What is Easter About? He is Alive!

Jesus was soon going back to his Father. But he was leaving the disciples with a mission. A mission to carry on his earthly ministry. It is found in Mathew 28:19-20. Go ye therefore into all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things, whatsoever I have commanded you, and lo I am with you always. Even unto the end of the world.

Friends, that is called the Great Commission and it was given not only to his disciples but to all that would come after. Including you and me. We live in a dying world. Who will tell of Christ, if we don't? The enemy would blot us out if he could, but in verse 18 of that chapter, Jesus said, "All power is given to me in heaven and earth." No one can take it away. No one.

Jesus had completed his ministry that began as a tiny baby in Bethlehem. It took him approximately 33 years to see its fruition. There was only one thing left to do. It was time for him to go home to his
Father.

Now when he had spoken these things, while they watched, he was taken up. And a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven, as he went up, behold two men stood beside them in white apparel, who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand to gaze up into the heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up to heaven will so come in like manner as you saw him go into heaven. Amen.Acts 1:9-11;

As the disciples departed the place where Jesus had been taken up, it was now up to them to continue on as he had commissioned them.

Jesus is Alive!

All of  Jesus life, death, and resurrection in total, was and is what Easter is all about. But it does not stop there. He is coming back for those that have decided to trust him during their lifetime. Is he coming back for you?.

April 21, 2019, Easter reading: And God raised the Lord, and will also raise us up by his power. 1 Corthianians 6:14


Happy Easter Morning, Friends. I truly hope you have been blessed during this Holy Week. If you were the only person on earth, Jesus would have come back just for you. He loves you that much. Have a wonderful day with your family and friends. But most of all remember why it is you are celebrating today!

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What Is Easter?/ Chief Priests and Lies

Mathew 28:1-15

Jesus had come to earth as a baby. He grew up and even as a child spent time in the temple, learning. At about thirty years of age, he was baptized and started his ministry which would last for the next three years. During that time, he gathered his disciples and they followed him as he preached, healed the sick and did other miracles.

But the miracles of miracles did not happen until he arose from the tomb that even many of his own people, who had witnessed them tried to enclose him in.

When he came out of that tomb, the gospel of Mathew 28 says that there was a violent earthquake and an angel of the Lord came down and rolled the stone away from the entrance. Jesus Christ emerged with an appearance of lightning and his clothes as white as snow.

The guards had been so afraid that they shook and became as if they were dead men.

But "uh, oh", they must have thought. They had been placed there for a reason. They were not to let anyone go in and steal the body of Jesus because then people would think he really did rise from the tomb. And surely, those guards may have been worried they would be in trouble for Jesus being gone.

Some of those guards went to the city to report what had taken place at the tomb. Can't have it get out that he had arisen. And so what did the Chief Priests and elders do? Like too many government officials even today, they had to cover themselves. And they came up with a plan.. They bought the soldiers off, giving them money and telling them to lie and tell people that someone did come during the night to steal his body. The soldiers took the money and did just what they were told to do.

They had not counted on the truth. They had obviously not believed it. And if it was true, they were going to lie about it. Besides,  as for the soldiers, now they had some money to lie for. Why not?

However, verse 15 of that passage says this: So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

The truth does prevail. The lies of the government in Jesus day did not stop the reason that his Father sent him. It did not keep him within the confines of a tomb. It did not hide the truth that there were enemies that didn't want people to know what the truth really was.. No, it had all come out. Jesus was alive and there was no stopping that fact at all.

And it had been his appearing to so many that proved that what they were being told about Jesus body had all been lies. If so many people had not seen him, the government could probably have gotten away with it. But, he did and that probably didn't sit too well with many people on either side.

Jesus had accomplished almost everything that he had to do while he was on earth. What was left?

It was his ascension back to be with his Father as people looked on. The end of his earthly ministry. The end of his time with the disciples. But it wasn't really the end. Was it?

April 20, 2019, Easter reading:  And to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:19

Hi Friends. May God richly bless you today! Thanks for stopping by!

What is Easter About? Jesus Appearance /So Many Witnesses

In accordance with scripture, in Mathew 28:1-4 Jesus began to appear to many people after he had been resurrected that morning. There were women and even the soldiers guarding his tomb witnessed it as he came out. Verses 3-4 says that "his appearance was as lightning and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook  and became like dead men."

Peter is mentioned as the first apostle that had seen him in Luke 24:34, after which he appears to the rest of the disciples in verse 36. And he also appears to them at other times in that 40 days before he ascended to be with God.

