Words of

Hope
The Resurrection
Gives Rays of Hope



 

 





Words of Hope



Words

of

Hope



By Dr. Jon Wilson


The Resurrection


Gives Rays of Hope


Good Friday had come and gone. Jesus was dead. The disciples huddled together behind locked doors. They were fearful and depressed. Their future seemed in dismay and their dreams crumbled to dust. The leader, to whom they committed their lives, had been brutally crucified on a Roman cross.


When the 4,000-pound stone thundered across the door of the tomb and dropped into place, it also crashed through the corridors of the disciples’ minds, demolishing all their hopes and dreams.


In black despair, blind confusion and shattering disillusionment, the followers of Jesus scattered across the country in hopeless frustration.


Within a few weeks, everything changed. The scattered, disillusioned followers came back together with renewed hope. Gone was the gloom and depression, having been replaced with confidence, joy and purpose. In a short time, these hunted and frightened fugitives became flaming missionaries and willing martyrs, ready to lay down their lives rather than deny the truth of His risen presence and transforming power.


Obviously, something incredibly significant and life-changing happened. What was it?


It certainly wasn’t because any of them had seen Jesus burst through the stone door in a blaze of glory. It wasn’t simply because His body disappeared. True, it vanished, but there could be numerous explanations for that. Certainly it wasn’t simply because the tomb was empty; after all, there’s no power in a vacuum.


The life-changing fact was that the same Jesus who had been crucified on Friday afternoon was alive on Sunday. The disciples were changed not by the absence of a body, but by the presence of a living Christ. For almost six weeks Jesus appeared to a person here, two or three there, to a group, a crowd. He was seen in numerous locations by hundreds of people and in every encounter He radiated a tremendous self-authenticating power.


Let me suggest to you several ways that the Resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter bring an "electric hope" into the life of anyone who considers them seriously.


•The Resurrection promises life beyond this world. Life does not end with physical death. Jesus said that He’s going on ahead to prepare a place for us in eternal life.


•The Resurrection promises new bodies. The Resurrection of Jesus did exactly what He wanted it to do. It was free of space, time and energy limitations.


•The Resurrection promises we will be reunited with loved ones. Christians need not be bogged down with sorrow as are those who have no hope. We will miss our loved ones, but we have confidence that the separation is only for a brief time in light of eternity.


•The Resurrection promises an infinite progression of knowledge. We won’t be sitting on clouds playing harps, we’ll be using the "other 90 percent" of our intellectual capacities—for then we shall "know in full."


•The Resurrection promises no more pain and sorrow. Heaven will be pure joy, lots of hellos, no pain, no goodbyes, no death and no sorrow. Just joy.


•The Resurrection promises no more sin and corruption, no anger, tempers, pride, lying or cheating; only perfect peace and love.


•The Resurrection promises forgiveness. You and I cannot forgive each other, anymore than two kids in a mud puddle can clean one another. They need someone clean; someone spotless. That’s why we need a savior


•The Resurrection promises us a family. Out of the encounter with the risen Christ came a new family called the church. No matter where we are in the world, we can always find a family of loving, supportive and caring people who have also encountered the risen Christ.


•The Resurrection promises us the strength and comfort of his presence. The last words of the resurrected Christ were, "Lo, I am with you always …"


I don’t know about you, but my faith and hope isn’t based on a good man who dies a martyr’s death. My faith and hope are based on a risen Lord, whose Resurrection has changed my life by bringing into it meaning and purpose, and who walks with me today as an intimate friend and companion.

I hope this Easter you will attend a church that truly celebrates the Resurrection. You’re more than welcome at Canoga Park Presbyterian. I’ll be preaching on "From Mourning to Dancing."


Dr. Jon Wilson (D-Min.) lives in Calabasas and is senior pastor of Canoga Park Presbyterian Church, 22103 Vanowen.


Hear him speak on Sundays at the 9:30 a.m. service or contact him at Jonwclergy@aol.com. or call the church office at (818) 883-3510.






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