“He is not here, but is risen…” – Luke 24:6
Jesus is alive!
There is no other religion that can say this about their prophet or founder. History records that Buddha died c. 400 BC; Confucius died in 479 BC; Mohammed (Islam) died in 632 AD, and Joseph Smith (Mormon) died in 1844.
No date of death can be listed for Jesus. Why? Because on the first Resurrection Sunday, Jesus, who had been dead for 3 days, walked out of the tomb alive!
The hope of all mankind rests in those seven little words. “He is not here, but is risen!”
Throughout the history of humanity, there has never been one such as Jesus. He is the Son of God who chose to sacrifice His life, shed His own blood, and die a gruesome death on a rugged cross to redeem you, me, and every other human being that has ever lived or ever will live. Why? Because He loves us. John 3:16 states, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” He loves us with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3), and as such, would do whatever necessary to save us from our sinful nature and enable us to live with Him in heaven for all eternity. A perfect sacrifice to a holy God was the only way that could be accomplished, and that sacrifice could only be fulfilled by Jesus, God’s own Son.
So, that’s what He did. Jesus chose to leave the glory of heaven to come to earth and become “…the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). When Jesus was crucified, it seemed all was lost, but it wasn’t. Three days later, Jesus rose from the dead to become our Saviour. His resurrection defeated Satan, shocked the world, and provided a way for us to be saved from an eternity separated from God. That’s my Jesus; there’s no one like Him!
Happy Resurrection Day!
I serve a risen Savior, He’s in the world today.
I know that He is living, whatever men may say.
I see His hand of mercy; I hear His voice of cheer;
And just the time I need Him, He’s always near.
He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way.
He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart!
(from “He Lives” by Alfred Henry Ackley)
“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:” – John 11:25
**********
Oh, what a Saviour!