And he appears to "more than 500 brothers"  as well as James, (his half-brother) according to 1 Corthianians 15:6-7

There were just too many occasions that he appeared that people could deny that he had not done what he had been preaching all along.

Acts 1:3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave them many proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over forty days and spoke about the Kingdom of God.


What it must have been like for those people that saw him arrested, suffer and die and then come back to life after 3 days. Knowing that unless he was who he said he was, there was no way on earth that this man called Jesus, could ever do such a thing.

As the Centurian Soldier stood at the cross after Jesus had died that day, he made this profound statement. "Truly, this was the Son of God." Mathew 27:54.

Indeed. There was no other that could have pulled off what Jesus had done. Only the Son of God. Only the Son of God! Only God's begotten Son, that he had sent to save us from our sin. John 3:16.

April 19, 2019, Easter Reading: It is for freedom that Christ set us free. Stand firm then, and do not let yourselves be burdened by the yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1

Hello Friends. Thanks so much for visiting today. As our Easter Celebrations get closer, may we not forget that it was due to what happened over 2000 years ago that made them possible. God Bless!

What is Easter About? Who Would Doubt?

Out of the disciples of Jesus, who would doubt indeed? Thomas, that is who. He wasn't with the other disciples when they saw that Jesus was alive. that day. And in fact, he actually had to see more proof than just actually seeing a man. He said, "I won't believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands and put my fingers in them, and place my hand into the wound in his side."

Several days later, Thomas was with the rest of the disciples in a locked room when suddenly Jesus appeared to them. He said, "Peace be with you." And then he turned to Thomas and said, "Put your finger here and look at my hands. Put your hand into my side. Don't be faithless any longer. Believe!"

At that Thomas cried, "My Lord, my God." 

Jesus said, "You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those that believe without seeing me."

Reference: John 20:24-29

I think there had to be at least one doubter in the group that associated with Jesus and his ministry because his situation is certainly for us today.

Thomas had to see proof that Jesus was alive before he believed. Down through the ages, people have believed without seeing him but know that the events recorded were and are true and that one day we will see him. And it is those people and you and I who are blessed because of that belief that we have. 

As we know, there are all too many that refuse to believe and how sad that is because unless they at some point realize their need for a Savior, they will never be able to live with him in paradise. But there comes a time when even they will bow at the name of Jesus. Philippians 2:10-11 says: That at the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow, of those in heaven and those on earth, and those under the earth and that every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. 

Imagine all the millions and millions of people through history that have rejected Jesus Christ, never giving their lives to him. Never trusting him. Many never even believing him all of a sudden that yes, he is real. Yes, he did come to earth as a baby to grow up and die for their sin, and now having to bow and admit that he not only is Jesus Christ, but he is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. How incredibly stupid they are going to feel. Worse yet, they will be cast into an everlasting dark place called Hell. 

On the other hand, are those that trusted Christ during their lifetime and are counted among those that will be in heaven with him forever and an ever. What a glorious day that will be when Philippians 2:10-11 happens for us. 

I know that I look forward to that day. I hope you do too. Because it will be the beginning for truly the best time in life that many of us will have ever known. Those of us that are still on earth when it happens. For those that have gone on ahead, their time with Jesus has already started and that is why it is so important for us to get with it today, and trust him. Because when we die, it will be too late for those that have rejected him. He is not someone to be doubted. 

 Think about it. Jesus Christ. Not a story in a book. But the soon and coming King. What a day that will be.

Reference: John 20:24-29

April 18, 2019, Easter Reading. And they went and told the rest, but they did not believe them either, Later he appeared to the eleven, and he rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart because they did not believe those who had seen him after he had risen.  Mark 16:13-14

Hi Friends: I pray God's blessing on you and your family today!

What is Easter About? Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

Jesus appeared to many people after he had been resurrected from the grave. To whom more than his friends, would he want to be some of the first that were to see him. John's account in two of those friends appears in John 20. And one of those is Mary Magdalene

She had been standing outside the tomb crying. And when she stooped to look in, she saw two angels in white robes, one sitting at the head and one at the foot of where Jesus body had been laying. The angels asked her why she was crying. And she said it was because someone had taken her Lord away and she did not know where they had taken him.

But then she turned to leave and there was someone standing there that she did not recognize. It was Jesus, and he too asked her why she was crying. and who was she looking for?.

Clearly, Mary Magdalene did not know who she was talking to and thought he was the gardener. She said, "Sir if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him and I will go and get him."

