He is Risen!!!
John 20:1-18
The gospel of John gives an interesting narative of what happened on the first easter morning. Mary arrives at the tomb and finds it wide open! Distraught, she goes to inform the disciples, of which Peter and John hurry out to the tomb. We are told that John out ran Peter but on getting to the tomb, only peered in to see. Peter arriving later, goes straight into the tomb and there he sees the linen and the head cloth carefully folded and laid apart. Both men then leave the tomb and return home. Mary however, stayed back. Peering again into the tomb, she sees two angels sitting in there. Turning back out, she encounters the risen Lord!!!
The experiences of these three people reminds me of how easy it is to miss an encounter with the Lord. Sometimes we can be over excited and miss the details like John. Sometimes we are just not patient enough, like Peter. But if we, like Mary stay on, then the master will show himself to us and what an encounter that will be!!!
His Exceeding Great Power
Ephesians 1:19-20 KJV
And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, [20] Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places ,
Ephesians 1:19-20 Message
Oh the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him – endless energy, boundless strength! All this energy issues from Christ: God raised him from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven
Ephesians 1:19-20 ESV
And what is that immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in heavenly places,
Romans 8:32 KJV
He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
The forgoing scriptures help us to see how lavish our God is. He does not hold back his resources when He deals with us. In purchasing our salvation while we were yet sinners, He did not spare. He gave his best. He gave His son. And now that we believe, He still lavishes His power towards us immesurably great. He still does not spare.
It is this exceeding great power that should give us a confident assurance in His promises and claims. 1 John 5:13-14 KJV
These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. [14] And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
He will give us all things because He has the power. He has delivered us because He has the power. He has healed us because He has the power. He has saved us because He has the power. Since hell and the grave and all the evil forces could not stop the power of God from raising Christ from the dead, they can’t stop His power from working towards you because you believe.
This thought makes me want to jump and shout but, before that I realise I must repent of the way I have lived as though his power was weak and I must ask for this truth to be engraved deep in my heart for it is truly an awesome, awesome truth.
Selah
Toeying's Place 