HE IS RISEN!
Today’s Reading: Matthew 27-28
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
The Garden Tomb, Jerusalem. “He is not here!”
Key Verse: Matthew 28:6
He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
The resurrection of Jesus is the most thoroughly reported fact of ancient history. The tough battle-hardened Roman guards “shook for fear.” According to Roman military manuals, a “guard” consisted of at least eight soldiers, and if one fell asleep on duty, the others were supposed to kill him on the spot. Those who deny the facts of the resurrection must answer some questions: Where’s the body? What would turn a man like Peter, who could not stand up to a waitress, into a bold, fearless man just 50 days later? What about the over 500 people who claimed to have seen Jesus alive after His resurrection? Many of these were still alive when the Gospels were written. What about the over 5,000 Jerusalem Jews who became believers (including many of the Jewish priests) after Peter preached in the Temple? (Acts 4:4 and Acts 6:7). No official source has ever been able to deny this history in an effort to prove that the resurrection is only a myth, nor has anyone in authority denied the amazing growth of the Jewish Church of Jerusalem. We have the Mishna, the minutes of the Sanhedrin (the ruling religious body) for that period of time. These contemporaries of Jesus and the Apostles knew the facts. HE IS RISEN!!!
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, You raised Your Son and our Saviour from the dead. He’s ALIVE! I worship Him! Amen and Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
In the early 1960’s, Norma-Jean and I worked at establishing a congregation in Deep River, Ontario, the residential community for Atomic Energy of Canada at Chalk River. I found that some senior nuclear physicists were humble believers in Jesus. One told me that a change in the molecular structure of Christ’s body could enable Him to appear and do all that He did in His post resurrection appearances. One Easter Sunday morning, the parents of a baby named Tim Laronde presented him before the Lord at the altar of our church. Tim was born with a club foot. As I held him up before the congregation I was filled with God’s Spirit and said, “Either Jesus is alive and still does the same miracles today, or the soldiers were right when they said, ‘While we slept His disciples stole His body.’ Jesus is alive and when Tim is old enough to walk, He will walk normally.” The next morning, Tim’s mother, Marilyn, burst into our home carrying Tim and showed us both feet completely normal. Just over two years ago, I met Marilyn in Pembroke, Ontario, and we rejoiced in the fact that Jesus is alive and that He is the Healer.
Serving a risen Saviour,
David
P.S. In yesterday’s blog I mentioned actor Bruce Marchiano, who played the part of Jesus in the four-hour film production of The Gospel of Matthew. My son, Ron, has since found online that entire movie. What a blessing it has been for me to watch and listen to this film, which includes all of Matthew, word-for-word (the New International Version). If you only have time to watch the last few chapters of Matthew, you can fast-forward by dragging the little dot on the bottom left of the screen approximately 90% of the way across (the chapter and verse appear on the screen). Click here.
Weeping over our scripture and mermerizing photo of the Garden Tomb. How powerful; when we put ourselves there, how overwhelming it would have been. Thank You, Jesus, for being with us always, to the very end of the age. Your sacrifice for us is unimaginable. We praise You Lord and glorify You. It is all for Your glory. Amen. Looking forward to watching The Gospel of Matthew; thanks for the link. Wishing all saints a blessed day in the Lord.
And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
Exodus 33:14 ESV
Holy Spirit – Jesus Culture
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFByOX8Fb0M
Beverlee —-Yesterday you mentioned a move you were considering, I don’t know if this helps, but when I was faced with having to leave my house, where I lived for over thirty years and not just the house, but the only place I could afford was in a different city as well. I kept praying for an answer, and it came to me at a funeral.
The pastor was speaking of not becoming too attached to anything here on earth– everything here is only temporary, our real homes and lives are in heaven– and for me it made me easier to leave, knowing the Lord is with me no matter where I live, and how I live,
Was moving easy? No. But I have been in my new place over a year now. It is not better or worse than before, it is just different. There are some things I like here and some things I miss, but for what truly matters, I am at peace with the change.
My only advice if you do move, is before you give anything away or throw it away, take a photo of it. It makes it easier knowing you will always have a record of the item you had to part with.
As for friends. Those friendships that matter didn’t end when I moved. I found a wonderful new faith community and made new friends. My witness was renewed because I had a chance to tell new people all the things our Lord has done for me who never heard it before.
And if I had to go through this pandemic at my old place, I would have been more isolated because of the location of my house, than my new place. I was able to go for daily walks. My new friends were a super support to me, people I didn’t know a year ago, but were a blessing for me. So looking back, although I fought the leading to leave at first, only now I can see, God knew what He was doing, by nudging me to go forward and not hold unto to the past.
I hope that helps you in your decision making. Remember our Lord knows everything we will choose, so there is not right or wrong choice, for He has already given whatever choice you will make a purpose.
Thanks Donna. I am glad to hear you are well where you are now, a year later. It sounds very positive for you. My situation is because of my back; am having to move to a place that does not have stairs and is handicapped accessible. I would be moving back to Kingston because of needing another surgery. All my friends are there but I have many friends here in Picton, too. Certainly, I would miss my church here but I am excited also to return to my old church(s), there. I am not worried about anything else, just physically. But thank you for your message and His blessings upon you.
Amen
Help us, Father, to count our blessings and be grateful for all You have given. In Jesus’s name, amen
Yes Lord Jesus Thank You For Your Blessings!!!
Amen
Agreeing with Rob and Teresa; so thankful our Heavenly Father. Amen.
Amen
Amen Rob
Donna M, your wise words, advice and ideas are a Blessing.
Amen, blessings on all those who posted today!
Amen to all comments above.