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"I
am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in
Me shall live even if he dies, and everyone who lives
and believes in Me shall never die. Do you
believe this?" - John 11:25-26
I do not suppose that in all the realm of literature
is there a phrase like this. Never has there been
such a claim made by any other human being, never
have words so charged with solemn destiny for the
race, fallen from human lips.
If one could only think oneself back to that scene
about two miles from the center of
Jerusalem, where a little knot of people had
gathered, including a weeping woman sorrowing for the
loss of a beloved brother, we might gain a fresh
concept of their meaning. And there beside the
woman stands the majestic figure of the Lord of Life;
calm, unafraid and conscious of the power He had
within Himself. Ever since Job had asked that
question millenniums before: "If man should
die shall he ever live again?" that
unanswered question had come ringing down the
corridors of time. And now it finds its answer. Martha
therefore said to Jesus, "Lord, if You had
been here, my brother would not have
died." Jesus said to her:
"I
am the resurrection and the Life."
Think
of the words again. Sing them over and
over. They are indeed 'wonderful words of life.'
The stupendous claim takes our breath away.
No longer do we speculate about the future, and what
the ultimate end is going to be. This is that one
'divine event towards which the whole creation
moves.' The grave is only a very temporary
stopping place for the body on it's journey to the
glad day of resurrection when we shall be made like
Him and receive a body like unto His own glorious
body. "Sursum corda!" the old
saints used to say to one another. Life up your
hearts! The sky, not the grave, is our goal. Our
destiny is with Him, who said:
"I
am the resurrection and the Life."
The
Resurrection of Jesus: Matthew
28:1-7
Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn towards the
first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other
Mary came to look at the grave. And behold, a
severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the
Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away
the stone and sat upon it. And his appearance was like
lightning, and his garment as white as snow; and the
guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead
men.
And the angel answered and said to the woman, "Do
not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for
Jesus who has been crucified. He is not here, for He
has risen, just as He said."
"Come, see the place where He was lying. And go
quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from
the dead; and behold, He is going before you into
Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told
you."
Jesus
Appears to the Disciples: Luke
24
When Mary reported back to the eleven, they didn't
believe, except Peter, But Peter arose and ran to the
tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen
wrappings only; and he went away to his home,
marveling at that which had happened. - Luke 24:12
He
then appeared to others on the road, but they didn't
recognize Him, and Jesus spoke to them.
"What are these words that you are exchanging
with one another as you are walking?" - Luke
24:17
They told Him about the death and crucifixion of the
"Prophet, Jesus the Nazarene", and about the
woman that had told them of His
"disappearance" from the tomb and their
sadness as they thought He was going to stay around
and redeem Israel. Jesus then said to them.
"O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in
all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not
necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to
enter into His glory?" - Luke 24:25
Jesus then went on to explain about the "death
and resurrection" foretold. They then rested for
the evening and He ate with them. This is when
their eyes were opened so that they could recognize
Him, as he broke the bread and blessed it. Once they
had recognized Him, Jesus vanished. This is when they
turned to each other and said:
"The Lord has really risen" - Luke 24:34
Explanation
& Commissioned: Luke
24:36-49
And while they were telling these things, He Himself
stood in their midst. But they were startled and
frightened and thought that they were seeing a
spirit. And He said to them, "Why are
you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your
hearts? See My hands and My feet, that it is I
Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not
have flesh and bones as you see that I have."
And when He had said this, He showed them His
hands and His feet. And while they still could
not believe it for joy and were marveling, He
said to them, "Have you anything here to
eat?" And they gave Him a piece of a broiled
fish; and He took it and ate it before them.
Now He said to them, "These are My words
which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that
all things which are written about Me in the Law of
Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be
fulfilled."
Then He opened their minds to understand the
Scriptures, and He said to them, "Thus
it is written, that the Christ should suffer and rise
again from the dead the third day; and that
repentance for forgiveness of sins should be
proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning
from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these
things. And behold, I am sending forth the
promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in
the city until you are clothed with power from on
high."
The
Ascension:
 And
He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up
His hands and blessed them. And it came about that
while He was blessing them, He parted from them.
And they returned to Jerusalem with great
joy, and were continually in the temple, praising
God. - Luke 24:50-53
May the Lord bless His word.
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