Resurrection Day

Happy Resurrection Day!

Today we celebrate the most miraculous event in all history; the rising of the Son of Man, God’s own Son.  The Son of God rose from the dead changing forever the way mankind views the world.  The Old Testament revealed the King to come in Zechariah 9: 9-11 and Isaiah 9:6-7.  The Messiah, the King, established a new order that is a new way of Life in Truth.  Truth that has existed since the creation.  This new Way reconciled God and man’s relationship.  This newness, much like the dawning of Spring, brought life and freedom through a New Covenant. All of the Old Testament pointed to Jesus who would seal the New Covenant.

Jeremiah 31:33 “But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day," says the Lord. "I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.”

This new life, available to all people in all walks of life came from King Jesus!  He established the New Covenant, the New Way!

Luke 22:20 After supper he took another cup of wine and said, "This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.”

This cup, the “cup of redemption” Jesus fulfilled that day on Calvary.  The King, the Lamb of God shed His blood on Calvary and a new covenant was formed. The consequences of the work on the cross are many, one very wonderful consequence is forgiveness.   God, through His Holy Spirit, simply gives us an invitation to join the Kingdom of Heaven. And through our acceptance of this invitation we are given direct access to the Holy of Holies; direct access to God, the One True God (Matthew 27:50-53; Hebrews 6:18-20).

Jesus established a new order, a new way of life; He brought clarity to life.  We have available to us Living Water, poured out to us through Christ, that all people can have a real, practical, and personal relationship with God the Father.  Regardless of anyone’s personal thoughts, the fact is Jesus has always ruled over His creation.  Regardless of humanities willingness to believe, the Truth remains the Truth. Jesus is Lord of all!

Lord of our lives!

Romans 14:7-9 7 For we are not our own masters when we live or when we die. 8 While we live, we live to please the Lord. And when we die, we go to be with the Lord. So, in life and in death, we belong to the Lord. 9 Christ died and rose again for this very purpose, so that he might be Lord of those who are alive and of those who have died.

Jesus died and rose again that He might be Lord of your life today and into eternity.  This word LORD means Master.  Our Lord Jesus, by His death, did not purchase a right to a fraction of us.  By His death and resurrection, He purchased a right to every part of us. Simply put, we, all humanity, are in desperate need of the Savior and Jesus is, our Savior.  The one and only one who brings us into a right relationship with God the Father is Jesus, the Risen Savior!

 The Lordship of Jesus became real to this man:
A native born of interior China wanted to become a Christian but couldn't understand how Christianity was superior to the major religions of the Chinese culture.  One morning he came rushing up to the missionary full of joy and excitement saying, "I dreamed last night, and now I understand!  I dreamed I had fallen into a deep pit where I lay helpless and despairing. Confucius came and said, 'Let me give you advice, my friend; if you get out of your trouble, never get in it again.' Buddha came and said, 'If you can climb up to where I can reach you, I will help you.' Then Jesus came. He climbed down into the pit, picked me up, and carried me out." “Now I believe!” (Author unknown)

Jesus as Lord/Master is much different than what the world has to offer. Jesus, the Servant King, demonstrated that He the Savior of humanity is willing to be such a King. Only one who is Lord, the Servant King, would stoop so low (pick me up out of the pits of yuck) as to save a sinful soul like yours and mine. The visual of Jesus picking us up out of the despairs of life, is real.  Many of us know this first hand.

Anything that keeps Jesus from being Lord of our lives and fulfilling His Lordship in our lives is called sin.  Sin keeps us from experiencing the fullness of what God has for us.  Jesus is the Way to the Father, because He paid the price for the penalty of sin.  Jesus is the Truth who shows us the reality of sin. Jesus is the Life we need to live the fullness of what God the Father has for us. (John 14:6)

May God show us all the sin(s) that keep us from living life for Him to the fullest, and may we all take time to repent of what the Holy Spirit shows us, and may we all experience the forgiveness God has for all who confess their sins and repent. 

Jesus is Lord!  The amazing thing about Jesus as Lord, is not that we accept Him into our lives, it is that He, before we were ever born accepted us into His life. 

Romans 5:8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.  As Lord, Jesus is like a potter molding, shaping, and making us whole. Our King shows us the way; our Lord through His Holy Spirit equips us to live the way; and our High Priest intercedes in our behalf making us right before God. 
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Personally, and practically Jesus, Lord of your life, is about His Holy Spirit giving you a new identity, equipping, and guiding you to love as He loves.  It’s about hope, even when trials come, it’s about joy, regardless of circumstances, it’s about love, even when things seem the worst, it is about forgiveness, even when we are at our worst.  It is this that we pass on to others. 

Jesus’ promises do not depend on us, they depend solely on Him. May you submit more fully to the Lordship of Christ Jesus and may you experience all the promises He brings into a transformed life.

Happy Resurrection Day!