THE EMPTY TOMB

  No use talking about Easter, resurrection, new life, without talking about Good Friday, crucifixion, death.  You must have a Cross before you can have a Crown.  There can be no new life without death.
Jesus died for us.  We call it Good Friday.  It was really Bad Friday. It was horrible , the killing of an innocent man.  That man, Jesus never did anything wrong nor harmed a soul.  He only did good, only blessed.  Yet, hate, envy, greed, selfishness, sin nailed him to a cross.  The Romans and the Jews, by killing Jesus, thought they had put a bloody period to His life.  That they had defeated Him.  Crucifixion of Jesus ended the matter.  They buried Him out of sight. “Out of sight out of mind.”

  But wait, don’t get in such a hurry.  God is not done yet.  He allowed His Son to die and be buried, but that is not the end.  Three days later this same Jesus came alive.  The tomb became empty.  The rock in the mouth of the tomb was rolled away not to let Jesus out, but to let people in to see that Jesus was gone.  He died but now He is alive.

  How do I know that this is true?  THE TOMB IS EMPTY…The soldiers were told to lie about it in order to cover up the fact that the body was gone.  This lie convinced no one.  The rage and wrath of Rome would have gotten that body back. In all of history, the body of Jesus has never been discovered.  If at any time a body, claiming to be the bones of Jesus, could be produced, it would stop Christianity in its tracks.  Christianity alone dares claim a resurrected Lord.  The Lord’s invitation is “Come and see.”  Look for yourself, the tomb is empty.  The angel said, “He is not here,  for He is risen as He said.”

  Further evidence is the fact that for 40 days Jesus showed Himself alive.  Let’s ask some of the eyewitnesses…
Mary Magdalene did not recognize Jesus until He spoke her name, “Mary.”  She cried out “Teacher” and took hold of Him.  She was told to go tell the disciples and she did saying, “I HAVE SEEN THE LORD.”
Jesus appeared to two depressed travelers on the Road to Emmaus. They had hoped that this Jesus whom they believed is now dead would redeem Israel.  Jesus talked with them about the Old Testament prophecies being fulfilled, and then went home with them for a meal.  During the meal, He revealed Himself to them. They returned to Jerusalem and told the disciples, “IT  IS TRUE THE LORD HAS RISEN.” 
Jesus appeared to the Disciples in the Upper Room in Jerusalem, Thomas being absent.  They thought He was a ghost. Jesus said, “TOUCH ME AND SEE; A GHOST DOES NOT HAVE FLESH AND BONES, AS YOU SEE I HAVE.”  He ate with them.
Jesus appeared a week later, Thomas being present. Jesus said to Thomas, “PUT YOUR FINGER HERE, SEE MY HANDS. REACH OUT YOUR HANDS AND PUT IT INTO MY SIDE. STOP DOUBTING AND BELIEVE.”  Thomas said,  “MY LORD AND MY GOD.”
Another appearance to the disciples was on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. A special appearance to Saul (Paul) at the city gate of Damascus. Paul wrote in the first Corinthian letter that Jesus appeared to more than 500 followers at the same time, most of them were still alive.   What more evidence could we want?  One more, JESUS IS ALIVE IN US.   What happened to Jesus must happen to us.  He died, we must die to sin and self.  He was buried, as proof of His death, so we must be buried (baptized). He arose and we too rise to walk in newness of life.
It is not what changes us, but who changes us.  We have Jesus living in us therefore, we  cannot stay the same. 
 
  The Tomb is empty, therefore we can believe “BECAUSE HE LIVES, WE CAN LIVE ALSO.”

“YOU TOOK MY PLACE”

  One day, a man went to visit a church.  He got there early, parked his car, and got out.
Another car pulled up near and the driver got out and said, “I always park there. You took my place.”
The visitor went inside for Sunday School, found an empty seat and sat down.

  A young lady from the church approached him and stated, “That’s my seat. You took my place.”
The visitor was somewhat distressed by this rude welcome, but said nothing.

  After Sunday School, the visitor went into the sanctuary and sat down.
Another member walked up to him and said, “That’s where I always sit. You took my place.”

  The visitor was even more troubled by this treatment, but still he said nothing. 
Later, as the congregation was praying for Christ to dwell among them, the visitor stood up and his
appearance began to change.

  Horrible scars became visible on his hands and on his sandaled feet.
Someone from the congregation noticed him and called out, “What happened to you?”

