THE TRIUMPH OF THE EMPTY TOMB!

Luke 24:5-6 NLT 

The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. 

Then the men asked, 

“Why are you looking among the dead 

for someone who is alive? 

He isn’t here! 

He is risen from the dead! …

For the disciples and Jesus the week leading up to the Resurrection was a story of temptation, trial and trauma but finally of absolute triumph. 

The Crisis of the Cross became the Triumph of the Empty Tomb!

Sometimes our lives reflect that week. Those times of trials and being tempted to make a wrong choice; when trauma may suddenly hit the family and we’re confused and can’t understand it all. A bit like the disciples probably felt when they woke up early on Sunday morning and pulled the sheets up over their heads, not wanting to face the day alone without The Master, not knowing God had already done the impossible!

They had no idea of the joy still to come, no idea of the victory that was already unfolding because they were only part way through, and they didn’t know the end from the beginning. But God did!

We can take such hope from it all because we’re this side of the Cross and the Resurrection and we have a certain hope beyond all hopes.😊 We are on the victory side and when we’re tempted to look at our story when it’s only part way through, God keeps reminding us we can look at the Resurrection and know Jesus has given us His victory, that joy is on it’s way and give God all the thanks and praise for all He is doing, and all He has done.

Romans 12:2 NKJV looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. That’s a picture of victory! 

When we see the upsets in the world let’s not forget to keep looking to Jesus because there is always hope in Him. It’s all about Jesus and He is now sat down at God’s right hand, in victory! 

We can join together and celebrate and shout for joy today because we have a Saviour, a Redeemer and He has given us hope beyond all expectation. He has made a way back to His Father. 

Christ is Risen indeed! Hallelujah! Thank You Jesus. Amen.

Be blessed this Easter Day.x😊

Photo by Jonny Gios on Unsplash

HALF THE STORY

Luke 23:48 NLT And when all the crowd that came to see the crucifixion saw what had happened, they went home in deep sorrow.

Friday had come and gone and the hopes and dreams of the disciples seemed to have gone with it. They were broken hearted. The future they had expected and trained for, for the past three years, appeared to have come to nothing. They had ridden high on miracles, crested the waves of storms and seen Jesus walk on water, and now the One they loved had gone.

Even the dead were raised and nothing had seemed impossible, the world was their oyster, but then so-called reality hit hard. It looked as though it had all been for nothing, as though it had been false hopes and dreams and they were disillusioned, disappointed, disheartened and depressed! Things looked bad!

Ever been there? Ever had everything fall apart? If so, you will know how they felt but when we feel like that we’re only seeing half the story, looking at it from man’s point of view, when all the while God was, and is, working mightily behind the scenes.

That Saturday morning Jesus was no longer on earth but He was busy conquering every demon in hell and taking the keys of death and hell off the devil himself once and for all.

In the same way, when we see things in our lives that look hopeless, and we’re maybe feeling brokenhearted or depressed, we need to know this, Jesus is working mightily behind the scenes in our lives too!😊

Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever and He has promised to turn things around for good, to those who love the Lord.(Romans 8:28) Now that’s a promise and it’s waiting for us to stop focusing on the problem, and only seeing half the story, and instead starting to declare the promises of God in faith.

Sunday is on the way. Resurrection is on the way. Turn around is on the way, so the Holy Spirit is encouraging us to reach out in faith to believe it, receive it and take it. And let’s not forget to thank Him for it in advance.😊 In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Photo by Christian Agbede on Unsplash