Resurrection

1 Corinthians 6:14

And God hath raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.

One year ago today we stood by a grave and farewelled a beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. That year appears to have gone quickly, and yet we still find ourselves half-expecting to see her in her usual place at family gatherings or hear her voice as she shares stories and enjoys the antics of the younger generation. Although we miss her and at times still shed a tear, we do not grieve without hope.

1 Thessalonians 4:14

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

Today, we remember that two thousand years ago Jesus Christ rose from the dead. In a few hours (that will seem longer than usual due to Daylight Saving having ended during the night and little ones being awake earlier than usual) we will go to church and sing the wondrous story that our Saviour lives.

The world may scoff and accuse us of believing in a fairy tale, but those of us who trust Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins, know it to be true.

Romans 6:34

Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

Crucifixion was a cruel death and the Romans knew how to carry it out with exactness. If they said he was dead, then they ought to know. It is not something in which they would be mistaken.

Mark 15:44

And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead.

Jesus was buried. He was laid in a tomb which was covered by a stone, sealed and guards posted. Even if somehow the Romans had been mistaken, lying in a cold tomb, alone, with no medical help, he wasn't likely to recover from the wounds sustained in order to move the stone away while inside the tomb and then overpower the guards on watch.

Matthew 27:66

So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

He was seen by multiple witnesses, not the least, women, who were considered next to no witness at all. 

John 20:20

The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone take away from the sepulchre.

His disciples, who had fled at the first sign of trouble, after his death went out into the world boldly proclaiming the Gospel, facing persecution and the threat of death.

1 Peter 1:3

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

Finally, my heart tells me it is true.

Job 19:25-27

For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.

Forsaken

 

 "My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?" Psalm 22:1

We here behold the Saviour in the depth of His sorrows. No other place so well shows the griefs of Christ as Calvary, and no other moment at Calvary is so full of agony as that in which His cry rends the air - "My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?" At this moment physical weakness was united with acute mental torture from the shame and ignominy through which He had to pass; and to make His grief culminate with emphasis, He suffered spiritual agony surpassing all expression, resulting from the departure of His Father's presence.

This was the black midnight of His horror; then it was that He descended the abyss of suffering. No man can enter into the full meaning of these words. Some of us think at times that we could cry, "My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?" There are seasons when the brightness of our Father's smile is eclipsed by clouds and darkness; but let us remember that God never does really forsake us. It is only a seeming forsaking with us, but in Christ's case it was a real forsaking. ... the real turning away of God's face from His Son, who shall calculate how deep the agony which it caused Him?

In our case, our cry is often dictated by unbelief: in His case, it was the utterance of a dreadful fact, for God had really turned away from Hin for a season. ... remember that He has not really forsaken thee ... but since even the thought that He has forsaken us gives us agony, what must the woe of the Saviour have been when He exclaimed, "My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?" 

(Taken from Morning and Evening by Charles Spurgeon, April 15th.)

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Lasts

When our children are growing, we often don't recognise or realise the significance of lasts.

The last time we tuck them into bed at night. 

The last time they climb into our lap for a story or a cuddle.

The last time we wait for them to get home at night.

The last time we have to remind them to do their chores.

The last time we have to help them with something before they learn the skills themselves.

These lasts often go unnoticed. And it's not until sometime later that we realise their importance.

The same is true for when we lose someone. 

I've been thinking a lot about these lasts in the recent loss of my mother-in-law.

The last time I took her shopping or to a doctor's appointment.

The last time I heard her tell a particular story.

The last time I walked up to the nursing home to visit.

The last time we celebrated her birthday.

Whatever the last, had we known it was the last time would we have shown more patience? Or interest? Or been more present and engaged? Would we have held onto the moment more tightly? Or would we have continued to be unaware, letting the significance of the lasts elude us?

I'm reminded that the disciples also experienced some lasts ... and, like us, perhaps didn't realise the significance until later.

The last Passover with Jesus. He even warned them that He would not be with them for much longer, but they failed to listen or fully comprehend.

The last time praying with Him in the garden. Had they realised, would they have made more of an effort to stay awake?

The last time hearing His words. Not until later would they fully understand.

The last time.

How many of them would have done things differently, had they only known it was the last time? It's human nature to look back with regret and wonder what we could have done differently. However, everything, from Peter's denial, to His disciples abandoning Him when He was in greatest need, was all foretold.

