4-9-2023

 Good Morning All,

      Matthew 28:6; “He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay."

    As he said. This is such a short phrase: it is easy to miss. Yet it has so much power, power for us to cling to, to revel in, to truly celebrate with all certainty of victory. Some of our greatest stories of heroism have this line attached. MacArthur returned to the Philippines, as he said. Emergency responders have taken people out of dangerous situations telling some, “I will come back and get you” and they do just as they said. People have travelled long and arduous journeys to get home to loved ones, just as they had promised. Yet these all pale compared to Jesus and his words, “Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” As He said.

    Jesus spoke to his disciples plainly and yet they struggled understanding what He meant. It was beyond their comprehension. He was the Messiah; how could he possibly die? Yet here He is plainly telling them exactly that He would die but rise again in three days. It seems like they fixated on the first part of that phrase but missed the second part. That was until it happened and the angel remined them, “Jesus told you all this, remember, just as He said.” Those three words “as He said” have incredible power.

    If Jesus could rise from the dead, what can he not do? Every promise Jesus ever made, everything He said to us becomes sure and trustworthy. “As He said” means there is a stamped guarantee, from God Himself to everything Jesus says. “I am with you to the end of the age.” “I will give you rest.” “I go to prepare a place for you.” “I will come again to be with you.” “I will never abandon you.” These and many more, as he said, are true for us and a source of comfort in trouble, consolation in sorrow, strength in times of challenges, and a certain blessing in all we face.

    As He said. Jesus has claimed you, marked you to be among his redeemed body of believers, cleansed you, given you new life and the certain hope of eternal life with Him. Just as He said, so it will be. A certain promise, a certain hope, a certain comfort, and an abundant life in his Name.

    The resurrection of Jesus means everything is different!  It means that the power of the devil over us has been broken and now we can confidently come to God as our Father and cling to His comforting arms and know of His peace, as he said. All things are new, all things are changed, all things belong to Jesus alone. Christ is risen, as he said. Christ gives us new life, as he said. You are now his chosen people, as he said. You have life eternal in his name, as he said. Christ is risen, He is risen indeed, Alleluia!

Gracious Father today is a day of victory! Through Jesus, you have given us new life and new hope. You have given us the true joy, the true comfort, the true contentment of a new life in your loving arms. Keep us according to your will that we may ever walk with You. In the precious name of Jesus, our risen Savior we pray, amen!

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret