“Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. But the angel answered and said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.’ So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word. And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, ‘Rejoice!’ So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.’
Matthew 28:1-10
The Sun has yet risen in Spain as I consider these verses. The Lord is alive, there is no doubt or fear as there was that day. All there is now is confidence and joy and the contemplation of what the Resurrection means to me today. The Resurrection proves, without a shadow of the doubt, that Jesus is the promised Messiah of Israel, the Savior of the World! Paul says that He was "declared" such by the power of the resurrection from the dead. (Rom. 1:4) The word "declared" is so loaded, for it is the same word that is used for our English word "horizon." The horizon is the farthest that the eye can see to take in. Jesus manifested for the world by His resurrection, the greatest view, the greatest vision of Himself that man could ever take in!! As a result of His resurrection, we can trust that His sacrifice was complete and accepted by the Father.
But there is more, for Jesus rose again on the first day after the Passover. What day is that significant of? The offering of the firstfruits. Paul observes this in I Corinthians 15 and makes the correlation between the offering of firstfruits, which was a signal of the coming harvest, to the signal of the coming resurrection of all that would believe in Christ. That's right: His resurrection guarantees my resurrection! When I die, and my body will, then my Spirit will be released and be clothed with eternity! Death is conquered forever!
This covers the past and the future, but what of the present? The present reality of the resurrection, unseen by my eyes, but a reality in the sight of heaven, is that Jesus serves as my High Priest before the Lord daily. Hebrews 7:25 tells us that Jesus EVER LIVES TO make intercession for us! Jesus is there, standing as proof of redemption. If He, like the priests of Aaron's priesthood, were to die, then we would have a problem. Thankfully, Jesus belongs to another order. The priesthood of Melchizedek, one without beginning or ending! (Hebrews 7:3) Because He will never die again, He makes my position secure in Himself.
Thank You Jesus for the Resurrection! In Spain, there is much made of the crucifixion, and the guilt of people that put Christ on the Cross. According to those here who I have asked, there is great pageantry related to the death of Christ, but only a minor procession, almost an afterthought, to the rising of the King. How sad, because the guilt gives way to joy on the third day, and to live in that reality is the greatest gift that we in Christendom have, and the greatest truth we can offer.
HE IS RISEN INDEED!!!!
Blessings to the friends of Spain & HAPPY RESURRECTION DAY!
Frank Sanchez
Matthew 28:1-10
The Sun has yet risen in Spain as I consider these verses. The Lord is alive, there is no doubt or fear as there was that day. All there is now is confidence and joy and the contemplation of what the Resurrection means to me today. The Resurrection proves, without a shadow of the doubt, that Jesus is the promised Messiah of Israel, the Savior of the World! Paul says that He was "declared" such by the power of the resurrection from the dead. (Rom. 1:4) The word "declared" is so loaded, for it is the same word that is used for our English word "horizon." The horizon is the farthest that the eye can see to take in. Jesus manifested for the world by His resurrection, the greatest view, the greatest vision of Himself that man could ever take in!! As a result of His resurrection, we can trust that His sacrifice was complete and accepted by the Father.
But there is more, for Jesus rose again on the first day after the Passover. What day is that significant of? The offering of the firstfruits. Paul observes this in I Corinthians 15 and makes the correlation between the offering of firstfruits, which was a signal of the coming harvest, to the signal of the coming resurrection of all that would believe in Christ. That's right: His resurrection guarantees my resurrection! When I die, and my body will, then my Spirit will be released and be clothed with eternity! Death is conquered forever!
This covers the past and the future, but what of the present? The present reality of the resurrection, unseen by my eyes, but a reality in the sight of heaven, is that Jesus serves as my High Priest before the Lord daily. Hebrews 7:25 tells us that Jesus EVER LIVES TO make intercession for us! Jesus is there, standing as proof of redemption. If He, like the priests of Aaron's priesthood, were to die, then we would have a problem. Thankfully, Jesus belongs to another order. The priesthood of Melchizedek, one without beginning or ending! (Hebrews 7:3) Because He will never die again, He makes my position secure in Himself.
Thank You Jesus for the Resurrection! In Spain, there is much made of the crucifixion, and the guilt of people that put Christ on the Cross. According to those here who I have asked, there is great pageantry related to the death of Christ, but only a minor procession, almost an afterthought, to the rising of the King. How sad, because the guilt gives way to joy on the third day, and to live in that reality is the greatest gift that we in Christendom have, and the greatest truth we can offer.
HE IS RISEN INDEED!!!!
Blessings to the friends of Spain & HAPPY RESURRECTION DAY!
Frank Sanchez
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