three days he will rise’ (Mark 9:31 NIV).
‘Three days later he will rise’ (Mark 10:34).
They either did not fully understand, or were not prepared to let him go. Either way would not work for the redemption of mankind. Jesus needed to, had to die for us.
Sometimes Jesus used similes, such as when he referred to Jonah as a sign;
‘For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation’ (Luke 11:30 NIV).
Either way, what happened all those years ago, had to happen to save everyone in the world. Jesus was the perfect unblemished lamb, the only perfect lamb that was ever, and will ever be.
In this modern society, with all its draws, enticing us away from Jesus, we need to be careful on what and where we focus our lives. Money, belongings, power, these may seem nice at the time, but they are worldly and will fade over time, and then what will we have?
Jesus is the only thing that we can have that is eternal.
Turn to Jesus, trust him with your life, foe he is worthy. He alone is worthy of our trust, our complete love, or total devotion, and of all we have and will have!
Jesus paid the debt he did not owe, because we could not pay the debt we owed.
‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!’ (Luke 24:5-6 NIV).
There is only one thing left to remind us of, and it is something that we may have to tell ourselves in the times when we struggle; we may have to tell our friends when their lives seem to be falling apart, we may also wish someone to tell us that simple truth when we struggle with life and all the pressures that can come;
HE IS RISEN!
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He has risen, he has risen,
He has risen Jesus is alive.
When the life flowed from his body,
Seemed like Jesus’ mission failed;
But his sacrifice accomplished,
Victory over sin and hell.
In the grave God did not leave him,
For his body to decay;
Raised to life, the great awakening,
Satan’s power he overcame.
If there were no resurrection,
We ourselves could not be raised;
But the Son of God is living,
So our hope is not in vain.
When the Lord rides out of heaven,
Mighty angels at his side;
They will sound the final trumpet,
From the grave we shall arise.
He has given life immortal,
We shall see him face to face;
Through eternity we’ll praise him,
Christ the champion of our faith.
He Has Risen
G. Coates, N. Richards, T. Richards
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Father we thank you that you sent your Son to this world to redeem us from our lives of sin and darkness. Thank you for your love and grace, and most of all, we thank you for Jesus. We love you Lord.
Amen
Bobbles Stuff 