Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher). John 20:16
RECOMMENDED SCRIPTURE 1 CORINTHIANS 15:50-58 “50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”55 “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?”56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”
COMMENTS: Take a few minutes and put yourself where Jesus disciples and closest followers were from the Last Supper through Easter. The disciples had been with Him for 3 years but many of His closest followers much less time. He had so much to show an example to teach them and so little time to do so. Their education was far from over but the time of teaching them from limits of being human were coming to a close. They only knew Him as the human Jesus but not as God. They saw Him praying to the Father as a human as they would and as He encouraged them to, but not as God they would be praying to. On the boat they cried out to Him for help and saw Him calm the winds and waves but as a man.
But on Maundy Thursday they saw Him arrested and on Friday they saw Him endure great suffering and die as a human. What would you have said and done if you had been there? We have the benefit of looking at the Holy Week events from now but what about His followers then? What did they think and feel?
Well, stop and reflect on the fear and grief and confusion and indecision that gripped them in waves like the waters of Galilee in the middle of a storm. But what about Jesus’ words and instruction. What did He mean about being raised on the 3rd day? He did raise Lazarus and Jarius’ daughter and others from death, but would He really raise Himself? After all, crucifixion was such a brutal way to die. The Romans left no doubt to onlookers. Crucifixion was intended to spur fear and submission on onlookers, so Jesus’ death that way was intended to do so too.
No one had ever come back to life after crucifixion. Would Jesus be the first? Let’s reflect on the time between Jesus death on Good Friday afternoon until Easter Sunday morning when He greeted Mary and the disciples and then many more …. Can you imagine it when Jesus’ mother saw Him?
The tragedy was not Jesus dying. It was not Judas’ betrayal or Peter’s denial. The tragedy was not how they all grieved. The tragedy was that Judas took his life before he had opportunity to receive Jesus’ forgiveness like Peter did.
Notice that during the days after Easter until His ascension, Jesus took the time to make Himself know to all His followers. We are told it amounted to as many as 500, but details of those encounters are only a small portion.
How many encounters were like Peter’s or the men on the Emmaus Road. He met them all at their greatest need, but first allowed them to experience and remorse. Before Jesus would give redemption, He needed to prepare the souls of those in need so they could receive it. He had to plow and prepare the soil of their souls first.
I am writing this on Saturday morning, the day before Easter 2020. This was the darkest day for Jesus followers and disciples because the reality of His death was sinking in and the hope of His resurrection was starting to fade and doubts starting to take hold. The absence of His human presence was starting to create an empty hole. No one was there to guide and instruct them so they waited in hiding wondering who would be next to be arrested and crucified. Any protection they felt from Jesus’ presence was absent now. What a long day that must have been. Can you visualize and relate?
Well, God in His mercy did limit how long his disciples and followers had to wait. Otherwise, I wonder if more than Judas would have taken their lives or scattered in discouragement. Each year we experience the length of time from Jesus’ crucifixion until Easter morning. Not a very long time, but normally we wouldn’t sit waiting in fear and grief as they did. But then again, when we lose a loved one, from the time of their death until the funeral is usually about that long. That seems like a torturously long time, doesn’t it?
I believe it is no coincidence that the current coronavirus epidemic came and revealed itself and peaked during Lent and especially on Easter. The illness was crafted by satan and thrust on mankind for his evil purpose, but God always uses his evil deeds to accomplish God’s divine purpose and is doing so this time too. Stop and think, over 100,000 have died and over 1.7million people have contracted this illness. Think about how sinister this illness is – it is the most contagious before it shows any symptoms so the maximum spread of illness is realized. It lets most recover with minimal symptoms so motivation and need to stay away from uninfected people isn’t noticed, but some grow deathly sick and die in a few days. The thoughtless actions of those spared result in death of many. Then again, the health care workers face exposure deliberately in order to care for the sick and dying. In the USA alone, 18000 have died and over 500,000 are infected. Who would have thought this possible a few weeks ago?
Israel’s experiences in the old testament teach us that God blesses and protects His people when they worship and obey Him, but removes that protection when they turn from Him and follow their own sinful path. That didn’t work well for them, and is not working for us, like it or not. Well, for those who don’t believe that and are putting their hope in the wisdom and leadership of the medical and government leadership and experts, I would remind you God is on His throne. Keeping isolated is wise and necessary to avoid putting ourselves and others at risk. But praying and repenting seeking God’s mercy and forgiveness is what made a difference for Israelites and will for us too.
I invite you to read Solomon’s message and prayer when he dedicated the temple in Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 5-7). I invite you to read and reflect on these chapters and especially 2 Chronicles 7:14 “14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
Easter is the most important day of the Christian calendar – the day Jesus defeated satan and death, bought our redemption and took the keys of death from satan. He promised a bright eternal future to any and all who accept His free offer of redemption. So the question is, will we hold fast to our sins and misery? Will we settle for being like Peter before or like he became after his encounter with a resurrected Jesus? Will we settle for living an unforgiven life thinking we must earn our forgiveness or will we listen to His instruction and council and accept His redemption first and then allow Him to guide and lead and help us change to be more like His example.
WE CAN NOT EARN OR BUY OUR SALVATION. THE PRICE IS TOO HIGH. BUT HE BOUGHT IT AND OFFERS TO US WHAT CAN’T BE BOUGHT OR EARNED!
Easter wasn’t intended to punish or fill us with guilt. Easter was and is intended to give us hope and joy. A day to worship and praise. A day to celebrate what Christ has done because of His love for you and me!! AMEN? AMEN!!
Many live in “fear of death” their whole life (Hebrews 2:15). But no one needs to live in such fear. The miracle of the resurrection we celebrate this weekend means that an eternal reunion awaits all who die in Christ. As Jesus told His friends Mary and Martha, “He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live” (John 11:25). This weekend brings showers of hope to all who have lost a loved one, and showers of hope for our own eternal life.
Have you experienced showers of hope through faith in Christ? Celebrate two resurrections this Easter weekend: Christ’s and your own!
“Christianity is in its very essence a resurrection religion.” John R. W. Stott
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