Recommended reading

Recommended reading

I am following a reading guide that is in the back of the Jesus Centered bible that My wife Mary bought for us. Yesterday’s reading was Matthew 28, the last chapter of Matthews Gospel. Today’s reading is the last chapter of Luke, chapter 24. Both of these cover the same period of Jesus’ existence. I almost said Jesus’ life there but they start out with ladies coming to prepare a dead body, Jesus’ body. But when these ladies arrive at the tomb, they see 3 things. The first thing that they see is the stone rolled away. The tomb that Jesus ‘ body was laid in 3 days earlier had been carved out of rock and the door to the tomb was a huge round stone that had been rolled into place. The stone was rolled away. The next thing they saw was angels. The angels asked them, “why do you seek the living, among the dead?”

Next they stated a truth that has changed not only the world but changed eternity, “He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.”’

Luke 24:6-7 – NLT the third thing those women saw was an empty tomb.

The very last part of this story wasn’t some thing they saw but some one. The women who had come to the tomb to anoint a corpse instead were the first humans to see our resurrected savior Jesus!

I post a lot about Jesus dying. It is a very important truth that Jesus died. He was dead, all that was left of him was a corpse and that corpse had been lain to rest in a stone tomb. He was a great man, a great teacher, a sinless man. He was perfect. And he was killed. That death was very important because that death paid for every single sin mankind will ever commit. Jesus died. Good men die all the time. But Jesus is different from all the other good men that died in that he didn’t stay dead. All the other good men who died decayed and turned back into dust but Jesus, because he wasn’t just a man, he was and is the God/Man. Fully man, fully God. He rose from the grave. We don’t mourn his death and visit his grave, we celebrate his resurrection and marvel at his empty tomb!

I am writing this on 4/02/2020. We are in the midst of a pandemic. I have been pondering what this pandemic might mean and where it puts us on Gods timeline but every time I talk to people who are are smarter than me about this they remind me that no matter where we are on that timeline, how close or far from the end we are, it does not not change the message or the mission of Jesus’ followers.

Matthew 28 holds that mission and message, the verses have been called the great commission. Here is what Jesus said to us:

“Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”’

Matthew 28:18-20 – NLT

We his followers have the very great and very important task of telling the world about our savior. Not ours as in “I’ve got a savior and you don’t!” But our savior, as in he died for us all, every human that draws breath, he died that all of us on this planet might have our sins gently and graciously washed away. We have that task. The last time it was counted 31% of the world has heard and believes this truth. 1 out of every 3 people. Can we his followers grow that number?

If you would like to become a follower of Jesus you can right here and right now, today.

Pray this simple prayer:

Jesus I confess that I am not perfect, I am a sinner, Jesus I believe that you lived, died and rose again and that your death pays for all of my sins. I believe that you rose from the dead and now live forever. Wash me clean Jesus. I love you Jesus, thank you for all that you have done for me.

If you prayed this prayer please contact me in the comments below. Thank you. Welcome to the family!❤️