Jump Start # 3808
Acts 13:30 “But God raised Him from the dead.”
Sunday is Easter. It’s the day that the world pauses for a brief moment, if that long, and notices an empty tomb long ago. For the child of God, every Sunday is when we deeply reflect upon a risen Savior. For all that Jesus was and said, the resurrection is the pinnacle of everything. Romans state that He was declared to be the Son of God with power by the resurrection. Because of the resurrection, everything changes. We have hope, forgiveness, purpose and help. It’s because of His resurrection that we know that we will be raised.
There are three charges against the resurrection in the N.T.
· Acts 17:32 “Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some began to sneer…”
· 1 Cor 15:12 “…some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead”
· 2 Tim 2:18 “men who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and they upset the faith of some.”
Some laughed at the resurrection. Some denied that there is a resurrection. Some said you missed it. It already took place. Back then, so close to the resurrection, some were throwing cold water on the idea. And, as Paul walked through in 1 Corinthians 15, without the resurrection of Jesus, everything is lost. There is no faith. There is no hope. There is no salvation. The resurrection of Jesus is the point of the Bible.
In the Gospels, aside from Himself, Jesus raised three other people. That fact is interesting. Some may have the idea that Jesus was raising people every day. He raised a twelve year old girl who had just died. He raised a young man who had died earlier that day and was being taken to the cemetery. He raised His friend Lazarus who had been dead four days. Different circumstances. Different lengths of death. But, in all three, Jesus spoke to the dead and not only did the dead hear the Lord, they obeyed Him. This was a clear demonstration that Jesus was the Lord of Heaven and earth. His power and His authority crossed the barriers of this world and this life. Just as He could command the sea to be still, and demons to go into pigs, He could speak into the other world and that specific soul returned to the body and life came back in the person. Jesus did not empty cemeteries. He did not raise all the dead.
Some thoughts for us:
First, if Jesus can take care of me here, He can take care of me on the other side. Truly the difference from this world to the next world is so incredibly different for us, but it is not for the Lord. Just as Jesus could speak to Martha as she was in another room preparing food, Jesus can speak to those in the other room of God’s house and they hear and obey Him. So many have worries and fears about the other side. We want details about what it will be like and what we will be doing. Understand, the Lord will take care of you.
Second, we are so earth bound, we just can’t imagine what the other side will be like. This is the only world that we have known. Those three that were raised never spoke in the Bible about what they saw or heard. It’s not necessary. Just trust God. I like sunny skies, shady trees, birds chirping, and green grass. That’s my world. I like sitting in my office. It’s just the way I want it. In God’s other room, will I feel the same? Will I wish there were some changes? Will I get to add my own touches to make it just the way I want it? Don’t go there in your thoughts. Trust God. It will be fine. Has any of God’s promises disappointed you? Were you disappointed in forgiveness? Were you disappointed with His word? Were you disappointed in His care for you? No. Never. The other side will be beautiful. I know that because God is there.
Third, a risen Savior is a conquering Savior. He defeated what we cannot, death. We may cheat death for a moment, but sooner or later, it catches up with us. It always does. The resurrected Savior conquered Satan. The resurrected Savior destroyed any thought that the materialistic, here and now, is what life is all about. Jesus rose never to die again. And, someday so will you. The resurrected Savior is proof that God’s word is right. The resurrected Savior is what we must embrace in our faith and hope.
Because He lives, as a hymn goes, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives, I can face my temptations and say “NO.” Because He lives, I can journey through the darkness of valleys. Because He lives none of my problems seem so great. Because He lives, I too, will live.
There are so many thoughts that ought to fill our hearts as we take the Lord’s Supper. Lately, I quietly say, “Thank You.” Being thankful for a risen Savior is something that needs to be dear to our hearts.
God raised Him from the dead, Acts 13 says. In fact, Acts 13 says that many times. God raised Him from the dead, to which I bow my head and say, “Thank You.”
Roger