The Magnificently Perfect Response

“As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, ‘Peace to you.’ But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. And he spoke 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 I have.’ “ Luke 24:36-39

Time is inexorable; it just never stops. Easter has come in 2021 and now is over till 2022. So what now? The well known hymn to some still rings in their ears: “Jesus lives, and so shall I!” This should help answer your “what now?”

It should easily be the ringing memory of every Easter; the reason for your every-day 365 days a year celebration. “Because He lives I can face tomorrow!”

Human emotions are best described as a roller coaster. Some days are better than others, and some are simply the worst. Is it really true that “God can make your paths straight?” Straighten out the emotional curves and flatten the circumstantial hills and valleys? Many testify to this powerful truth of God’s personal assistance. Is it true for you? Or only an illusion of the mind?

Two millennia ago the tomb was simply empty on an early Sunday morning in first century Jerusalem. The evidence for a resurrection is objectively and visibly overwhelming. Jesus, who indeed died, came to life three days after his death and walked out of his tomb.

Then in-person he greeted well over 500 of his followers, disciples, and friends; all those to whom he made the choice to see face to face. Apparently, while he did not appear to his enemies or the indifferent, all of them could have verified his resurrection if they chose to do so. And they could have verified the bribery made to the soldier-guard of the tomb to widely spread a fallacious lie; which many living then unquestioningly believed, just as a great number do today.

Yet the question remains: what does Jesus’ resurrection create in you personally? It should mean everything in living your life today. Then, especially considering your certain future death, and the death of your believing loved ones, this triumphal truth makes all the difference. “Jesus lives, and so shall I!” Indeed, if you do live now in Him, you will hereafter! Rejoice!

“Jesus lives and death is now but my entrance into glory. Courage! then, my soul, for thou hast a crown of life before thee; thou shalt find thy hopes were just—Jesus is the Christian’s trust!”

(5th verse of Christian Gellert’s hymn, “Jesus Lives, and So Shall I,” 1826)