When Jesus was seen after his crucifixion, some have suggested that he never died, but that he was just staying alive between Good Friday and Easter Day.
The New Testament makes it plain that when the Romans crucified people, they ended up completely dead, and were then buried. No one ever just stayed alive!
That is what happened to Jesus. He was dead, but God raised him to new life. All the New Testament writers emphasise that the Jesus who is now alive, never to die again, is the very Jesus who went through the depths of death for us. This makes all the difference!
Thus, the unknown writer of the Letter to the Hebrews opens his closing prayer with 'Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus (Hebrews 13.20)
And the final book in the Bible has this striking reaction from John, as he sees the risen and glorified Jesus. 'When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said,“Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last. I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.' (Revelation 1.17-18)
When we know that the Jesus who walks with us today is also the Jesus who was dead, and who now holds the keys of death and the grave, that tells me that every problem and difficulty that I face today or any day is going to be manageable and will finally be overcome! As we sometimes sing, 'If our God is for us and if our God is with us, then who can stand against'
This makes all the difference to how we face today's challenges!
Best wishes,
Best wishes,
Richard
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