Scriptures: Luke 24 v 1-12; Matthew 27 v 50-54; Matthew
28 v 5-6; Philippians 3 v 9-11.
Glory Halleluia!! Hosanna to the King of Kings and Lord
of Lords. Immortal, invisible, God only wise!! There are actually no words to
describe what was witnessed at the Tomb of Jesus. Those who went to the tomb
with spices and oils to anoint His body were too late. Did Jesus not say about
the woman with the alabaster box full of expensive perfume which she broke over
His head - what she has done will be told around the world. She alone would
have the honour of anointing His body before His crucifixion.
All the disciples found on Resurrection morning were two
angels telling them that Jesus had risen and would see them in Jerusalem. Mary
Magdalene confirmed it. She saw Jesus alive in the garden and was not allowed
to touch Him as He first had to go to His Father and take with Him the redeemed
souls out of Paradise or Abraham's Bosom a place near Hell.
A few days before the believing thief on the Cross next
to Him had galloped joyfully into Paradise, announcing that their Redeemer was
on His way. Jesus took on His enemy, Satan, down there and utterly defeated him
removing his weapons, his keys and reducing his mind to only be able to think
on the human level. His ability to think on the divine level was gone. Jesus
thrashed him for all the evil he had done.
On His way out of the tomb all the redeemed saints of
old, men of renown, came out of their graves and were seen by many in
Jerusalem. What a victory for Heaven! What a victory for everyone who would
believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, who lived, died and lived again
for all eternity. He is the firstborn of a new creation - those who are
redeemed and ransomed, bought back from the enemy, no longer hostages, no
longer dead, no longer vulnerable!! It would take time, though, for their minds
to be convinced; doubts and fears to be removed; bad habits to be broken;
bruises and illnesses to be healed. Because He was alive!!
Nothing was impossible now. The one Seed, or fragment,
that was planted in Eve (her name means the Mother of All Living) and the breath
of God that made Adam a Living Soul, had fulfilled the mission having been sent
forth from the days of antiquity (Micah 5v2) ie from Heaven into the Six Day
Realm then to Earth as the Seed which was born 2000 years ago, to bear all the
sin of the world, die and come alive to prove that sinlessness brings life. O
Wondrous Saviour.
On the down side, the compromised Roman Church which
decided to amalgamate Christianity with the Babylonian Religion, superimposed
the false gods over the mighty achievements of Jesus Christ. The power of the
Resurrection was overshadowed by the pagan feast of Easter in honour of Oestre
the goddess of fertility complete with rabbits and eggs and chocolates. But no
matter how wrong and determined they were to minimize the resurrection of Jesus
it is impossible to deny.
Every person truly born again and a new creature in
Christ KNOWS that Jesus is alive and living in their hearts. They can call on
Him and hear His voice. No other god can match a personal relationship with the
Living God. Jesus meets our needs and
gives us hope for eternity. He is the One who John the Baptist said would
baptize us in the Holy Spirit. Oh the awesome power of the flow of the Holy
Spirit to cause us to be witnesses to the Lamb who was slain and is alive
again.
We celebrated the victory of Jesus during Pesach this
week and saw how powerfully He is woven into this Jewish ceremony that has such
powerful parallels for Christians. (See the Christian Passover).
Paul the mighty apostle to the Gentiles (non Jews) had
this to say at the end of his illustrious life - That I may know Him and the
power of His Resurrection! I have to agree with Paul even after the amazing
spiritual adventures I have had with Jesus, my family and friends, it seems the
deeper you go, the more you know, the vastness of what is still unknown draws
you into the very heart of God.
If on this special day you realize that your life, or
even your Christian life, needs some urgent awakening then go to the source,
Jesus Christ, and ask Him to guide you into all truth. He will never ignore a
request like that.
Prayer: Father in Heaven, Joy Joy Joy in Heaven and on
Earth for this great moment in the history of Jesus and all mankind. The doors
of Heaven are open; the gates of hell went under; Jesus holds the keys
(authority) of death and hell. Let this be known in all the world Lord that Our
God reigns forever. In Jesus' name. Amen.