  The visitor replied, as his hat became a crown of thorns, and a tear fell from his eye,

  “I TOOK YOUR PLACE.”                                              Selected

  Just think, that Jesus, the Son of God, died the terrible death on a cross to pay the penalty for sin, not His (for He had none) but for ours.  My sin, your sin, nailed Him there.  He took our place.  It is true, because we sin, we deserve death, separation from the presence of God. That’s hell.  But, Jesus took that penalty upon Himself. He went to hell for us.

I Peter 1:18 – 19: “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.”

Hebrews 12:2: “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

  I love Him because He first loved me and gave me salvation by His death on Calvary. Say it, “He died for me.”

  Such salvation is offered to everyone who will trust in Him. “Whosoever will, may come.”                             

 

 

DO IT ANYWAY

  Isn’t it wonderful how our lives are intertwined.   The other day in our minister’s meeting, David Simpson, minister of Lanier Christian Church, Gainesville, Georgia read an article which had appeared in the newsletter of the Central Christian Church, St. Petersburg, Florida, many years ago, placed there by Minister, Curt Hess.  Curt had a long, fruitful ministry in St. Petersburg.  He died some years back. 
I knew Curt as a camper at Rock Lake Christian Assembly in Vestaburg, Michigan.  I was probably 15 or 16 years old and Curt was a Seminary student helping in this Christian Youth Camp.  When I served in Florida, Curt was serving in St. Petersburg.  We shared together in many activities. I have been in meetings with Curt when he read this article.  We were dear friends.
I am glad that David Simpson knew Curt and saved this article.  I share it now with you.

“People are illogical, unreasonable and self-centered..LOVE AND TRUST THEM ANYWAY.
If you do good, people will accuse you of having selfish, ulterior motives…DO GOOD ANYWAY.
If you are successful, you win false friend and true enemies…SUCCEED ANYWAY.
The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow…DO GOOD ANYWAY.
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable…BE HONEST AND FRANK ANYWAY.
The biggest men with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men with the smallest minds…THINK BIG ANYWAY.
People favor underdogs, but follow only top dogs…FIGHT FOR A FEW UNDERDOGS ANYWAY.
What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight…BUILD ANYWAY.
People really need help, but may attack you if you help them…HELP THEM ANYWAY.
Give the world the best you have, and you’ll get kicked in the teeth…GIVE THE WORLD THE BEST YOU HAVE ANYWAY.” 

  A lot of thought in that article.  Someone has said, “Be true to God and you can be false to no man.”

  Peter and John were warned not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. “But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God.  For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”  Acts 4:19-20   When people oppose you because you stand for Jesus, stand for Him anyway.

  Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were threatened to be thrown in a blazing furnace if they did not worship the false god of Nebuchadnezzar.  They replied, “If we are thown into the blazing furnance, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O King. But, even if he does not, we want you to know, O King, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”  Daniel 3:17-18  No matter the circumstances, be faithful to Jesus anyway.

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”  Colossians 3:17

“AND THEN SOME”

  Some of you may not have seen the three minute inspirational movie titled: “212 degrees…”The Extra Degree.”  Here is want it is all about:  At 211 degrees water is hot and at 212 degrees it boils.  With boiling water, comes steam and steam can power a locomotive. It’s the One Extra Degree that makes all the difference.

  This is a very simple but very powerful concept, because when you think about it, it’s that one extra degree of effort in business, and in life, that so many times separates the good from the great.

  This made me think of the poem -3 LITTLE WORDS “AND THEN SOME”

“These three little words are the secret to success.  They are the difference between average people and top people in most companies. 
The top people always do what is expected…and then some. 
They are thoughtful of others, they are considerate and kind…and then some.
They meet their responsibilities fairly and squarely…and then some.  
They are good friends and helpful neighbors…and then some.
They can be counted on in an emergency…and then some.
I am thankful for people like this, for they make the world a better place.
Their spirit of service is summed up in these three little words…and then some.”

  All of this made me think of what Jesus asked the disciples, “What do you do more than these?” 
Matthew 5:46-47 “If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others?  Do not even pagans do that?” 
How different are we Christians from the non-christian?   Are we more loving than they?  Are we more forgiving that they?
Are we more charitable, generous than they?   Are we more honest than they?  Are we really different from the non-christian?

  You know, we were called to be different, “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord.”   2 Corinthians 6:17
“For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”  2 Corinthians 6:16     May we really be His people, living like Him

  Let us not be seen just doing what we have to, but doing what’s right…and then some.  May others see us living the Christ like life…and then some.