Walking with JESUS
Week 18
Readings: Matthew 28, Romans 8, 1 Corinthians 12-15
EASTER WORDS
Jesus said: “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19b
HE IS RISEN – HE IS RISEN INDEED ALLELUIA. As a born and raised Lutheran I hear these words each year on Easter morning. This week in my walk with Jesus I think about those Easter words and hear Jesus’ words to His disciples (which by the way include me and you), and cannot help but contemplate – what do those words really mean? Here’s where God has led me…
HE IS RISEN - WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
“If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God.” 1 John 4:15
“But Christ lives in me – the life I live in this body I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave His life for me” Galatians 2:20
“Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” 1 Corinthians 12:27
Reread those realities above. Do you know what that means? When Jesus said, “Surely I am with you always” He meant it – literally. He is with me always - not just as a passive observer in my life, not just walking by my side, but physically and totally IN ME. It means that Jesus is STILL ALIVE, breathing, walking and living in and through those who believe in Him as their Savior from sin. Now I don’t know about you, but I don’t always feel, act, or think very Christ like. But that’s the beauty of it – it’s not about me – it’s about Jesus. If He said it, I can believe it and if I get out of His way – He does indeed live, in me and through me. HE IS RISEN – HE IS RISEN INDEED ALLELUIA.
HE IS RISEN - WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
“If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you” Romans 8:11
“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” 2 Corinthians 4:17
Reread those truths above – contemplate them and let them sink in all the way to your heart. When Jesus said “I am with you to the very end of the age” He meant it – literally. This world we live in is not all there is. Because Jesus was raised from the dead and lives in eternal Glory, we too, by Grace through faith in Christ Jesus as our Savior, shall be raised from the dead and live with Him in eternal Glory. HE IS RISEN – HE IS RISEN INDEED ALLELUIA.
HE IS RISEN - WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
As believers in Jesus Christ as our Savior from sin, we trust those Easter words and we live as Easter people – not just on Easter morning, but always, to the very end of the age.
Prayer: “Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. Ephesians 2:4-5
