Have you ever stopped and imagined, what it would have been like for Jesus, when He was resurrected?
Imagine coming back to a place; to a world where He was once part of the most powerful moves of God that ever happened.
Healing the sick, raising up men and woman of faith who had gone out and done incredible works of God too. Including showing that even death could not defeat Him by raising Lazarus from the dead along with others.
All He had been given from the Father He had poured into His 12 apostles and the world.
He had preached to crowds of tens of thousands, feeding them too. Did you know scholars estimate Jesus had around 500 to 1,000 followers at the peak of his popularity or ministry and 70-72 disciples?
Yet now where are these apostles, followers, disciples? Are they in hiding; frightened; lost; in disbelief?
Amazingly though Jesus had told them on so many occasions He would die, But on the third day we would rise again!
So how many where at the tomb waiting for Him to rise again? None’. Once again I ask..
Have you ever stopped and imagined, what it would have been like for Jesus, when He was resurrected?
Where had faith gone ? Was there any faithful He met waiting for Him? Because even though He died many others were raised from the dead and walked the very earth.
I believe this very act was the earth itself revealing what was to come and revealing it to the people. As spoken by Jesus But… “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.” (Luke 19:40)
The prophets had spoken of His Death and resurrection, actually the first 39 books of The Bible have word after word describing how He would die. And also many words that describe His resurrection. Both in remarkable detail.
For example, consider the remarkable prophetic picture of the substitutionary death of the coming Savior in Isaiah 53:1-10. Grab your bible and have a read or here is a link to study this chapter further https://www.icr.org/bible/Isaiah/53). After describing His sufferings, the record says that “He was cut off out of the land of the living. . . . And He made His grave with the wicked, and with the rich in His death” Isaiah 53:8-9. But then it promises that “when thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin . . . He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand” Isaiah 53:10. This prophecy can only be understood in terms of the resurrection.
Or
Isaiah 25:7-8 (NKJV)
7 And He will destroy on this mountain
The surface of the covering cast over all people,
And the veil that is spread over all nations.
8 He will swallow up death forever,
And the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces;
The rebuke of His people
He will take away from all the earth;
For the LORD has spoken.
He had spoken of His death and resurrection.
Luke 18:31-34. “Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, ‘We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. He will be turned over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him, spit on him, flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.” The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.”
But when it happened it led even His closest to disbelief instead of faith, (not even believing in Him ). Here is another question to ponder.
When Jesus came back He was resurrected to the time we celebrate today: did He comeback to a generation of Faith? Here you may answer with No and you would be right, yet before you judge let’s look at a verse that is from Jesus to us.
……”Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:8 (NKJV)
Even before Jesus was about to leave the earth, the Word says there were still some that doubted!
“When they saw him, they worshiped him. But some still had their doubts”. Matthew 28:17 (NIrV)
But Jesus saw more in them so He revealed His authority to them. Then Jesus came to them. He said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me”.
Then came His last commandment, if totally understood and taken hold of would make the way for Him returning to a Faithful generation!
“So you must go and make disciples of all nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to obey everything I have commanded you”.
Along with a lasting promise
“And you can be sure that I am always with you, to the very end.”
And my last question: what part can you play; and is Jesus asking you to do in making sure that when He returns it will be to a faithful generation?
Here’s your Challenge today
1 On this special day! Ask the Father to equip you to be His voice, hands and feet; to preach His word and be witness of Christ to the world we live in.
2 Ask the Lord how He wants to use you in your family, workplace or community to reveal Him to a dying and faithless generation?
3 Ask the Lord for people He wants you to start praying for; talking to; or doing life with?
4 Give thanks that He chose to send you out into the world to represent Him (Isaiah 6:8 “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying:“Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?”Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”) if you have not given your life totally to Jesus
Then here’s a prayer for you.
Lord Jesus I admit I am a sinner, yet You died on the cross for my sin and rose on the third day providing a way for me to be free. I ask that You now come into my life and manage my life from now on and be my Lord and Saviour amen.
5 Now it’s your hour to go and do as Jesus said to “So you must go and make disciples of all nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to obey everything I have commanded you”
6 But first ask Him to empower you and cloth you with baptism of the Holy Spirit! Pray this prayer! Father I ask that You will cloth me with the power of the most high and baptise me in the Holy Spirit amen
7 Lastly Give thanks for As His last words “you can be sure that I am always with you, to the very end.”
Father we thank You for You made a way where there was no way. You promised a saviour and you sent Your Son and we can now rejoice and declare For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through Him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. AMEN
