November 7 - Mark 16:19-20, Luke 24:50-53, Acts 1:1-2:47

Good morning everyone,

The truth of Christianity rests heavily on the truth of the resurrection. Would you agree? In 1 Corinthians Paul puts it this way, “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith”. “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile, you are still in your sins”. Skeptics, nay sayers, often attempt to explain the events surrounding Jesus’ resurrection with what they consider logically had to have happened; “Perhaps the guards fell asleep”, or “there was a look alike, a twin to Jesus”, along with other bizarre hypothesis, but that’s just not the case. Jesus rose from the grave and walked among the people for forty days. It is not a mistake, it is not fiction, it is the truth.

Those who saw the risen Jesus would include: Mary Magdalene, the other women at the tomb, Peter, the two travelers on the road, the ten disciples behind locked doors, Thomas, the seven disciples fishing, James the brother of Jesus, a crowd of five hundred, and of course, those who watched Jesus ascend into heaven. How amazing would that be to be standing there, receiving a blessing from Jesus, His arms lifted, you can see the scars from the nails on his hands, a glow of peace about Him, and then He begins to slowly ascend into heaven. Wow! Who would be able to take their eyes off that? Not me. Apparently not them either because while they were watching Jesus we’re told two men in white stood by them and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”  And that, my friends, is what we are waiting for! 

In Acts Luke tells us that the apostles returned to Jerusalem where they gathered in a room along with the women, Mary the mother of Jesus and with Jesus’ brothers and together they constantly prayed. They spoke to Abba and to their beloved Jesus in the way the Lord has provided us. Can you use your mind’s eye to see their heads bowed, as randomly they called out their praises and their thanks. Can you see the tears of joy in the Lord along with the tears of sadness, for missing Him, roll down their cheeks? How intense, how filled with God’s glory that room must have been. While I can only imagine all they had to say that day to their beloved Jesus, I do know He heard every word they spoke or thought and felt their every emotion. He is cool like that!

We’re told when the day of Pentecost came all the disciples were together in one place when a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house. And really, what would you be thinking if you were seeing tongues of fire separating and landing on everyone? Maybe a little scary at first, right? But they were completely amazed. Imagine their wonder, if you would, when they all began to speak and anyone of any language could understand them. Rosetta stone, eat your heart out :-)

And oh how I love Peter, don’t you? I look forward to meeting him in heaven, I do. We’re told he stood up, with the eleven, and just started preaching it. At the end of his sermon, his teaching, he gave an invitation to, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit,” winning about three thousand to the Lord that day. Luke tells us that every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. That they hey broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Thus beginning the church of Jesus Christ. 

It is of paramount importance we understand that the church is not a building or a meeting place but rather a group of warm and loving people, who choose to follow the commands of and the examples that Jesus himself gave us. Disciples who go out and share God’s Holy Word by teaching and by example, bring others to the knowledge of Jesus. Brothers and sisters in Christ who look forward to one day seeing heaven’s holy city shinning with the glory of God, where the river of the water of life, flows crystal clear down the middle of the city, and to hearing Abba himself say, “Well done good and faithful servant.” Amen?

Have a great day and to God be the glory.

God bless you all …..