The Week That Changed the World - The Resurrection (Part VIII)

Last night at work wasn't too bad at all.  We had plenty of nurses, a tech, a secretary, no totally drunk or crazy patients.  Not overloaded with ambulances.  Just a nice steady night.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed for tonight, hoping it carriers over.  I told day shift as I left this morning, "leave it how you found it."

Today marks the last in my series of "The Week That Changed The World".  Holy Week ends with Easter and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Easter has always been a favorite of mine.  I love Spring and Easter because each offer the promise of new life after "death."  With Spring, you have new life in the plants as they are "reborn," errupting from the Earth into a blooming palate of color.  With Christ, we see Him resurrected after His death on the Cross, proving to believers and non-believers alike, that He alone can conqour death.  And that if He lives, then we know that death has been defeated and that if we believe in Him, that we too will live forever.

Another reason that Easter is a favorite of mine, especially this year, is that it usually falls around my grandmother's birthday.  Today is what would have been my Nanny's 92nd birthday.  Doshie Orene McCartney Dozier, I love you and miss you very much!!

 

Sunday, April 8The Relevance of the Resurrection

The death of Jesus of Nazareth is an attested fact of history. Tacitus, the greatest of ancient Roman historians, recorded the event specifically: “Christus . . . suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus, and a most mischievous superstition broke out” (Annals 15.44).

Most Christians know that “Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God” (1 Peter 3:18; see Romans 5:8-9). But many are less certain about the relevance of the resurrection. The Bible gives us three reasons why Easter matters today.

One: the resurrection kept the promise of God. Jesus told His disciples that “He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life” (Matthew 16:21). The resurrection of the Son of God fulfilled the word of God.

Two: the resurrection proved the divinity of Jesus. When Thomas met the risen Christ he proclaimed, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28). Christians worship Jesus because He is our risen Lord.

Three: the resurrection guarantees our victory over death. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die” (John 11:25-26).

The Bible promises, “By His power God raised the Lord from the dead, and He will raise us also (1 Corinthians 6:14).  Now, “in Christ all will be madealive” (1 Corinthians 15:22).  Jesus’ resurrection defeated death—His and ours.

Today is Resurrection Sunday. Spend today in gratitude, knowing that “if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins (1 Corinthians 15:17). Use today to prepare for the greatest celebration in human history: the victory of God over the grave, life over death.

Because He lives, you will live forever!

 

Ciao!  De ;)

Tags: Holy Week, Easter