“And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, ‘Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.'” – Luke 24:5-6a

What a moment! To go to the tomb of Jesus, where you’d seen Him buried with your own eyes, and to hear from angels that He was no longer dead but had risen to life. Try to imagine that moment for yourself. You would have heard Jesus predict this was going to happen, but you never understand or took Him seriously. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, you saw Him die on a cross painfully with your own eyes. Your grief, loss, and despair had been overwhelming for days. But in that moment, everything changed! Everything Jesus had said was completely true! Jesus was dead. Jesus is alive.

This is the heart of everything we believe as followers of Jesus. The reality of the Resurrection of Jesus means everything to us. It means that God accepted Christ’s sacrifice and it was sufficient to pay the penalty for all our sins. It means that there is life after death for all who are in Christ. It means that everything Jesus taught and prophesied is trustworthy and true. It means that Jesus truly is the Son of God, fully God and fully human. It means that Satan has already lost and that God is truly sovereign and supreme. It means that God’s grace is truly greater than our sin.

It’s good for Christians to not only superficially celebrate the Resurrection but to really think about it carefully from time to time. Jesus laid down His life for us. Then He took it up again just as He promised. Jesus conquered what we fear more than anything: death. He defeated death which is the terrible price of sin. By His glorious resurrection, Jesus has broken the power of sin and death over our lives. We’ve been set free to live a life pleasing to God in Christ’s power. When we trust in Jesus, His reality becomes our future, as we will also rise from death. What a moment!!!

“Lift up your eyes to the heavens,
and look at the earth beneath;
for the heavens vanish like smoke,
the earth will wear out like a garment,
and they who dwell in it will die in like manner;
but my salvation will be forever,
and my righteousness will never be dismayed.”
– Isaiah 51:6

Life in this fallen world can get pretty discouraging. We’re constantly surrounded by sin, suffering, and death, whether in our immediate personal life or on the unending flood of bad news. Killings. Wars. Famines. Plagues. We can easily sink into despair as it seems the world is falling apart, growing worse and worse with each passing day.

However, there is sure and certain hope! The future is better and brighter than the past. What we see with our eyes is not all that there is. While what is mortal will pass away, God’s salvation and righteousness are eternal!

Death will find us all, unless Christ returns first, but for those who’ve received the salvation God freely gives as a gift of grace through faith in Jesus, we will live forever in glory. God’s salvation is eternal. Our sins are forgiven – forever. We’re adopted by God as His beloved children – forever. Our souls are united with Christ – forever. We’re transformed to become like Jesus – forever. One day our bodies will be glorified to be like His – forever.

God’s righteousness will one day fill all of His renewed creation. When Christ returns in power, triumph, and judgment, all evil and injustice will be swept away forever. Creation will be renewed to perpetual perfection. Righteousness will never again be undermined by sin. Those made righteous by Christ will never again be separated from God’s holy presence.

The future is glorious. It is forever. If you are in Christ, this future is yours. If you haven’t yet trusted in Christ, do so and this future will be yours. Don’t let the present get you down. Worship God. Delight in Him. Enjoy fellowship with His people. Serve Him. Share His Gospel good news.

“For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” – Hebrews 10:4

The wage of sin is death. To sin is to rebel against the authority and rule of the sovereign, good, just, and wise Creator of the Universe. That’s a crime that brings death with it and justly so! Any sin is like that, not just “big ones”. To deal with sin that brings death, either the sinner must die or something innocent must die in his or her place. In your place…

For centuries, the Jewish people were commanded to sacrifice spotless, perfect, healthy animals to pay for their sins. However, that entire system of sacrifices was created to help them and us understand the terrible cost of our sin and the great price required to be forgiven. Those barnyard animals could never take away human sin! Instead, God used those sacrifices, given in faith, to prepare the world for the one true sacrifice that actually could take away sins. The sacrifice of His Son.

Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God, was the sinless, perfect, spotless sacrifice necessary to pay the penalty for all our sins. He alone could stand in our place. He is a man Who understood all our temptations but never gave in to sin. He is God come in the flesh and therefore able to make the infinite sacrifice necessary to deal with all our sins – past, present, and future. Jesus was the true sacrifice all the earlier sacrifices pointed toward. It was His death and resurrection that gives us life when we trust in Him as Lord.

If you’re trying any other means or method to take away your sins, stop right now because it’s futile. The penalty is too huge for you to ever pay. And it’s already been paid. All you need to do is believe!

“Behold my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
I have put my Spirit upon him;
he will bring forth justice to the nations.”
– Isaiah 42:1

With this verse, God begins to paint a glorious picture of His chosen Messiah. This is Jesus of Nazareth, the One in Whom God delights! His beloved, eternal Son. His humble and faithful servant. Fully God and fully human. Operating in the power of God’s Holy Spirit at all times.

Messiah has come not just for a select few, but to bring forth justice and healing for all nations. Jesus came not just to die for the sins of Israel, but to die for the sins of the world. He lived, loved, taught, suffered, died, and rose from death to redeem for Himself a new family made up of children of God draw from all tribes, tongues, and nations. Everyone who believes in Jesus Messiah is part of this beautiful family.

Jesus came to inaugurate the takeover of the world by God’s Kingdom which will inevitably overcome all the forces of Hell with which we’re so familiar. Jesus came to reverse the terrible effects of sin that brought death, evil, and injustice into the perfect world God created. Jesus died and rose from death. One day, He’ll return to complete the Kingdom and wipe away all evil and injustice.

This is the heart and will of God. Promised through Isaiah. Fulfilled in Jesus Christ. One day to be seen with our own eyes throughout the renewed heaven and earth. Come, Lord Jesus!

“Behold, the Lord God comes with might,
and his arm rules for him;
behold, his reward is with him,
and his recompense before him.
He will tend his flock like a shepherd;
he will gather the lambs in his arms;
he will carry them in his bosom,
and gently lead those that are with young.”
– Isaiah 40:10-11

What marvelous images and promises regarding God Almighty! He comes with might. He rules with sovereignty, wisdom, and power. He comes with justice. He punishes the guilty and rewards the righteous. God is mighty! He is triumphant! He rights wrongs and punishes the wrongdoers forever and ever. This promise makes us want to stand up and cheer. It makes us want to cry out, “Come, Lord Jesus!” as we long for this day to dawn here in this hurting, dark, and fallen world.

And yet, we immediately see God’s tenderness toward His people. Like the Great Good Shepherd that He is, God tends us, gathers us, holds us close to Him, and gently leads us. God is nurturing. He’s gentle and kind. He’s loving and tender. He cares for our pains and carries us in our weaknesses. This promise makes us want to cry great tears of joy and delight. Our Lord understands us! He loves us. He cares for us. He sustains us through every dark and painful season of our lives.

Both these images describe God. We are wise to remember them both, give thanks for both, and praise and worship God for both. Thank You, God that You are all-powerful! Thank You, God that You are a careful protector and nurturing God! Thank You, God for Your rule and reign! Thank You, God for Your loving comfort! Thank You, God for the justice You will mete out across the world. Thank You, God for Your gentleness in our pain and Your strength in our weakness. Thank You, God!!!