Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
I want to begin by sharing that on Sunday morning I was blessed to baptize my grandson, Sutton. He asked Jesus into his heart and wanted me to baptize him. In fact he told his Nana on Sunday morning that he wanted her to take his picture of his old self and then afterwards take a picture of his new self. It was awesome!
This past Friday night we met and remembered the darkness of the day that Christ died. It was a very solemn time as we experienced the moments leading up to His death and burial. On Sunday morning we focused on the grave where He was laid and was now empty and Jesus was alive forevermore. His life goes beyond just rising from the grave and reaches out for all eternity to those who believe and accept Him as Lord and Savior.
Our Lord Jesus gave His life on Calvary, was laid in a tomb and on the third day arose victorious over death, hell and the grave. In Matthew 28:5b-6, the angel told the women – “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. 6 He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He was lying.”
We know that Jesus had come for a purpose that would change lives. In John 3:16 Jesus said – “For God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” Paul wrote in Romans 5:8 – “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
While Christ died for us, He arose from the grave and is alive! In Romans 10:9-10 tells us what must be done. He said – ‘that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; 10 for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.’ He will give life to all those that will confess their sins and believe.
It is because He gave His life on the cross and rose from the grave that we can have life everlasting. It is a matter of us believing in what God has done through Christ and that He is still living within us.
Bill and Gloria Gaither wrote a song that says it so well. It tells the story of Jesus death and His resurrection. But it goes on to tell of how in life we can trust in God and the victory over death. Then it goes on to tell of the final battle of death leading to victory. It’s Because He Lives.
Verse one says – “God sent His son, they called Him Jesus; He came to love, heal and forgive; He lived and died to buy my pardon, An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives!”
The second verse says – “How sweet to hold a newborn baby, And feel the pride and joy he gives; But greater still the calm assurance: This child can face uncertain days because He Lives!”
The third verse says – “And then one day, I’ll cross the river, I’ll fight life’s final war with pain; And then, as death gives way to victory, I’ll see the lights of glory and I’ll know He lives!”
The chorus shares the hope of our Risen Lord. “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow, Because He lives, all fear is gone; Because I know He holds the future, And life is worth the living, Just because He lives!”
The darkness of the day Christ died was great, yet the grave could not hold Him and He arose victorious over death. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. One day He will return and call all those home to heaven that have trusted Him as their Savior. It’s all Because He Lives!
JESUS, JESUS, JESUS, there IS something about that name!!
Christ only, always,
Bro. Paul
Brother Paul Nachtigall is the preacher at Highland Baptist Church. He can be reached at bropaul@centramedia.net.
