CHRIST HAS RISEN!

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Mark 15: 44-46   Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. so Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen,and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.

Luke 24:1-7   On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, ” Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He is risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee; “the Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'”

John 20:13-17   They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”  “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, and I don’t know where they have put him.” At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize it was Jesus.

He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried hi away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

She turned toward him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher” in Aramaic). 

Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'”

 

 

 

I have talked frequently lately about how the most magnificent animal, the last God our Creator created, was man. And yet, this most supreme animal, the one over all the creatures in the seas and oceans, and ones over the birds of the air and all the animals that move on the earth; yet we are also the cruelest and most vile. Most animals kill to eat. they may chase down, run with wonderful and impressive speeds to attack its prey, but the kill is quick; they try to grab the neck and puncture the many arteries which travel through the area of necks.  They do not sit there, and conquer the animal and let it lay there suffering while they gnaw on a foot, or bite huge hunks of flesh and muscle and organs from its stomach. The creature is dead when the predator then begins to nourish its body. And it was quick, the only torture the fear, terror of trying to escape, not abuse, scourging, and torturing to make it a vile, miserable and prolonged death.

Only humans do that.

But that was NOT the way of our Lord Jesus Christ’s death.  He knew long before John the Baptist baptized him in the river Jordan what His future was. And long before He made his speaking public, and gathered common men — fisherman, tax collectors, other men who were not so well educated, and chose them to be His closest followers, His disciples.

So He taught them, showed them miracles, and still had to tolerate their doubt at times. (And in all honesty, my travels with Him, have shown their own doubt, fears, and impatience). So He shared His last meal with them, then they went to the garden to pray, to share this last evening. but none of His friends could stay awake and join Him in prayer.  Peter had already stated, “No, Lord, let it not be, that You would die.” And Jesus had to scold him and let him know that it WAS certainly necessary, so that all could be saved through His sacrifice.  But none of His disciples totally understood.  

Even Judas the deceiver did not realize his actions of betrayal would result in the death of Jesus. NOT death. After all, Jesus was a good man.  Perhaps he would be ridiculed and taunted, but certainly not scourged, beaten, ‘crowned with a crown of thorns’ and then led to His death, carrying his own cross, His own placement and manner of death. 

But these men, created in the image of God, became the most vile of animals. They lied, tortured, scourged, humiliated, and put our Lord to death on the cross. How vile we human animals can be. 

There was so much grief that Friday. Many of His friends had scattered and hid, afraid, ashamed, appalled at the actions that had happened since enjoying dinner. How, truly could this be happening? Jesus, this man was the Messiah. He was supposed to have saved them, and yet here He suffered on this cross where other men — the Roman soldiers, had nailed his hands and feet to heavy timbers.

Those Roman soldiers and others taunted, laughed, gambled for his clothing, and waited on duty until the men, Jesus and two thieves, were all dead so they could be finished with their jobs for the day.

And don’t you know Satan was hissing and giggling, chortling with his glee. He truly believed, I think, that he had won. The world, the kingdom was his.  How could he believe such fallacy? 

 

BECAUSE THE REST OF THE BOOK HAD NOT BEEN WRITTEN!  

Satan loses.         

Jesus OVERCOMES WHEN HE COMES AGAIN, and the beast is captured 

 

There was fear, despair, shame and such grief in the hearts of the apostles. After all, the soldiers might come for them next. They had been close to Jesus. They might be caught and undergo a “fake” court, persecution and sentencing. I am sure the idea of seeing the torture of Jesus, and wondering if they might be next sickened them?  I’m sure it did.

I remember as a child and going to services and learning about this time in early Christian church, and being appalled at the cruelty, the finality of all of this.  It sickened me. 

But three days later, when women went to care for His body, to prepare it for burial, they found the tomb with the rock rolled away, and his laying place empty except for the shroud which had covered them. They did not totally understand then. But Hallelujah!    CHRIST IS ALIVE!     HE HAS SET US FREE!    

I am so thankful and joy filled on Easter. Atrocious acts happened to my Lord, but that willing sacrifice, that abuse, torture, and final physical horrific death “that saved a wretch like me!”  Praise You always.

Thank You for all You have done for me, and “mybellaviews.”