The Resurrection of Jesus

 The Resurrection of Jesus

In Matthews Gospel we read,

"After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 

There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.  

His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.  

The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. 

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.  

He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.  

Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you." 

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.  

Suddenly Jesus met them."Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshipped him.  

Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me." Matthew 28:1-10.

Of all the religions in the world only Christianity claims that it's founder rose from the dead. This is the cornerstone of Christianity. Without it Christianity would be a dead religion. 

The resurrection of Jesus from the dead confirms His identity as God incarnate and Saviour of all who would believe in Him. For only God could have done what Jesus did.

And the resurrection of Jesus was not just noted by His followers. Josephus a Roman Jewish historian noted, 

“About this time arose Jesus, a wise man, who did good deeds and whose virtues were recognized. And many Jews and people of other nations became his disciples. Pilate condemned him to be crucified and to die. However, those who became his disciples preached his doctrine. They related that he had appeared to them three days after his crucifixion and that he was alive. Perhaps he was the Messiah in connection with whom the prophets foretold wonders.” [Josephus, Jewish Antiquities, XVIII 3.2].

Thus the question becomes do you believe this? With the more important question being do you believe what Jesus said about Himself when He said,

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  

       For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." John 3:16,17.

Please think about it.

The reason Christ came

  The Reason Christ came

Matthew’s gospel tell us of this incident in the life of Jesus,

“When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” 

On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  

But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9:10-13.

Jesus had one reason for coming to the earth He created and that was to show each individual the way to heaven. 

God knew we could not live a life that was good enough to get us into heaven. Thus He sent Jesus to show us the way by going as far as humanly possible and dying in a most horrendous way. 

Does this seem odd? Yes it does. But as the apostle Paul pointed out

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." 1Corinthians 1:18.

God’s ways are not our ways. Believing in a Saviour who died for our sins takes quite an act of faith which is what God wants.

The writer of Hebrews stating,

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."  Hebrews 11:1

"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Hebrews 11:6.

I think the reason God requires faith is that people who have true faith in anything will go to their graves for what they believe.

Which is what a true believer in Christ Jesus will do.

Please think about it. 

The thief who got into heaven

 The thief who got into heaven

"Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him (Jesus) to be executed.  

When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left....

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 

But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?  

We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’” 

Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” 

Luke 23:32,33,39-43.

I heard this the other day. A man walks up to the gates of heaven and is asked, “Why are you hear?”

He replies, “The man on the cross told me to come”

Though it is just a story about the criminal who believed in Jesus getting into heaven. What he did while hanging on the cross is something we all are called to do.

First of all he believed Jesus was innocent and that Jesus was who He said He was the Son of God. 

“Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom”

Second he confessed his sins saying,

“We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 

In reply Jesus said,

"I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." 

Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God Saviour of all who believe in Him?

Will you confess your sins directly to God right now. The apostle John writing,

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”1John 1:9.

John also writing,

“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—  children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” John 1:12,13. 

The criminal on the cross that day with Jesus believed who Jesus was confessed his sins and was forgiven. Thus giving him entry into heaven.

Please think about it.

Jesus died for us

 Jesus died for us.

John’s gospel reads,

"The next day John (the Baptist) saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" John 1:29.

The apostle Paul writes,

"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  

Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.  

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 

Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!  

For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!  

Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation" Romans 5:6-11

Good Friday is tomorrow. The day we Christians believe Jesus Christ The One and Only Son of God died for our sins. A controversial belief in some circles. With people asking if this is entirely true. 

To which I respond that it this is not true, Jesus is either a very misguided individual or even a lunatic who died for nothing. 

C. S. Lewis makes this statement,

"I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept his claim to be God. 

That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. 

He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell.

You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to." C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity.

Please think about it.

The Word of God

 The Word of God

The Psalmist writes,

"The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; 

the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple"

                                                                                    Psalm 19:7.

Many see the Bible as being a book of harsh rules. When it is quite the opposite. 

God has set forth within His Word a set of instructions that if followed will lead to a good and rich life. 

If society as a whole would follow the commandments of God it would be a much better place to live in.

In order for God’s word to have any effect in our society however means those who claim to be followers of Christ Jesus, should be living and presenting the word of God in word an deed. 

I like what Charles H. Spurgeon said about the Word of God. Who speaking to Christians said,

"The Word of God will be to you a bulwark and a high tower, a castle of defence against the foe. Oh, see to it that the Word of God is in you, in your very soul, permeating your thoughts, and so operating upon your outward life, that all may know you to be a true Bible-Christian, for they perceive it in your words and deeds." Charles H. Spurgeon.

