HE IS RISEN!

It's Easter Sunday! He is Risen! On this Resurrection Day, I am struck by the notion that the same Power that resurrected Jesus Christ 2,000 years ago virtually resurrected me this past year. When I was diagnosed with AML in June, 2001, I was told that, without treatment, I would last about two weeks. I thank God that He provided me with 1) the will to live, 2) knowledgeable and dedicated medical practitioners, 3) medical knowledge that He has revealed to mankind for the purpose of alleviating suffering and premature death, and 4) above all else, the grace He has shown me in allowing me to stay a while longer with my loved ones. 

Throughout this whole season of my life, I have been struck by the parallels that Jesus has shown me between His life and ministry and my own. I have written about some of them: see Revelation in the night and Time and revelation. Do not misunderstand, I in no way am claiming that I am on a par with Jesus, although I aspire to that. I am simply saying that things I read about Jesus in Scripture help me to see more clearly that my battle with AML is more than an inconvenience and a challenge. No, it is also an illustration to me of why Jesus came in the flesh, was executed on a cross, buried in a borrowed tomb (because he only needed it for three days) and resurrected not only to life, but to life in an eternal, glorified body. 

I see these illustrations and revelations that He has given me as a kind of preview of the day when I, too, will be resurrected to a life free of pain and suffering and the distractions of this world; free to live in perfect harmony with my Lord and Savior and His body, the Church, for all eternity. So, on this Resurrection Day I marvel at the goodness of God and the joy not only of knowing Him, but of being His adopted son. 

On the first Easter Sunday, Mary Magdalene, one of Jesus' followers came to His tomb just at dawn to prepare His body for burial. That could not be done the day before, which was the Sabbath. When she arrived, the stone that closed the tomb had been rolled away, and the tomb was empty. Mary was distraught. 

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” (John 20:11-17)

As I read this passage in church this morning, I was struck by His use of the phrase "my brothers." Prior to the resurrection, He had called His closest friends "servants;" He had then called them "friends" when he had finished teaching them all that the Father had charged Him with teaching them. (see John 15:15)  Now, he called them "brothers." Why this change?

In Ephesians 1:5, the Apostle Paul wrote, "...[God] predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will..." God's plan all along was to adopt those who are willing to be His sons (and daughters) "...and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ..." (Romans 8:17) But that couldn't happen until Christ's work on the cross was finished; that is, until He had cleansed us of our sins and conquered death, so that we might live with Him for eternity.

On this Resurrection Day, I am rejoicing that I am now an adopted brother of Christ and a fellow heir of the kingdom of God. 

HAPPY EASTER! HE IS RISEN!

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