Jesus Came to Give You Life

Lenten Journey 2024 | Easter Sunday | Resurrection Sunday | Jesus Christ | Christianity

Mar 31, 2024

Featured image credit: Free Christian Wallpapers

The series:

Christ Is Risen!

Hey, dear readers! Happy Easter!

Happy and blessed Resurrection Sunday!!!!

Before today’s reading, I want to share my favorite Easter/Resurrection song with you through this YouTube video. I didn’t know these artists personally but we grew up only a few miles away from each other during the Jesus People movement, and we’re around similar ages. Yea, I old, LOL.

Turn the volume way up. Enjoy!

2nd Chapter of Acts - The Easter Song (1974)

And, if you’d like to read more about the resurrection of Jesus Christ, here’s my two-part Easter 2023 series:

Christ Has Risen! (Part 1)
It Is Accomplished (Part 2)

Resurrection Sunday 2024

Readings

This Sunday’s readings, according to one liturgical Church Calendar, are the following verses for the First Reading, a Psalm, an Epistle, and the Gospel. Here are the links for you to read as you have time this week:
[URLs to go Biblegateway.com - version is the ESV]

For this post, we’ll briefly examine verses from 1 Corinthians and the Gospel of Mark.

He Is Risen, Indeed!

Jesus not only came to be sin for us, and to die our death, He came to give us who believe in Him and pledge our loyalty to Him even more: Abundant life. His eternal life. In Him we are new creations: New wine poured into new wineskins.

And, after Father God raised the unique Son of God from the dead, Jesus didn’t just head on home immediately. He hung around for 40 days to make sure His disciples got the New Life message (disciples = the 11 apostles plus those who also followed Jesus).

For 40 days. Hmm. Remember Satan tempting Jesus in the wilderness after our Lord had fasted for 40 days? Read my post about this to refresh your memory. Well, after His resurrection, Jesus hung around for 40 days ministering to His beloved ones. I can’t help but imagine how freaked out Satan and the unseen evil ones were not only at Jesus’ resurrection but also during His 40 days of ministry before His ascension. What a surprise to them, especially after they mocked and tormented Him while He was on the cross [see my Bulls of Bashan post].

Five Hundred Brothers

1 Corinthians 15:6 (ESV)
⁶Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.

I’ve always loved this verse for it blows apart all the lies the enemy disperses through humans, even to our present day:

“Jesus didn’t exist.”
“Jesus didn’t die on the cross; he fainted.” (Islam)
“Jesus’ disciples rolled away the stone and stole his body.”

Yeah. Right.

Try and tell that to the 500 brothers who saw and heard the resurrected Jesus.

Acts 1:1-3 (ESV)
¹ In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, ²until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. ³He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
[Emphasis in bold is mine]

For 40 days, Jesus spoke about God’s kingdom to His beloved ones. And, I’m guessing He did so in earnest, knowing He would go to the Father soon. Imagining this gives me great confidence in the reliability of the four Gospels.

And Peter

Mark 16:7 (ESV)
⁷But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.”

Jesus specifically mentioned Peter, the apostle who denied Jesus three times. Imagine the look on Peter’s face when he heard those words, words of restoration.

Where are you in your walk with Jesus? No matter whether you are a:

Seasoned saint
Backslidden believer
Not-yet believer

Know this: Jesus calls you by your name…your name…to let you know that He sees you, He cares about you, and He knows all about you. He knows your doubts and your fears, your weaknesses in faith, in belief, as well as your strengths.

No matter where you are spiritually, He calls you by your name, inviting you daily to go to Him, walk with Him, and—like His disciples—live and die for Him.

He’s the resurrected King of kings and Lord of lords. He’s the ruler of the world, and He reigns over all spiritual rulers, principalities, powers, and authorities in the unseen realm. He has the victory over all the rebellious evil ones.

This Resurrection Sunday, get quiet and listen. Hear Jesus calling you to Himself.

Now, go and follow Him daily until He takes you home.

Maranatha, come Lord Jesus.

Soli Deo Gloria!

If you’re a not-yet follower of Jesus Christ, please come along on this journey with us. You are welcome here.

And, I invite you to read my series on the book “What Does God Want?”.

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James Mangano

Mar 31

He is alive!

"And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.

But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died." 1 Corinthians 15:17-20 NLT

A simple prayer. "Our hope."

Father in Heaven above, thank You for making our faith in Christ JESUS a fact. Our hope for a better future truly extends beyond this life. Now, it reaches into eternity because Christ the LORD has been raised and is alive. Yes, He has risen!

Night Owl Christian