And only later would they understand.

Photo by Pawan Sharma on Unsplash

Rejoice This Day

 Reposting from several years ago ...

Streaks of pink and mauve in the sky slowly fading ... the sound of birdsong and a donkey braying in the distance ... the air fresh and clean. They'd been waiting for the dawn for ages, their grief preventing restful sleep. Now, as the women made their way to the tomb, there was no need for words. Their grief bound them together. They'd already talked over the events - again and again over previous days - and still no comfort. All they could do was this last act of love for their beloved Teacher and Friend - anoint His body which had been hastily buried before the Sabbath.

They had seen where they had laid His body. They knew about the stone. They hadn't thought through how they would remove the stone, driven as they were by their grief and desire to do one last service to Him Whom they loved.

And then the confusion. The stone had already been rolled away. Who had been here before them? What had happened to His body? Why would someone steal His body?

The revelation. The wonderful, incredible, mind-boggling revelation. Their eyes opened to the truth. Their minds opened.

He is alive! He is risen! Just as He had said would happen.

It all makes sense now. The rush to tell others: to share the Good News and to turn their tears to joy.

Jesus lives! Oh happy Resurrection Sunday.

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the eath, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’ 

And they remembered His words. Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.

Luke 24:1-9, NKJV

He is not here, but is risen! Hallelujah!

(All images from Free Bible Images contributed by LUMO Project.)

Priesthood

 Some thoughts this Easter from Faith's Checkbook by Spurgeon, devotional for March 28:

"If we obey the Lord, He will compel our adversaries to see that His blessing rests upon us. ... 

"It is for saints to lead the way among men by holy influence: they are not to be the tail, to be dragged hither and thither by others. We must not yield to the spirit of the age, but compel the age to do homage to Christ. If the Lord be with us, we shall not crave tolerance for religion, but we shall seek to seat it on the throne of society. Has not the Lord made His people priests? Surely they are to teach and must not be learners from the philosophies of unbelievers. Are we not in Christ made kings to reign upon the earth? How, then can we be the servants of custom, the slaves of human opinion?

"... Should we allow the name of the Lord Jesus to be kept in the background? Should our religion drag along as a tail? Should it not rather lead the way and be the ruling force with ourselves and others?"

Today we remember that two thousand years ago the Pharisees and Romans thought they had silenced Jesus. He was crucified and laid in a tomb. Dead. They had removed this troubler from society.

Or so they thought.

But Jesus could not be removed. The Father's plan was far greater than that and men, in their ignorance and evil intent, were assisting that plan.

As Christians we have a risen Saviour. We know, as Job did, that our Redeemer lives. So why, oh why do we remain silent? Why do we try to accommodate the philosophies of this world? Why do we tolerate false gods and false ideologies? Not just in our schools and governments, but sadly, even in our churches?

The world says one thing and we scramble to fit it into what the Bible says, twisting the Word to accommodate sin, instead of starting with the Bible and seeing the world's lies for what they truly are.

As we remember the greatest sacrifice this Easter weekend are we also able to be a holy influence in our homes, our workplaces, our schools, our churches, and our communities and stand up for Truth?

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9, KJV).

Resurrection Sunday

Streaks of pink and mauve in the sky slowly fading ... the sound of birdsong and a donkey braying in the distance ... a chill in the air for the sun's rays had not yet warmed the earth. They'd been waiting for the dawn for ages, their grief preventing restful sleep. Now, as the women made their way to the tomb, there was no need for words. Grief bound them together. They'd already talked over the events - again and again over previous days - and still they could make no sense of what had happened. Comfort was elusive. All they could do was this last act of love for their beloved Teacher and Friend: anoint His body which had been hastily buried before the Sabbath.

Their hands cradling the precious spices, they remembered the stone. They had seen where they had laid His body. They knew about the stone that sealed the tomb. But driven as they were by their grief and desire to do one last service to Him Whom they loved, they had not considered how they would remove the stone. 

And then the confusion. The stone had already been rolled away. Who had been here before them? What had happened to His body? Why would someone steal His body?

The revelation. The wonderful, incredible, mind-boggling revelation. Their eyes opened to the truth. Their minds opened.

He is alive! He is risen! Just as He had said would happen.

It all makes sense now. The rush to tell others: to share the Good News and to turn their tears to joy.

Jesus lives! Oh happy Resurrection Sunday.

