Prayer-Soldier Newbie
Joined: Apr 18, 2009 Posts: 1001
Status: Offline
|
Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2016 1:33 pm Post subject: The Good News of the Resurrection |
|
|
The Good News of the Resurrection
Scripture:
And Peter opening his mouth, said: You know the word which has been published through all Judea: for it began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached. Jesus of Nazareth: how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all things that he did in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem: whom they killed, hanging him upon a tree. Him God raised up the third day and gave him to be made manifest, not to all the people, but to witnesses preordained by God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him, after he arose again from the dead. And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that it is he who was appointed by God to be judge of the living and of the dead. To him all the prophets give testimony, that by his name all receive remission of sins, who believe in him. (Acts 10:34a, 37-43)
Therefore, if you be risen with Christ, seek the things that are above; where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God: Mind the things that are above, not the things that are upon the earth. For you are dead; and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ shall appear, who is your life, then you also shall appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:1-4)
And on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalen came early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre; and she saw the stone taken away from the sepulchre. She ran, therefore, and comes to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them: They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. Peter therefore went out, and that other disciple, and they came to the sepulchre. And they both ran together, and that other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. And when he stooped down, he saw the linen cloths lying; but yet he went not in. Then comes Simon Peter, following him, and went into the sepulchre, and saw the linen cloths lying, and the napkin that had been about his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but apart, wrapped up into one place. Then that other disciple also went in, who came first to the sepulchre: and he saw, and believed. For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. (John 20:1-9)
Reflection:
Those who walked with Him, who were taught by Him, were the ones He sent forth to spread the gospel. It is the good news of salvation. It is the good news that for all who believe in Him and approach Him with a contrite heart that they shall be forgiven of their sins. It was by His choice that He obeyed the will of the Father to demonstrate His great love for us so we may be ransomed from the eternal darkness so we may walk within His light.
We might wonder, for what reason would He give Himself over to suffer so? We might wonder, for what reason would He take upon Himself the sins of our weakness, the sins of our flesh, the sins of our pride, the sins of our envy? The answer is found within His love, the love which He desires we share with one another.
The testimony of those who saw, of those who witnessed, has been passed through the generations until this very moment which is before us. Despite the efforts of the evil one to sow doubt and confusion, many hearts are blessed to receive His Word as passed on through His disciples. Some seek proof by which they should believe, but all to often, they look in the wrong places. They need only open their hearts to the Holy Spirit, for Jesus told us that the Holy Spirit would remind us of all which He taught. (John 14:26) It is through the Holy Spirit by which our eyes may be opened to see all the ways He works within our lives.
The evil one seeks to sow conflict among us, appealing to our earthly desires. The evil one cares not how we divide ourselves, whether it is by how we argue our faith or lack of faith, only that in the process we turn ourselves away from what Jesus taught us. The evil one is cunning in the many ways he seduces us, but if we trust in the One who died for us upon the cross, we will be delivered from our failings.
And so it was, they would find the tomb empty. We might wonder, what would rush through our minds if we were the ones to witness? We might wonder how our lives might be changed? They knew Him because they walked with Him, but we may know Him by simply opening our hearts to Him.
The evil one has consumed many hearts and blinded many more. The evidence is before us by the evil which walks the world. We should be frightened by the hate which comes from our tongues and the evil which comes of our hands; but if we seek Him, we should no longer be frightened, for He will embrace us, fill us with His love and remove the darkness which torments us. In prayer, we must turn to Him and look for the love with which He seeks to fill our hearts. Though we may falter, we need not be afraid, for the day will come where He will gather us in, for from upon the cross, He has already paid the ransom for our souls.
May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum You cannot attach files in this forum You can download files in this forum
|
|