Topic: Risen Forever [Saturday April 15, 2017]
Text: John 20:1-10
Key Verse: “Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him” (John 20:2).
Christ’s resurrection from the dead is a cardinal and fundamental teaching of the Christian faith. It is the hope of Christians that there is life after life. “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable” (1 Corinthians 15:19). Both death and grave could not hold Jesus Christ from resurrecting. Today’s text explains vividly the visit of Mary Magdalene and two other disciples to the sepulchre only to discover that the tomb was empty.
Mary Magdalene, having found the stone taken away, went back to Peter and John saying, “they have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.” The grave was empty, and the grave clothes left behind. If the enemies of Jesus took His body, they would have displayed it for all to see. If the disciples stole the body, they would not be looking for it. The empty tomb clearly reveals that Christ rose and that He is the Son of God and the Saviour of the world. When we are made alive from the deadness of sin, we must leave behind all the vestures of the corrupt old life and put on the true righteousness Christ imparts.
Despite Christ’s victory over the grave, many people still refuse to believe in a final resurrection for all human beings. The Bible clearly teaches that there is life after death. The body will die but the soul and spirit will live on. There will be two types of resurrection though; the first resurrection of life in heaven and the second of endless suffering in hell. Obviously, the disciples had forgotten the prophecy of their Master’s crucifixion, death, burial and resurrection.
They were used to seeing death and burial alone, with an entrenched mindset against bodily resurrection. Alas, the Lord rose from the dead to cancel that. This simply signifies God can turn an impossible case around for His glory. To qualify for the first resurrection, you must be born again, live a consistent and victorious Christian life and be ready for the rapture of all saints.
Thought for the day: He who dies in Christ will live forever with Him.
Bible Reading in one Year: Joshua 8-10
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
