10 posts tagged “ressurection”
LETTERS TO THE CHURCHES - Corinthians
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Read 1 Corinthians 15
For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 1 Corinthians 15:22, 26 NIV
* * *
One thing we all have to face is the reality of death. No matter how healthy we are, eventually it will catch up with us. By receiving the free gift Christ has purchased, we have the promise of eternal life, but we will see physical death in this body – unless of course, He returns in our lifetime.
Paul writes, Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed- in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. (15:51-52)
He assures us as believers, that when we die, we will immediately enter His presence clothed with immortality, never to see death again. For when the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."(15:54)
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Lord, thank you for the promise that death is not the end. I will see my loved ones who are already in Heaven and will spend eternity praising You for all You have done for us in this life and the one to come.
* * *
Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58 NIV
NO
[67]
A LAME MAN HEALED
Read Acts 3
Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Acts 3:6 NIV
* * *
After Pentecost the Apostles were granted the gift of healing that Jesus had promised they would have after He went to the Father. When this man began to walk and praise God, the people were astonished because they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. (3:10) Peter said, “Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?” (3:12b)
This was a moment when Peter and John could have taken credit, but instead Peter began to preach a disturbing message: He proclaimed to them, “you killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this…” (3:15)
* * *
Lord, I pray that whatever ministry you accomplish through my life, that I will always give glory to You. Help me to be sensitive to the kind of message that will be received, speaking boldly or gently as the occasion requires. You have promised to give the wisdom I need. Thank You, Lord.
* * *
By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see. (Acts 3:16 NIV)
THOMAS BELIEVES
Read: Luke 24:36–43; John 20:24–31
But he (Thomas) said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it." John 20:25 NIV
* * *
Eight days before this scene, the disciples stared in amazed unbelief. Jesus suddenly appeared, and they thought they were seeing a ghost. Then He asked for something to eat and said, "Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have." (Luke 24:39)
Now Thomas is unconvinced, since he has not yet seen the Lord. When Jesus appeared again, and showed him his hands and side, Thomas exclaimed, "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28) Jesus had been telling His disciples all along that he would rise from the dead, but this was something they couldn't comprehend.
Now Thomas is unconvinced, since he has not yet seen the Lord. When Jesus appeared again, and showed him his hands and side, Thomas exclaimed, "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28) Jesus had been telling His disciples all along that he would rise from the dead, but this was something they couldn't comprehend.
* * *
We have the advantage of the complete Scriptures, explaining how all these things fit together with Old Testament prophesy; yet Lord, there are times I struggle to understand Your plan for us. Perhaps it is just enough to say, "My Lord and my God!"
* * *
Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." John 20:29 NKJV
[63]
MARY MAGDALENE
Read: John 20:1–18
They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?" "They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don't know where they have put him." John 20:13 NIV
* * *
Mary Magdalene was one of the devout women who supplied the needs of Jesus and His disciples throughout His ministry. She had been delivered from demon possession as were others who followed Him.
Mary Magdalene stood at the foot of the cross with Mary, the mother of Jesus and later she came to the tomb to grieve – instead she had an encounter with angels. Then she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, so changed that she did not realize that it was He ─ until He said her name,"Mary." then she turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (20:16)
Mary Magdalene stood at the foot of the cross with Mary, the mother of Jesus and later she came to the tomb to grieve – instead she had an encounter with angels. Then she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, so changed that she did not realize that it was He ─ until He said her name,"Mary." then she turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (20:16)
Mary Magdalene was forgiven much and she loved much. Her life was dedicated to the ministry and to being a friend to other believers. God chose her to be the first one to see her risen Lord.
* * *
Thank You Jesus that You came to set people like Mary free from their sin. Help me to show my love for you by serving other believers.
* * *
Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: "I have seen the Lord!" John 20:18 NIV
[44]
EQUAL WITH GOD
Read John 5:1–23
Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God. John 5:18 NKJV
* * *
This passage in John is one of the strongest proofs that Jesus claimed to be one with the Father. The reason they wanted to kill Him was that He claimed equality with God. He not only said He was able to give life — He demonstrated it by raising people from the dead, and eventually rising from the dead Himself.
* * *
Men and women come to our doors today claiming that they believe in Jesus, but not in the Trinity. They cannot honestly believe in the Jesus of the Bible, without making Him a liar, because He claimed deity for Himself. He was more than a good teacher - He was and is God.
