|
|
|
|
When suffering is thrown a person's way, it is easy to forget that God knows what it is like to suffer. Jesus was fully man and fully God. He had the free will of man, He was tempted just as man but His suffering far overshadowed any suffering ever known.
In 1870 Bliss was inspired to write 'Jesus Loves Even Me' while he was listening to the (new at the time) song, Yes, Jesus Loves Me.
Alfred Ackley wrote the lyrics to He Lives!
Of the many people that witnessed Jesus Christ in His resurrected body, only a handful of specific people are named. Each appearance was purposeful, even though some incidents are recorded without details. For the events that are recorded, the Scriptures reveal specifics that are both intriguing and inspiring. When each Gospel narrative is read carefully, and all the details are put together, the big picture becomes quite clear.
At The Last Supper, Jesus knew that those sitting with him around the table would be among the first to receive forgiveness and the promise of eternal life. Despite their character flaws, Jesus knew that through them, the gospel would spread to nations around the world for generations to come. Knowing that his disciples would make history and turn the world upside down with the Good News of the Gospel, the joy was set before Jesus, which helped him Jesus face and endure the cross.
Jesus did the will of His Father, and He knew that His Father was pleased with Him, and that He loved Him. Despite the suffering that He was about to partake, there was no doubt in Jesus' mind that He was the Beloved Son of God.
Following the arrest of Jesus, guilt and despair were too much for Judas to overcome. Rather than seek forgiveness or reconciliation, Judas committed suicide. His death was a tragedy; he would have had the same opportunity as Peter to turn things around, and he would have been in the Upper Room with the other disciples to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. Instead, like Cain, Judas' actions forever dishonored him.
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ goes beyond a paranormal event in history. It divided those who opposed its miracle from those who desired and desperately needed the restoration, salvation and redemption it promised.
Never think that life has no purpose. God's people have been given the greatest reason to live. It's not for fame and riches, but to learn about and share what Jesus Christ did. It is more important today than ever before.
Life is more than food and clothes and houses and cars and stuff. Life is not all about accumulation of things. He who dies with the most money or the most toys, still dies. Life for the Christian is about loving God and loving others, and introducing people to the Lord Jesus Christ. People are to be loved and things are to be used, and never the opposite.