Is the Word of God your bulwark against the foe?

Does the Word of God permeate your thoughts and deeds?

Please think about it.

Truth or lies?

  Truth or lies?

Luke’s gospel records this incident when Jesus as an infant was brought to the temple to be dedicated to the Lord.

“Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.  

It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ.  

Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,  

Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 

"Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,you now dismiss your servant in peace. 

For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel." Luke 2:25-32.

When it comes to this incident you can like with all the stories about Jesus, believe it or not.

But think of this. If this story and indeed the whole New Testament is made up then this is the most momentous lie in history. 

You must make your choice. Is the New Testament and all that is said about Jesus the biggest lie in all history or is it the truth. The choice is yours.

Please think about it.

A Question from Jesus

  A Question from Jesus

In John’s gospel we read,

“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;  and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

“Yes Lord” she told Him, “I believe you are the Christ the Son of God, who was to come into the world,” John 11:25,26,27.

While this question was asked to Martha it is a question we all must answer when confronted with Jesus.

Do you believe Jesus is the Christ the Son of God who has come into the world to offer eternal life to all who would believe in Him. 

Do you?

But before you answer please take some time to read the New Testament and see what those who knew Jesus best believed about Him.

Please think about it.

My Creator helps me

 My Creator helps me

The Psalmist writes,

"I lift up my eyes to the hills— 

where does my help come from? 

My help comes from the LORD, 

the Maker of heaven and earth.” 

                                        Psalm 121:1,2

For me being a Christian the greatest blessing I have is knowing that “My help comes from the LORD the maker of heavens and earth.”

The apostle John referring to Jesus as The Word states,

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  

He was with God in the beginning. 

Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  

In him was life, and that life was the light of men....

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. " John 1:1-4,14.

That same Jesus who created the heavens and the earth is there for me at all times to help me through all that comes up in life both the good and the bad.

Can you dear reader say the same?

Please think about it.

What will God say?

 What will God say?

The Psalmist writes,

"Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns." The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity. 

"Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it; 

"let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy; they will sing before the LORD, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his truth." Psalm 96:10-13.

God indeed reigns. God also created the world and everything in it. All of it belongs to God. That includes everyone who has ever lived and is living today.

And as the Psalmist makes it clear, 

“...He will judge the world in righteousness 

and the peoples in his truth.”

                                                          Psalm 96 13b

Thus I ask a question only you and God can answer; 

What will God say to you on the day He judges you?

Please think about it.

God's works

  God's works

“How many are your works, Lord! 

In wisdom you made them all.”

                                                Psalm 104:24

I took my young grandson to the Butterfly conservatory near where we live. As we slowly walked around butterflies of every conceivable variety flew around us. Then an amazing thing happened my grandson held his hand out and a butterfly landed on his finger and stayed for the longest time. He was over the moon.

As I looked at the delicate creature sitting on his hand I couldn’t help thinking of how wonderful God was. 

How incredible were His works. Everything from this delicate, intricately designed butterfly to the magnificent stars, planets, and galaxies. All designed for us.

The Psalmist writes,

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 

Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. 

There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard." 

                                                                                                      Psalm 19:1-3  

Please think about it.

Enjoy Life

  Enjoy life

In the book of Ecclesiastes we read,

“Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do.

Let your garments be always white. Let not oil be lacking on your head.

Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that he has given you under the sun because that is you portion in life and your toil at which you toil under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 9:7-9.

I’ve heard it said that the Christian life is “following a bunch of rules”. “A bunch of do’s and do not’s.” To which I say it is not. 

The Christian life comes with set of rules to live by that’s true. But those rules are like the rules for playing football. The rules are there so that you have good and fair game.

The rules Christians follow are layed down by God so that we know what He requires of us. That being said God wants us to enjoy life. The above Scripture tells us that.

"Go, eat your bread with joy, 

and drink your wine with a merry heart, 

for God has already approved what you do.”

                                                   Ecclesiastes 9:7.

So yes while we as believers in Christ Jesus have rules to follow. They are rules that help us live a good and happy life.

Please think about it.

It seems right but...

  It seems right but

In Proverbs we read,

“There is a way that seems right to a man 

but in the end it leads to death.” 

                                                 Proverbs 14:12.

Many today are following the crowd. Following religious and political leaders and philosophies that seem right but is not. 

We as individuals need to assess who we are following. We need to pray and ask God for direction. Because if we are following the wrong person or philosophy it can and will have eternal consequences.

For me the right path is following Jesus. Jesus speaking of himself said,

      "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son". John 3:16-18.

But you dear reader must decide for yourself if I am right.

Please think about it.