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The Glory of the Resurrection of Jesus!

What a glorious morning as we focus our attention on the Man called Jesus of Nazareth.

This man was born as no other! He was born of a virgin!

This man lived as no other! His words were profound, life changing and the revelation of God.

This man did mighty works and miracles like no one ever has. He healed the sick, raised the dead, and multiplied the bread and fish to feed over 5,000 people. Jesus cured the lepers and even controlled the weather. He had power over every demon. Jesus overcame every temptation of Satan himself!

This man died as no other. Jesus died for our sins. Jesus became sin for us.

“For He (God) made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin for us,

that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.’

(2 Corinthians 5:21 in the Holy Bible)

This man Jesus died and was buried!

What a life! What a person! What a man!

What a glorious life. What a sad ending.

Jesus of Nazareth Date 33AD:

“Wait, wait’ comes a cry!

A woman comes rushing up.

“Wait, I saw Jesus! Jesus is Alive!’

“Who are you?

“I am Mary Magdalene. I am from a small town called Magdala beside the Sea of Galilee not far from Capernaum where Jesus spoke and did mighty works for almost three years.

I saw Jesus many times. I saw Him heal the sick and oh, His speaking was like love drops from heaven!

But as for me, I was a sinner. Evil spirits tormented me day and night. I heard Jesus but did not feel worthy to be a follower of Him. Then one day Jesus came directly to me.
Jesus cast out of me seven demons!
I am free! Thank you Jesus! I became one of His followers along with many men and women.
With other women I followed Jesus to Jerusalem . I was there when they crucified Jesus. I helped in burying Jesus. I saw the stone set in place to block the entrance to the tomb.

On the first day of the week I came back with some of the other women. The stone was rolled away and we went into the tomb. The body of Jesus was gone. Inside two men stood in shining clothes. They said to us,
“Why do you seek the living among the dead? “He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.” (Luke 24:5-7 in the Holy Bible)

I stood weeping.
I saw someone standing nearby. I though it was a gardener. I said ‘If you have carried away the body of Jesus let me know where you have laid Him and I will take Him away.
Then the man turned and spoke to me’¦
He said my name “Mary’. Oh, the thrill and joy of Jesus saying my name. I had listened to Him talk so many times. I know His voice. I saw Him. It was Jesus! I fell at His feet and held Him but He told me not to cling to Him.

“For I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them , ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.'” (John 20:17 in the Holy Bible)

Jesus told me to GO! And Tell!
A woman the first witness of the resurrected Christ!

Oh, dear friends the story of Jesus did not end at the cross! Jesus Arose! Jesus Lives! Jesus is Alive! Glory!

“And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,
and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.’ Philippians 2:8-11

“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.’ (Hebrews 12:2 in the Holy Bible)

“People of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know; “Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; “Whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.
Foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. “This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. “Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear. “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” (Acts 2:29-36 Acts 2:22-24)

“Let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.
“This is the ‘stone, which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’
“Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:10-12 in the Holy Bible)

“That is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power
which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,
which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.’ (Ephesians 1:19-23 in the Holy Bible)
Yes, Jesus Has all things ‘under His feet’. He has the power to save you and to set you free from the bondage of sin. Come worship the living Savior!

I remember a man coming to talk to me one time in Asia . He was a Hindu. I explained to him about the life and mission of Jesus. As I was telling him about Christ dying on the cross He was greatly moved. Then I began to tell about how Jesus rose from the grave on the third day. He interrupted me.
“I understand’, he said “Jesus was reincarnated.’ “No’ I explained, “Jesus came back in the same body!

Jesus later in the day after His resurrection showed Himself to the disciples and said “See My hands and my side’.
Jesus came back in the same body! Glory “Wait, wait’! Is that you again ‘Mary’?

“Yes, don’t forget to tell them what happened after the resurrection of Jesus and His appearances for several weeks to the disciples and to many hundreds.’ Jesus ‘ascended’ up into heaven!
A small crowd of people was with Jesus just outside of Jerusalem in Bethany . Then Jesus ascended up and a cloud received Him out of sight! Everyone stood looking up in the sky. Then two men in ‘white apparel’ stood nearby and said,
“Why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.’ (Acts 1 9-11 in the Holy Bible)

I remember carrying the cross in England . As I walked through a market street a lady rushed up to me and said, “What ever happened to that man?’ I said, “Which man’? “Oh, you know, Jesus. There is Christmas and it’s about His birth. Then there is Easter and He died on the cross and was resurrected. I never heard what happened to Him after that.’
Of course I gave her the full message of Jesus about how He ascended and will come again.

In New Zealand one day a woman who was about to commit suicide. She rushed up to me and said ‘I need life’. She found new life in Jesus! So can you. Jesus is living today and ready to come to live in your heart and life.
Just repent and ask Jesus to forgive you and to save you and to come and live in your life.

Just imagine the following story. It is based on the Bible fact that Jesus died on the cross and descended into hell. On the third day Jesus arose and is alive forever more. This is just my little drama of the events:
It is the morning of the third day after Jesus was crucified on the cross and had descended into hell.
Satan and the head demons are standing at the gates of hell. They seem confused and stunned. Something has happened. Let’s listen in for a moment. “What’s wrong Satan? Says a demon.
“Well, I have a feeling I’ve lost something. Let’s see’¦(he reaches into his pockets and gets very anxious)
I have lost my Keys! “We must find them!’ Off to every hot hole of hell the demons go. After looking everywhere they return to the Devil and tell him they have found no keys.
Oh, Satan cries out I have had these keys since the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve sinned. I must have them.
“What keys did you loose?’The demons reply?
“I’ve lost the Keys to Death and to Hell.’
Standing outside the garden tomb on resurrection morning was Jesus!

Smiling!

Jesus raises His Hand and says “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” “I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hell and of Death . (Revelation 1:8,18 in the Holy Bible)

Oh, glory!
Jesus is alive! Resurrection morning!
The vibrations of the rolling stone on the earth and the footsteps of Jesus whisper to the soil’¦
The stone is rolled away, Jesus is alive!
The soil whispers to the roots of the trees’¦
The stone is rolled away, Jesus is alive!

The sap of the trees take the message to the leaves and the leaves whisper to the wind ‘¦
The stone is rolled away, Jesus is alive!
The wind shouts to the clouds and the clouds shout up to the heaven and up in the heaven far into space at the portals of glory the angels and the whole hosts of heaven are leaning forward to hear the sound. At last the message comes!
The stone is rolled away, Jesus is alive!
And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
And have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.”
Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!”
And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!”
(Revelation 5:9-13 in the Holy Bible)

Today I invite you to worship the living Christ now and forever more,

Pilgrim followers of Jesus,

Arthur and Denise Blessitt

Luke 18:1