"Mary!:, Jesus said.

She turned to him and cried out, "Rabboni!" (which in Hebrew is "Teacher.")

"Don't cling to me" said, Jesus. "For I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go find my brothers and tell them I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God."

Mary Magdalene did go and find them and told them, "I have seen the Lord!" and then she gave them his message.

Reference: John 20:11-18

Why had Jesus chosen to show himself first to her rather than to some of the others?
I can hardly, in my limited understanding make a good guess. I just believe what John wrote because I believe the bible. Mary Magdalene had meant very much to him for sure and why should she not have been one of the first to see that he had risen as he had said he would. Whatever reason Jesus had is good enough for me.

She had to have been very excited as she ran back to find his brothers. He had come back to life and now she had seen him! I wonder if she sang joyfully as she made her way back to them? How exciting that had to have been!

One day, we too will see our Lord Jesus, and just as an exciting day, it was for Mary Magdalene, what a day that will be for us as well!

April 17, 2019  Easter Reading: Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. Mark 16:12

Hello Friends: I pray that this Easter Holy Week has been a blessing for you so far. And I pray it will continue it to be. Praise God, he is not dead. He is alive and well!

                                                      

What is Easter About/ The Disciples: Was it really a ghost?

We next find Jesus appearing to his disciples. They had been talking about what had happened so far, when all of a sudden he was in their midst. He said to them, "Peace be with you." They were startled and afraid and thought that Jesus was actually a ghost. But Jesus seems to have little patience for their doubt. He said, "Why are you troubled. Why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and feet. It is I myself. Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bone as you see I have."

He showed them his hands and feet but they still were having a hard time with it. Yet at the same time, they were amazed. He again told them what he had been trying to tell them all along. That everything that had been written about him from the time of Moses forward, had to be fulfilled. "The Messiah will suffer and then rise on the third day and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised, but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power on high."

At last, they had gotten it because Jesus had opened up their mind so that they could understand.

Today's reference: Luke 24: 36-49
April 16,2019 Easter Reading: We love because he first loved us.1 John 4:19


Thanks for coming by Friends. Love didn't just happen. It happened because God first loved us and gave up his Son for the purpose of showing us that love. May we be forever thankful!

Jesus had a coming out party of source. A coming out of the grave. He visited many people after that to share the good news with. Who else might that be? Come back tomorrow for Mark's gospel account of who they were. Until then, be blessed!

What is Easter About? Jesus is Appearing to People

People were having it hard to believe that day. Jesus appeared to two people that were on their way to a village called Emmaus. This village was about seven miles from Jerusalem. They had heard about Jesus not being in the tomb when the women had arrived there and found him gone. Not knowing that they were speaking with Jesus himself, they told him that Jesus was a prophet from Nazareth that they had hoped was going to redeem Israel. But that the chief priests had handed him over to die and now it has been three days and when some women went to his tomb, they had found it empty. They had said that the women had seen two angels who had told them he wasn't there because he was alive. And that some others then went to the tomb and found out that it was true. He was not there.

At this point, Jesus seems to reprimand them by telling them how foolish they were being. He reminded them that Jesus had been telling them all along what he would have to suffer and that in fact, it had all come down from Moses as to what would take place.

As they got close to their village, they invited Jesus (still not knowing who he was) to stay with them because it was getting towards nightfall. And it was when they had all sat down at the table when Jesus took the bread, broke it and gave thanks for it, that they realized that they were indeed in the presence of the one that had just risen from the grave as he had said he would. Jesus had opened their understanding as to who he really was.

With that, he disappeared.

The two immediately got up and returned to Jerusalem where they found the disciples and those that were with them and said to them, "It is true! The Lord has risen and appeared to Simon." And then they explained how Jesus had broken bread with them.

Jesus will appear to many people before he goes back to his heavenly home to be with God the Father because he surely wants people to know he has risen. Who does he go to next? Come back tomorrow for the answer according to the account in Luke 24.

Today's reference Luke 24:13-35

April 15,2019  Easter Reading: You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.

Hello Friends: Well today is tax day. A day when taxes should be already prepared and hopefully at least in the mail for those that had yet to get them sent. It is an important day in that respect. But more importantly, was the day when Jesus arose from the rock walls that enclosed his body, As the scripture in the Easter reading for today says.he was killed, but God raised him! No tomb could hold him. He was the Son of God and he lives even today!

Thanks for coming! God bless you and yours!