The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is no small thing;
it is EVERYTHING
"25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?" - John 11: 25-26 (NASB)
And
"20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive." - 1 Corinthians 15:20-22 (NIV)
My prayer this season is for the Lord to open our
spiritual eyes and hearts so that we can take in, perceive, appreciate,
and understand to a greater extent, the magnitude of the death, burial
and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and what it means for us today.
We need God’s help to understand what He has communicated to us through time, because otherwise we will be like those who consider the teachings of Jesus Christ to be rubbish. Or, like those who view His teachings as moral platitudes, and who view Jesus as only a wise prophet among many other “good” moral teachers that came to represent different religions.
In several verses of the Book of John, Chapter 6, Jesus indicates that we too will be resurrected like Him. At this stage, Jesus had not yet died in his human form. His discourse recorded in this book came before His arrest and crucifixion.
Generally speaking, and for argument's sake, most of us would agree that if God exists, then that He can do anything because He is God. This includes the resurrection of Jesus Christ. However, we ought to look further to understand that our eternal destiny is also tied to the Lord’s resurrection. The scripture states that we will hear our name called out from the grave and rise just as Lazarus did when Jesus called him out:
John 11:43 (NASB)
(43) “When He [Jesus] had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.”
(44) The man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”
In fact, according to the same Gospel book, everyone will be raised again and brought back to life, to face the Creator.
John 5:28-29 (NASB)
(28) “Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, 29 and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.”
Compare with the prophetic verse in the Old Testament Book of Daniel, Chapter 12, verse 2 (NIV):
“Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.”
Jesus, who came as Savior before, will return to judge all humanity. We are living in the era of grace, when everyone has the same opportunity to respond to the Lord’s offer of salvation, which is available to anyone who is willing to believe.
(The “good deeds” mentioned in John 5:29 do not refer to things we must do to “earn” God’s salvation, which is impossible. Salvation is a free gift of God. Jesus paid the price to make this possible for us.)
Jesus also gives us one of His comforting promises to us in John 6:37 (NIV) – “All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.”
This passage in John, Chapter 6, continues with several references to our own resurrection. When Jesus mentions the same thing over and over again in the same sermon, it is probably because He doesn’t want us to miss the message.
John 6:39 (NIV)
“And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.”
John 6:40 (NIV)
“ For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”
John 6:44 (NIV)
“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.”
John 6:54 (NIV)
“Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”
There is a last day coming.
Then, what must I do to be part of the resurrection to life in Jesus Christ?
How can the Lord forgive my sins?
How can I receive the Lord’s eternal pardon?
It’s this simple: Talk to Him about it. It doesn’t matter how old you are, your gender, your occupation, nationality or country, or even if you consider yourself an atheist – talk to Him. We can’t hide behind a shield of unbelief: atheism will not erase God.
“The fool has said in his heart, There is no God.” - Psalm 14: 1 [a] (NKJV)
Have a personal and honest talk with the Creator, right where you are. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you. He is fully capable of responding to all of your questions, complaints, and hesitations.
Hebrews 12:2 (KJV)
“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Shalom and blessings to all of you
Diana Washington-Valdez
Lion of Judah Christian Ministries
Revelation 1:18 (KJV)
“I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”
Feel free to add your prayer requests or share your story in the comments section below.
[Photo credit: Shutterstock]
[Lion of Judah Christian Ministries does not raise funds or ask for money. Just pray that it can continue to share the Good News.]
it is EVERYTHING
"25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?" - John 11: 25-26 (NASB)
And
"20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive." - 1 Corinthians 15:20-22 (NIV)
 |
| Credit: Shuttersock |
We need God’s help to understand what He has communicated to us through time, because otherwise we will be like those who consider the teachings of Jesus Christ to be rubbish. Or, like those who view His teachings as moral platitudes, and who view Jesus as only a wise prophet among many other “good” moral teachers that came to represent different religions.
In several verses of the Book of John, Chapter 6, Jesus indicates that we too will be resurrected like Him. At this stage, Jesus had not yet died in his human form. His discourse recorded in this book came before His arrest and crucifixion.
Generally speaking, and for argument's sake, most of us would agree that if God exists, then that He can do anything because He is God. This includes the resurrection of Jesus Christ. However, we ought to look further to understand that our eternal destiny is also tied to the Lord’s resurrection. The scripture states that we will hear our name called out from the grave and rise just as Lazarus did when Jesus called him out:
John 11:43 (NASB)
(43) “When He [Jesus] had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.”
(44) The man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”
In fact, according to the same Gospel book, everyone will be raised again and brought back to life, to face the Creator.
John 5:28-29 (NASB)
(28) “Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, 29 and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.”
Compare with the prophetic verse in the Old Testament Book of Daniel, Chapter 12, verse 2 (NIV):
“Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.”
Jesus, who came as Savior before, will return to judge all humanity. We are living in the era of grace, when everyone has the same opportunity to respond to the Lord’s offer of salvation, which is available to anyone who is willing to believe.
(The “good deeds” mentioned in John 5:29 do not refer to things we must do to “earn” God’s salvation, which is impossible. Salvation is a free gift of God. Jesus paid the price to make this possible for us.)
Jesus also gives us one of His comforting promises to us in John 6:37 (NIV) – “All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.”
This passage in John, Chapter 6, continues with several references to our own resurrection. When Jesus mentions the same thing over and over again in the same sermon, it is probably because He doesn’t want us to miss the message.
John 6:39 (NIV)
“And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.”
John 6:40 (NIV)
“ For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”
John 6:44 (NIV)
“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.”
John 6:54 (NIV)
“Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”
There is a last day coming.
Then, what must I do to be part of the resurrection to life in Jesus Christ?
How can the Lord forgive my sins?
How can I receive the Lord’s eternal pardon?
It’s this simple: Talk to Him about it. It doesn’t matter how old you are, your gender, your occupation, nationality or country, or even if you consider yourself an atheist – talk to Him. We can’t hide behind a shield of unbelief: atheism will not erase God.
“The fool has said in his heart, There is no God.” - Psalm 14: 1 [a] (NKJV)
Have a personal and honest talk with the Creator, right where you are. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you. He is fully capable of responding to all of your questions, complaints, and hesitations.
Hebrews 12:2 (KJV)
“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Shalom and blessings to all of you
Diana Washington-Valdez
Lion of Judah Christian Ministries
Revelation 1:18 (KJV)
“I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”
Feel free to add your prayer requests or share your story in the comments section below.
[Photo credit: Shutterstock]
[Lion of Judah Christian Ministries does not raise funds or ask for money. Just pray that it can continue to share the Good News.]
No comments:
Post a Comment