Pastor's Column 4/9/2023

PASTOR’S COLUMN

“When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a white robe sitting on the right side. The women were shocked, but the angel said, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead. Look this is where they laid His body. Now go and tell His disciples, including Peter, that Jesus is going ahead of you in Galilee. You will see Him there, just as He told you before He died.”

Mark 16:5-7, NLT

Resurrection Sunday - "Alive!”

What the faithful women experienced on a Sunday morning outside of Jerusalem’s gates, has reverberated well over a two millennia, and continues to dispel many doubts about life beyond our mortality. The world we live in has in recent decades has seen an escalation in conspiracy theories, false propaganda, and literal lies, about events and issues. However, as Christians we know that God’s “truth” is always a credible defense against so much myriad nonsense. Jesus said, “It is [my] truth that liberates you.” (Cf. John 8:32b, Amplified). It was the Apostle Paul who told the Christians within two decades after the Resurrection, “If Christ had not risen from the dead, our preaching would be useless, and our faith would be useless… In fact, Christ has risen from the dead!” (Cf. I Corinthians 15:14;20a, NLT). The women lead the way to the path of truth on the first Resurrection morning. Amazingly, the issues that perplexed them, ending up convincing them that Jesus was indeed alive. They were concerned about the massive boulder-stone that stood impregnable before them at the entrance to the tomb. Such stones often weighed one half of a ton; and was customarily removed by 4-5 trained soldiers. But when the women arrived, the stone had ben removed. Then, they feared the soldiers had taken the body of the Lord away; but an angel was there to inform the women, that was not the case. Jesus was indeed alive, and they were to meet Him, where they first met Him; in His home region of Galilee. One-third of the global population has found Him; not dead, but alive!