The Power of a Living God

I love the story of the cross and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and I am honored to be sharing some of it with you today and we can reflect on Easter weekend.

Early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary
Magdalene, came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from
the entrance. She ran and found Simon Peter and other disciple, the one whom
Jesus loved. She said, “They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and we
don’t know where they put Him.”    John 20:1-2

Ever been to a grave yard? Can you picture this scene?

Mary going to the tomb and sees that the stone is rolled
away and she thinks He is taken. Who would take the body? Why would she even
think this?

It was thought at the time that Jesus body would be taken so
they could disprove Christianity and all Jesus had said during His ministry.

It’s funny how 2000 years later those same thoughts and
actions are trying to disprove a living God.

I found the caption under this picture of the garden tomb to
be quite amusing. It said “It was empty. We went inside and checked.”

Why had Mary found the tomb to be empty? It was not that His
body was taken. John continues on telling us that He and Peter went to the tomb
and found His linens lying neatly wrapped and laying where His body was.

In a James MacDonald sermon I recently heard, He asked a
funny question. He said, “If His body was taken, would the robbers have taken
the time to neatly fold up the linens that were covering His body and lay them
down and then escape with His body?”  Also, Jesus’
tomb was also guarded by Roman soldiers.

Jesus had not been taken; He was raised on the third day,
just as He had told them on several occasions.

How do we know this is true and can His resurrection have
anything to do with me?

First, Jesus stood with Mary in the garden and comforts her
in her distress as she was standing outside the tomb crying.  He talks to her gently and says, “Mary, why
are you crying? Who are you looking for?” She cries on in her distress, and He
simply calls her by name, and she recognizes Him.

Do you need comforted in your situation right now?

Next, He appears in the midst of the disciples, as they were
hiding out in a locked room. They were afraid of the Jewish leaders who had
Jesus crucified. Jesus’ first words to them were, “Peace be with you.” This was
not just a generic overused saying. Jesus wanted them to have Peace in the
midst of their fears.  He was standing
among them so they would know that only He would be able to give it to them.

Do you need a little Peace in the midst of your fears?

Next, Jesus appeared to Thomas, who doubted Jesus was real.
Jesus understood Thomas’s doubt. He didn’t rebuke Thomas. He reached out to
Thomas, showed him His wound, and allowed Thomas to touch His hands so his
doubts could be answered. Then He said to Thomas, “Believe.” And he did.

Do you have doubts?

Jesus continued to walk and talk with people for 40 days
after He was raised from the dead.

Witness after witness can attest to a living God.

Do you have doubts? Do you have fears? Do you need comforted
in the midst of your situation?

God doesn’t guarantee
a life free of problems. With Him, He offers us hope and peace in the midst of
our problems. Don’t wait until you are free of lives problems to come to
Christ. Come as you are. There is awesome power in the Resurrection of Christ. He is waiting for you right now to answer His call and
bring your life to Him.

Christ conquered death! Christ conquered the grave! Do you believe He can conquer whatever you are facing right now?  

I will be praying for you this week to turn your life over
to Christ.  

He said it to Thomas 2000
years ago and He says it to you today, BELIEVE!

I have changed the comments section to hopefully make it easier
to share. Please take a few moments to share how the power of Christ is working
in your life today.

You can also share your doubts, your fears, or areas that
you need comfort so we can pray with you.

May God Bless you and bring you to a new place this week.

To further read the details of this story read John 20 and
21