Not Stone Nor Guard Could Stop the Resurrection

Prayer-Soldier

Then Peter began to speak: â€œI now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preachedâ€” how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

â€œWe are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosenâ€”by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.â€

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.

Then Peter said, â€œCan anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.â€ So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days. (Act 10:34-37)

We all came from the same creation. We are all descendents from the man and the woman. We are all the children of God. He does not love one any less than another; therefore, our relationship with the Lord is of our choosing, our choosing to turn toward Him or away.

The news which was brought to us is that peace is ours if we choose to live according to the commandments of love. It was told through the prophets, but how many listened. It was told by the angels to a select faithful. It was then brought to us by the Son of Man. There were those who stood with Him. There were those who witnessed His works. There were those who followed in what He taught. There were those who were healed. There were those who persecuted Him. There were those who were forgiven. There were those who turned forever away.

As it was then, it is now. There are those who stand with Him in what they do in praise of Him and what they do in fulfillment of His Word. There are those who witness the works of faith, the works He does through the hands of His children. There are those who have learned His Word, practice His Word and teach His Word. There are those who are healed through His Word, through prayer and through the power of the Holy Spirit. There are those who persecute His Word and His church and all who believe in Him. There are those who are forgiven. There are those who turn away forever.

This is our experience. It is so for those who are with God and those who are not. It is the experience of those who have believed, of those who will believe and those who will never believe. It is our experience that some will seek the love of the Lord and others will fall to the darkness. For generations it has been and for generations it shall be until the hour comes to end the hand of evil and give everlasting life to the divine mercy of love. Where we stand when that hour comes will determine where we remain for eternity.

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:1-4)

What has occurred will not change. This is our blessing, for He died for all our sins, He rose so that we all might rise with Him. He conquered death so that we are not left being consumed by our sin, but by His love. In sin is death, but in the love of the Lord is everlasting life. It is up to us to accept it in faith. It is up to us to open our hearts. It is up to us to leave the sin of this world behind and to join in the everlasting peace and love of the Lord.

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, â€œThey have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we donâ€™t know where they have put him!â€

So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesusâ€™ head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) (John 20:1-9)

In a tomb they place Him. With a stone they tried to keep Him in death. Not stone, nor guards were to stop what was always meant to be, the temple destroyed, but raised in three days. What could have gone through the minds of those who saw? What could have gone through the minds of those who set the stone and the guards? What could have gone through the minds of those who touched his burial cloth? What was once faith, was now reality. All that had been said had now been fulfilled.

And so it was and so it shall be. The words of the angels, the words of the prophets stood, foretelling of the great news. It was not understood by all then. It is not understood by all now. There are still words of the angels and words of the prophets of things still to come. They are words of great warning. They are words of great news. Let us celebrate in thanks and praise for the sacrifice made for us in forgiveness of our sins. Let us pray that all will come to the table of the Lord and the feast of everlasting love.

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier