March 31, 2024 12:41 pm
Today we celebrate the most important day in history: Resurrection Sunday. The day Jesus Christ rose from the dead after dying for your sins and mine, after paying the full penalty of our sins, all of them, for everyone. All we need to do is accept that free gift of grace and mercy, trust in Jesus, and believe that this is true.
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.”
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”
Many times Jesus told His disciples that according to the scriptures, He had to die to save the world from sin, but they didn’t understand. They had a much different idea of what the Messiah was to do. But God had bigger plans, as He usually does. He sent Jesus, God in the flesh, the Son of God, who was sinless and blameless, to take on the sins of the world. On that dreadful day on Calvary, Jesus was crucified. But it doesn’t end there. On the third day, He rose again.
Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.
But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.” So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word. And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!”
So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.”
Seems pretty hard to believe. But if someone was trying to sell you a story, they would have used someone of renown to tell others. But Jesus used women, who in that day were not highly regarded by society. But not only that, there were many witnesses. Not only that, He lives today and He has changed countless lives. I know because not only by what the Bible tells us, but because of His presence in me. And I know that I will see Him in heaven.
For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.
Paul did not believe at first; in fact he persecuted those who proclaims the risen Lord. But he had an encountered with Christ and it changed his life, as He has done with many of us. After that He preached throughout many regions of the world, suffering many trials and persecution. Why would someone do that if it were not true? Not only that, he proclaims there were many witnesses, as Jesus appeared to over 500 people. Paul says to the people of Corinth, if you don’t believe me go ask the countless witnesses yourself. Many of those were disappointed, thinking that Jesus’ death was the end. As they were discouraged, He met with them and taught them and ate with them. He showed them His wounds. He left them no doubt that he truly rose from the dead, and He truly was the Messiah.
Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.
And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?”
Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?”
And He said to them, “What things?”
So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see.”
Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. But they constrained Him, saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went in to stay with them.
Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.
And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread.
Jesus visited many people as mentioned and He went to the apostles and visited them, showing that He was who He said He was. Though there was some doubt, He left them no doubt that He was the risen Son of God.
Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.
So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”
So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”
And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”
And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.
As my wife often says, not only is seeing believing, but believing is seeing. Thomas needed to see to believe. But we can rely on the eyewitness accounts and so much more that was written in the scriptures, but our faith is what allows us to really know. And with knowing this, do you truly know Him? I pray that you do. His grace is there for us to accept and believe and be saved. May God be with you.
Posted by davesdailyscriptures
Categories: Gospels, Jesus Christ, Resurrection
Tags: angel, believers, Christ, disciples, He is risen, Jesus Christ, Messiah, peace, Resurrection, scriptures, sin, witness
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