RESURRECTION SUNDAY

PROCLAMATION

 “He is not here; for He is risen, as He said.  Come see the place where The Lord lay.”  Matthew 28:6 (KJV)

EXPLANATION

These words were recorded under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by the apostle Matthew.  When Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, the mother of James, arrived at the tomb where the body of Jesus had been placed, they encountered an angel who was sitting on the rock which had sealed the door of the tomb. (Matthew 28:2)  The angel told them that he knew that they were looking for Jesus, who had been crucified, but He was not there. (Matthew 28:5-6)  The angel said, “He is not here; He is risen, as He said.” (Matthew 28:6)  The angel 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 into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.”  Then they remembered. (Luke 24:1-8)

APPLICATION

Each of the four gospels gives an account of the post crucifixion resurrection of Jesus, The Christ. (Matthew 28:6, Mark 16:6, Luke 24:6, and John 20:11-12)  Belief in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ is essential for salvation of our lost soul. (Romans 10:9)  There are recorded witnesses to His death on the cross and the placing of His body in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea.  There are also many witnesses to His resurrection.  He appeared first to Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9 and John 20:14-18), then to two of His disciples as they walked towards the village called Emmaus. (Mark 16:12 and Luke 24:13-32)  He appeared to His disciples in the upper room as they ate without Thomas, (Mark 16:14, Luke 24:35-51, and John 20:19-22) and again in the upper room with Thomas present. (John 20:26-29)  He also appeared to His disciples at the sea of Tiberias. (John 21:1-14)  For forty days after His resurrection (Acts 1:3) Jesus appeared to His disciples, spoke to them, and at times He ate with them.  His disciples witnessed His ascension to heaven from a mountain in Galilee. (Matthew 28:16-17 and Acts 1:9)  The resurrection happened and there are multiple witnesses to verify it.  His crucifixion was predicted more than four hundred years earlier by the prophet Isaiah. (Isaiah 53:5-12)  The only thing left for us to do today is to accept or reject the account of the resurrection of Christ as it is presented in The Bible, The Holy Word of God.  He is risen.  Have a blessed and happy celebration of the resurrection of Jesus, The Christ.

THE CELEBRATION OF THE PASSOVER

PROCLAMATION

“The Israelites who were present celebrated the Passover at that time and observed the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days.”  2 Chronicles 35:17 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

After consulting with the high priest, Josiah called all of the elders of Judah and Jerusalem together in the temple and read to them all of the words of The Book of Covenant.  Then he renewed the covenant with The Lord God, to keep His commands, statutes, and decrees, and he had all the people pledge to do likewise. (2 Chronicles 34:29-32)  Afterwards he had all the people celebrate the Passover in Jerusalem and observe the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days. (2 Chronicles 35:1-17)  This celebration was done exactly according to the law, and it was done at King Josiah’s expense from his personal possessions. (2 Chronicles 35:7)

APPLICATION

This is the week of the Jewish celebration of the Passover.  This celebration closely resembles the Christian observance of The Lord’s Supper or Holy Communion.  These celebrations are symbolic of the death of Christ, and they are symbols of a believer’s personal piety and devotion to Him. (1 Corinthians 11:26)  As Resurrection Sunday approaches and we celebrate the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, we should each examine ourselves, and ask for forgiveness of our sins before we partake of this sacred ordinance.  It would not be wise to take this celebration lightly. (1 Corinthians 11:29-30)

HE IS RISEN DO YOU BELIEVE IT

Proclamation:

“As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.  ‘Don’t be alarmed,’ he said.  ‘You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified.  He has risen!  He is not here.  See the place where they laid Him.’”  Mark 16:5-6 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by Mark as he received it from the apostle Peter.  Mark begins this sixteenth and final chapter describing the events which occurred after the resurrection of Jesus, The Christ.  The women who went to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus were afraid and alarmed at what the saw. (Mark 16:1-8)  After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene who did not recognize Him at first, (Mark 16:9-11 and John 20:11-18) but when she did, she went and told the disciples who did not believe her.  Jesus later appeared the disciples while they were eating and He rebuked them for their lack of faith and disbelief. (Mark 16:14)  Jesus told Thomas, who said that he would not believe it unless he saw for himself and touched the nail prints in His hands, (John 20:25) because you have seen you have believed, “Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” (John 20:29)

Application:

The basis of our Christian faith is the belief in the birth, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, The Christ.  He predicted His death and resurrection and told His disciples several times beforehand. (Matthew 17:22-23, Mark 9:31, Mark 10:33, and Luke 24:7)  They did not believe until He appeared to them after His resurrection and they saw Him for themselves.  Jesus said blessed are those of us who believe in Him and His resurrection without having seen Him. (John 20:29)  He rose from the dead on the third day just as He said that He would do. (Matthew 12:40)  The question is: “Do you believe?”

THERE IS ONLY ONE TRUE GOSPEL THE GOSPEL OF JESUS THE CHRIST

Proclamation:

“As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!”  Galatians 1:9 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written by the apostle Paul, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, to the believers in the church at Galatia.  After the opening greeting in his letter to these believers, Paul states that any other gospel other than the gospel of Jesus Christ, and Him crucified and risen, is no gospel at all. (Galatians 1:6-7)  He said that if the apostles, or angels, or anybody else should preach anything else to them, let them be under God’s curse. (Galatians 1:8-9)  Then Paul goes on to tell them that he was called of God to preach to them and he briefly presents his background. (Galatians 1:11-24)

Application:

Worldly people will present all manner of doctrine and beliefs to us in the name of their religion or philosophy.  However, if they present anything other than the birth, life, teachings, crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, The Christ, we should not put any faith in it.  Any other “gospel” is not really the gospel at all.  The Lord God will deal with all of those false prophets.  We need to read, study, and live The Holy Word of God in order to make sure that we recognize false teachings and errors when they are presented to us.  Remember that Satan was an angel and he was kicked out of heaven along with one third of the angels in heaven who followed him. (Luke 10:18 and Revelation 12:9)  There is only one way for us to be saved and that is through belief in Jesus, The Christ. (John 3:16, Acts 4:12, and Romans 10:9)  Jesus said, “I am the way … no man cometh unto The Father, but by Me.” (John 14:6)  To God be the glory!!!

THE MESSAGE OF THE CROSS IS THE LOVE AND POWER OF GOD

Proclamation:

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.  1 Corinthians 1:18 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written by the apostle Paul, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  Paul had heard that there was disagreement and division between the believers in the church at Corinth based upon which leader they were following. (1 Corinthian 1:10-12)  His message to them was that they should on one accord.  Christ was not divided.  They should focus on the message of the cross.  He said that the world may think that the message of the cross is foolishness, but those who are saved know that it is the power of God.

Application:

The cross symbolizes the crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.  It divides mankind into two groups, believers who are saved and non-believers who are not saved.  The message of the cross should not divide saved people, it should unite them.  “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believed in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)  It was out of His love for us and His obedience to God, The Father, that Christ stayed on the cross. (Matthew 26:42 and Luke 22:42)  The fear and reverence of The Lord is the beginning of wisdom. (Psalms 111:10 and Proverbs 9:10)  Those of us, whom God has called to believe, know that all power and wisdom come from God. (1 Corinthians 1:24-25)  As we think about whom we are, what we have done, and what we have become, we know that all of it is due to the blessings from God. (1 Corinthians 1:26-31)  To God be the glory!!!