* * *
Lord, help me to give a confident and kind answer to those who come to my door with a false teaching about Jesus. Perhaps some day one of them will be searching for the real Jesus.
* * *
For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it . . . that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him. John 5:21, 23 NIV
JESUS CLEANSES THE TEMPLE
Read: John 2:13–21; Mark 11:15–19
* * *
On these two different occasions–at the beginning and end of His ministry– we are told that Jesus physically exhibited anger. The Jews had turned the temple into a market place, carrying on dishonest business in a house of worship. In anger, Jesus drove the merchants out of His Father's house. The Jews demanded of him, "What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?" Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days." (John 2:18–19) The temple He spoke of was His body, which they would seek to destroy on the cross.
* * *
Although our churches today are not the same as the Jewish temple, we should still honor them as places of worship. Most of all, as believers, we should remember that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit.
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Lord, I want to take good care of the body You have given me and dedicate it for the purpose of glorifying You. Help me to avoid anything that would compromise that purpose.
* * *
After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken. John 2:22 NIV
PENTECOST
Read: Acts 2:1-47
Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. Acts 2:2 NIV
Jesus told His disciples that they would receive power from the Holy Spirit and that they would be witnesses to the world, beginning at Jerusalem. So they waited until the day of the feast of Pentecost when Jerusalem was filled with God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. (Acts 2:5) The people all said, "How is it that each of us hears them in his own native language?" (Acts 2:8)
Peter, who had once fled in fear of the Jews, now stood up in front of the largest crowd of Jews he could possibly imagine, and says, "Jesus of Nazareth was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him." (Acts 2:23-25)
* * *
What a change God's indwelling Spirit had made in this man. Lord, this same Holy Spirit lives in us, please use us to witness to our generation and the one to come.
* * *
The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off-for all whom the Lord our God will call." Acts 2:39 NIV
PROMISE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Read: Acts 1:1-11
He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. Acts 1:3 NKJV
* * *
After forty days of being with Jesus and rejoicing that He was truly alive, the disciples asked Him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" (Acts 1:6) He told them that it was not for them to know the times and dates, "But," He said, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:7-8) Then just as they must have wanted to ask Him many other things, He was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight!
Lord, I can't imagine how alone they must have felt at that moment. We know now, and they knew in just a few days, that they would not be alone. Lord, I praise You that You have given us Your Holy Spirit to guide us. Thank You that Though we cannot see Him, He dwells within us and prays for us according to Your will.
* * *
This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." Acts 1:11 NIV
MARY MAGDALENE
Read: John 20:1-18
They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?" "They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don't know where they have put him." John 20:13
* * *
Mary Magdalene was one of the devout women who supplied the needs of Jesus and His disciples throughout His ministry. She was a woman who had been delivered from demon possession as were others who followed Him. Mary Magdalene stood at the foot of the cross with Mary, the mother of Jesus. Now she came to the tomb to grieve - but instead she had an encounter with angels. Then she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, so changed that she did not realize that it was Jesus. At least until He said her name. She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (John 20:16)
This woman was forgiven much and she loved even more. Her life was dedicated to the ministry and to being a friend to other believers. God chose her to be the first one to see her risen Lord. Thank You Jesus that You came to set people like Mary free from their sin. Thank You that You saved me too.
* * *
Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: "I have seen the Lord!" John 20:18
THOMAS BELIEVES
Read: Luke 24:36-43 & John 20:24-31
Thomas said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it." John 20:25 NIV
* * *
Eight days before this, the disciples had stood in amazed unbelief. Jesus suddenly appeared, and they thought they were seeing a ghost. Then He asked for something to eat and said, "Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have." (Luke 24:39) Now Thomas is unconvinced, since he has not yet seen the Lord. When Jesus appeared again, and showed him his hands and side, Thomas exclaimed, "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28)
Jesus had been telling His disciples all along that he would arise from the dead, but this was something they couldn't comprehend. We have the advantage of the complete Scriptures, explaining how all these things fit together with Old Testament prophesy; yet Lord, there are times I struggle to understand Your plan for us. Perhaps it is just enough to say, "My Lord and my God!"
* * *
Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." John 20:29 NKJV
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