He is Risen! He is Risen indeed!! HALLELUJAH!
WHY? WHY DID THIS HAVE TO HAPPEN? TO GIVE US ETERNAL LIFE!
"Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy ... you now sorrow, but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you." John 16:20, 22
Think back on the hardest day of your life. A day when your hopes were dashed. A day when your future looked bleak indeed. Perhaps this was the day of the death of a loved one, or a serious illness for a family member. Or perhaps this was a day of a great failure - yours, or another person that hurt you. In the Easter story - Jesus poured his heart out to God in the garden of Gethsemane knowing what was coming. He was willing to come to earth as a man and suffer the most painful death that anyone has ever had to on a cross - Why? - for each one of us. He died willingly and spilled His blood on the cross for you and for me. Those final words He uttered, especially that awful scream - ELOI, ELOI, LAMA SABACHTHANI! - My God, My God, why have you forsaken me? Jesus died completely alone on the cross for my sin and for yours.
What appeared to be defeat was actually the preface of victory. That ugly, rugged cross took its toll, but failed to have the final voice. Deep in the silence of night, against all odds and in mockery of strong-armed soldiers, that victim became the Victor.
"Up from the grave He arose, with a mighty triumph o'r His foes."
Love's redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids Him rise, Alleluia!
Christ has opened Paradise, Alleluia!
- Charles Wesley
Once the decision was made at Gethsemane - a land of vanishing sorrow took place. A sorrow that turned into joy when the grave was empty. Jesus dwelt at perfect peace with God at all times - "Peace I leave you, my peace I give unto you." With a heavy heart, Jesus left Gethsemane, but with a willing and obedient Spirit He went to the cross - He knew the victory that waited. Hallelujah!Every day is Resurrection Day for the Christian because he lives by the life of the risen Christ. That is our hope - the empty tomb! The Risen Christ!
What is the message of the empty tomb? He's not here - HE IS RISEN!
Now we have encouragement - Our sorrow has all the sudden become our joy. No one and nothing could keep God in the grave. Hallelujah! Nothing, not even death could hold him. He conquered death so that we might live. Hallelujah!
Jesus kept His word - God the Father kept His word - Jesus rose - He's now alive - all promises were kept! Praise the Lord that we can totally trust all He says. Jesus Christ, is not only risen, but there is life beyond the grave! Hallelujah! We will live again either with Jesus or with the devil - the choice will be ours.
We will make an account for our life while we were here on earth to Jesus Christ. "It is appointed unto man once to die - then the judgment." How well have you lived your life? Did you find Jesus as Savior while you were here? Life has meaning and purpose - did you find that while here?
An atoning sacrifice seen in 2 Corinthians 5:17-18 was accepted by God through reconciliation. That made us ambassadors for Christ - now we can share the message of Jesus Christ with the lost. Are we doing that?
God has forgiven us - how do we know that? Jesus ascended from the grave - He went to the Father and now we can be forgiven. God therefore, now accepts us. Again our sorrow has turned to joy. Faith is awesome! Jesus has become our substitute. The blood of Christ on the cross has covered our sin - we now belong to Jesus. Hallelujah!
How can one not have total joy once this is fully realized? We will have a perfect body for where we are fitted in heaven. Jesus proves that with his perfect body after the resurrection. We will serve, worship, and reign with him in heaven forever! See 1 Corinthians 15:42-44.
How are you living down here on earth now? Do not fear death - there is no need to. It is the final act on us. When God calls our name - nothing prevents our death. How are you living your life now? He's coming for each one of us. Are you ready? Are you anticipating your meeting with God? The only door to heaven is through the cross. The door of grace. We need to be preparing to meet Jesus forever. Jesus is the only way to heaven -
In John 14:6 it says, "I am the way, the truth, and life - no man comes to the Father but through Me."
This is truly the good news of Easter. Through two thousand years of Christian witness what has sustained the hearts of millions is the realization that Jesus can enter one's life and go with you through the trials, pressues, tears and joys of life right here on earth. He will be with you at the hour of death, yes, but not as a stranger just then entering your experience. He will already long have been a trusted Friend, not merely a comforting Companion, but as Lord, Sovereign, authoritative and able to work through the difficulties you face. No one wants to face pressures all alone; it helps to have someone with you. And not only someone like yourself, one who can understand how you feel, but if it can also be someone who has authority and power, one who can work out solutions to your seemingly insoluble problems, what a comfort that is! (thoughts by Ray Stedman)
Hallelujah! He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!
No one can take our JOY from us.
Praise God!