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’ 

And they remembered His words. Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.

Luke 24:1-9, NKJV

He is not here, but is risen! Hallelujah!

Christ, the Lord, is risen today,

Alleluia!

Sonds of men and angels say,

Alleluia!

Raise your joys and triumphs high,

Alleluia!

Sing ye heavens and earth reply

Alleluia!

Love's redeeming work is done,

Alleluia!

Fought the fight, the battle won, 

Alleluia!

Death in vain forbids His rise,

Alleluia!

Christ hath opened paradise.,

Alleluia!

Lives again our glorious King,

Alleluia!

Where, O death, is now thy sting?

Alleluia!

Dying once He now doth save,

Alleluia!

Where thy victory, O grave?

Alleluia!

Soar we now where Christ hath led,

Alleluia!

Following our exalted Head,

Alleluia!

Made like Him, like Him we rise,

Alleluia!

Ours the cross, the grave, the skies,

Alleluia!

Hail, the Lord of earth and Heaven,

Alleluia!

Praise to Thee by both be given,

Alleluia!

Thee we greet triumphant now,

Alleluia!

Hail, the resurrection, thou,

Alleluia!

lyrics by Charles Wesley, 1739

The Day Between

 

Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while He was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.

Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.

Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch; go your way, make it as sure as ye can.

So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

Matthew 27:62-66

I am no Bible scholar, but are the chief priests not the same ones who condemned Jesus for healing on the Sabbath? Are they not the same ones who were critical of the disciples helping themselves to corn on the Sabbath when they were hungry? Are they not the same ones who threatened to put anyone out of the synagogue if they did work on the Sabbath?

How is it then that they are prepared - willing and eager - to go to Pilate and not only ask a favour of him (their enemy since he stood for Rome), but then to carry out the work required on the Sabbath? Would not sealing the tomb involve some form of labour - labour that was not permitted on the Sabbath according to their own rules?

Oh, the hypocrisy of the chief priests, and of us all, when we are faced with our own sin.

Had the chief priests not witnessed the supernatural happenings that occurred at the time of Jesus' death? They were blinded to Who they had crucified, but were they so totally unaware of the veil of the temple being rent in two (after all, the temple was supposedly their province), of the saints that had come out of their graves and into the city and appeared to many (Matthew 27:51-53)? Surely some whisper of these happenings must have reached their ears. Surely their own senses and minds would have told them that this was unusual, not an everyday occurrence, not even a before-in-history occurrence?

Oh, how true is the old adage that there are none so blind as those who refuse to see.

Even the centurion, who had witnessed the events of the previous hours, when he "and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God" (Matthew 27:54).

Yet the religious leaders chose to be blind ... to be ignorant of all that had happened ... to refuse to acknowledge what had taken place ... and, instead, broke their own laws to ensure that their power and ambitions and hatred would not be challenged. These leaders were there ... present at the Crucifixion, but unlike the African-American spiritual that suggests we should consider the crucifixion and resurrection with reverence and fear, the chief priests did not tremble. They may have acted in fear, because they could see the little kingdoms they had made themselves in danger of toppling, particularly if the people were to follow and believe this Jesus, but tremble for what they had done they did not do.

The crucifixion happened two thousand years ago. None of us were there. And yet, Christ suffered for our sins as if we were there. This song gives us pause to reflect on not just the events of that first Easter weekend, but the significance of those events for each one of us.

Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Were you there when they crucified my Lord? O sometimes it causes me to tremble! tremble! tremble! Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Were you there when they nail'd him to the cross? Were you there when they nail'd him to the cross? O sometimes it causes me to tremble! tremble! tremble! Were you there when they nail'd him to the cross?

Were you there when they pierced him in the side? Were you there when they pierced him in the side? O sometimes it causes me to tremble! tremble! tremble! Were you there when they pierced him in the side?

Were you there when the sun refused to shine? Were you there when the sun refused to shine? O sometimes it causes me to tremble! tremble! tremble! Were you there when the sun refused to shine?

In recent years, other stanzas have since been added which include:

Were you there when they laid him in the tomb? Were you there when they laid him in the tomb? O sometimes it causes me to tremble! tremble! tremble! Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?

Were you there when the stone was rolled away? Were you there when the stone was rolled away? O sometimes it causes me to tremble! tremble! tremble! Were you there when the stone was rolled away?

O sometimes it causes me to tremble! tremble! tremble!