On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the 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 has 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.’ ” Then they remembered his words.
Summary: Looking back at our discussion of the church liturgy and calendar, we see two of the simplest and most powerful tools for sharing the Gospel in existence: Christmas and Easter.
In our meditation titled “Liturgy,” we discussed how the church liturgy and the church calendar combine to form a powerful teaching tool. After thousands of years of use, these two ancient traditions are still doing the work of the Lord, proclaiming his birth and ascension every Christmas and Easter.
The Lord’s arch-enemy, the devil, still stirs up hate against everything good. The world, unaware of this spiritual battle, is duped into mocking the very thing that can save it from hell.
In this life, we are caught between two powerful forces. On one hand, God’s message of salvation is still proclaimed to the world. On the other, the world is still rejecting our Lord.
And what is the proclamation of the church calendar? What is this vestige of ancient truth?
Christmas and Easter encapsulate the essence of the Gospel message. In December, we celebrate the birth of Jesus. In Spring, we celebrate his resurrection from death.
Both of these events are monumental.
The idea that God, our Creator, could become part of his creation is stunning. It is so odd that we humans, without the Holy Spirit’s help, cannot even get our minds around the concept. We laugh at the idea without seeing the contradiction in our nature. (We, too, are a mix of the physical and the spiritual.)
Two thousand years after Jesus walked this earth, the world is still shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” And today, two thousand years afterward, Jesus’ messengers respond with the same message: “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!”
Jesus lives.
Because He lives forever, so can we.
Application: Don’t be ashamed of the Gospel or intimidated by it. The message of salvation is as simple as Christmas and Easter.
Food for Thought: How is the risen Jesus at work in the world today?
He is Risen! He is alive. He upholds and sustains all things. He intercedes on our behalf. Colossians 1: 15 – 17, especially verse 17; Hebrews 1: 3; Hebrews 7: 25; Romans 8: 33 – 34.
Thank you, Rich!
That about sums it up! Jesus is our Creator, our Sustainer, and our Redeemer. Wow!
How is the risen Jesus at work in the world today?
John 16:8, “When He, the Holy Spirit comes, He will convict the world, and show where right and wrong and judgment lie. He will convict them of wrong.”
The first work of the Holy Spirit is the conviction of sin. Believers are temples of the Spirit, His presence, in us will convict us, and others, of sin. We will feel a greater attraction towards those who, like us, long for more conviction, repentance, and the power of God to live a life that will stand the test of fire.
Ron,
I am reminded of the Prodigal Son who found himself feeding pigs for a living and was so hungry he wished he could eat the pig’s food. (Luke 15:11-32) He was convicted, too. He realized his need and acted on it.
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