Our Hope, The Resurrection

John 19:30-35 “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.”

First, I want to say, I’m thankful for the cross! We celebrate Christmas, and we rejoice over the teachings of Christ and the many miracles He performed during His time on earth. But if He had not been willing, to go to the cross, and give His life for us, then all the Scriptural accounts about Him in the Bible would just be an amazing story about the greatest Preacher who ever lived. So again…I’m thankful for the cross! ButI’m also thankful that it didn’t end there!  

“Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews’ preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand. (John 19:41-42)

“The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, and the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. And they say unto her, woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.” (John 20:1, 6, 7, 13)

The Bible tells us after Jesus was crucified, He was laid in the tomb. Then Mary came the first day after the Sabbath with burial spices, which was common practice. But then we find something that was not common! The stone had been removed, and Jesus’ body was gone! Mary’s first thought was someone had stolen our Lord’s body! She ran and told the disciples! Peter and John ran to the tomb and found it just as Mary had said. Can you imagine what was going through their minds? Not only is He gone, but His body has been disgraced. But what an encounter, they were about to experience!

“Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. Jesus saith unto her, touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: But go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.” (John 20:16-18) Mary came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord! And that He had spoken with her! What an experience! But isn’t it just like Jesus, to comfort us in our time of grief? He had important information for her, but first He must reassure her that everything was all right.

Can you imagine, the assurance she must have felt, as He said “Mary.” Then He said, go tell these things, to my brethren! “And Thomas answered and said unto him, my Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” (John 20:28-31)

This same Jesus, who had described himself as the Shepherd who would leave the ninety and nine to rescue the one that had strayed, made a special appearance just to give Thomas reassurance! Aren’t you glad when you were that sheep, Jesus loved you enough to make a special appearance to you? After He arose, He was seen by many people. (1 Cor 15:5-6) “And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once…” There can be no doubt, He arose! He conquered death! And he is still risen today! He is our present help! “Jesus saith unto her, thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?” (John 11:23-26)

Martha believed in the last day’s resurrection. She was fully convinced when the trumpet sounds, the dead in Christ shall rise! But she could not grasp the fact that Jesus, the one standing in her presence, was the resurrection, present and future! It was He, and it is still He today that holds all power! Just like Martha, we as children of God, believe in the resurrection of the last days. We believe Jesus will soon come and rapture us away. This is our eternal hope! But just as He assured Martha on that day, He is also our hope today! This same spirit of resurrection dwells in those who are His today, making alive in Christ, what was dead in sin!

“And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;” (Ephesians 2:1) This same Spirit brings life now! We can experience and live a resurrected life now! A life of victory in Christ now! This enables us to live in hope of the final resurrection that’s soon to come. Aren’t you thankful, for present hope! Of course, His return is our ultimate victory, when we shall meet Him in the air to live with Him for eternity! (Acts 1:9-11) “And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward Heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into Heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into Heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into Heaven.” He is still alive!

Thank God for the resurrection past, present, and future!