Posted on 04/24/2011 8:06:03 AM PDT by OneVike
The greatest news story in the history of humanity broke on a spring morning in A.D. 32. The news? Jesus had risen from the dead just as he had predicted. An angel told the story and entrusted it not to a theologian, not to one of the remaining disciples, not to a ruler. No, the ones who were first entrusted with the most profound and incredible story in all history were two women. Why? Some possible reasons are seen in there example. Lets consider some of the lessons they can teach us....
Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the tomb, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. Luke 24:1-2
The greatest news story in the history of humanity broke on a spring morning in A.D. 32. The news? Jesus had risen from the dead just as he had predicted. An angel told the story and entrusted it not to a theologian, not to one of the remaining disciples, not to a ruler. No, the ones who were first entrusted with the most profound and incredible story in all history were two women. Why? Some possible reasons are seen in there example. Lets consider some of the lessons they can teach us...
Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the tomb, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. Luke 24:1-2
The last ones at the Cross are now the first ones at the tomb. These women were coming to complete the task of embalming. All the gospels tell us they came early - always a good time to come to the Lord. Proverbs 8:17 says, " they that seek Me early shall find Me," Those who seek the Lord early - early in life, early in a situation, early every day - will uniquely find Him. These women would prove to be no exception.
They would become the first messengers of the resurrection. They were the first to come to the tomb and so I believe God said, "I'll use them." I believe God uses people who are there. The people who are used are the ones who gather around the body of Christ and desire to minister to the body of Christ even as these women did. Start saying, "I don't need to pray any more with believers. I don't have time for fellowship. I am doing fine by myself," and you will increasingly miss the opportunity to move in the power of ministry and the effectiveness of revelation. Oh God's love for you will still be the same. His grace will be upon you. Your place in heaven is secure. But your usefulness will be diminished proportionately to your moving away from the body.
And they entered in and found not the body of the Lord Jesus... behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. And as they were afraid , and bowed down... they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen...Luke 24:3-6
Why seek the living among the dead? People still seek Jesus among the dead. "he was a great Example." They say, "a powerful Role Model. Study his life and see how He handled this situation. They study Him philosophically. They study Him theologically. But they treat Him as though He is dead. We as believers must guard against this same error as well. We worship a living Savior who is in our midst. When we begin to grasp this, the way we worship, study, and pray is affected.
Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead. And behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him.Matthew 28:6-8
Notice the wording. First: "Come and see." Then: "Go and tell." Sincere in their desire to see missionary work accomplished many say, "We're going to win the world for Christ." But it won't happen until they first "come and see." Not until we get a clear vision of the "place where He lay" - of His work on the Cross and his resurrection from the grave - do we have a message to "go and tell."
And as they went to tell his disciples, behold Jesus met them, saying, all hail. And they came and held him by the feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my bretheren that they go into Galilee, and they shall they see me. Matthew 28:9-10
When the women came to the tomb their doctrine was wrong. They thought Jesus was dead. But he Himself came to them because although they were doctrinally wrong, they were devotionally right. A lot of us take pride in our doctrine when what the Lord desires is our affection. Many believers are doctrinally right but they are dead right because their doctrine lacks devotion. On the other hand, your knowledge may be limited and your doctrine not perfectly accurate, but if your affection for Him is real, Jesus will appear to you time and time again.
and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest...and their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not. Then arose Peter, and ran unto the tomb. Luke 24:9-12
Although these woman were speaking the absolute truth, because it seemed impossible to believe, the disciples dismissed their report as idle tales - or literally, "babbling that comes from a fevered and insane mind." As a result they spent longer in the darkness of despair than was necessary. Wise is the man who takes serious the "babblings of the woman in his life - for therein often lies great truth that will shine light in his darkness.
Believing in the resurrection is an absolute essential doctrine. You do not believe in the true gospel if you reject the resurrection. If there is no resurrection, then Jesus did not rise from the dead. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, then death has power over Him and has defeated Him. If death has power over Jesus, He is not God. If Jesus is not God, He cannot offer a complete sacrifice for sins. If Jesus cannot offer a complete sacrifice for sins, my sins are not completely paid for before God. If my sins are not completely paid for before God, then I am still in my sins! If Jesus is not risen, He is unable to save.
See how important the truth of the resurrection is! This is not some side doctrine, to be believed if someone likes it. If you do not believe Jesus Christ rose from the dead in a resurrection body the way the Bible says He did, you have no right to call yourself a Christian. This is one of the essential doctrines of the Christian faith. He is alive and you can experience Him in your life today.
looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 2 Pter3:12
Again, like Christmas I defer to a very good friend of mine for my Easter message to you, Pastor Dominic. He has walked with the Lord since he was 16, and though I am almost 29 years his senior, I feel as though I am but a babe learning at his feet at times. The Lord has blessed him immensity with knowledge and Grace. You may find this interesting, his young daughter has a cochlear implant like Rush limbaugh. Although she was given it before she knew words so it does not work nearly as well. Time will tell if she can learn to create words she understands from the sounds she hears. For now she relies heavily upon sign language, but she is a blessing and one of the happiest little girls you will ever meet. Well, enjoy the message, “He is Risen”, and I pray you all have a blessed day in the Lord,
Happy Easter, OneVike..............
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He Is Risen indeed!
He is risen indeed!!
Amen to Easter...
And for our Orthodox friends: He is truely risen!
Amen and Happy Resurrection day!
ALLELUIA! HE IS RISEN!
Hosanna Yeshua!
"He is risen" in Hebrew: "hoo kam li-tkhiya" Explanation: hoo = he heh-vav-alef הוא kam = rose kof-mem קם li-tkhiya = to life lamed-tav-khet-yod-heh לתחיה
I’m a bit late to this thread but thank you for posting it, what a glorious day! Happy Easter!
Thanks, again!!!....OneVike. A beautiful message...
I hope your Easter was truly blessed.
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