He Lives!

The darkest day that ever dawned for the followers of Christ was the day that Jesus was crucified. For thirty-three years He traveled the pathways of this world doing only good! He was severely tempted by Satan, but He had victory over every temptation. What a wonderful example he left for us. Wherever He went He had compassion on the poor, the sick, and the hungry. He opened the eyes of the blind, restored hearing to the deaf, gave new strength to the crippled, and even raised some who were already deceased. He was the embodiment of everything that is good and noble!
He preached the world’s greatest sermons, but many things He said rebuked the selfish and prideful lives of many of the religious leaders of His day. He exposed their hypocrisy, and they resented it to the point that they had Him crucified. On the surface it looked as though they were the victors. His followers were crushed! They truly loved and trusted Him. They were convinced that He had come to set up His Kingdom, which He had, but they had expected an earthly kingdom rather than a spiritual one. Now their hopes and dreams were dead. Praise God the story doesn’t end there. As one minister said: “It’s Friday, Sunday’s a comin! Sunday’s a comin!” On the first day of the week Jesus had conquered death and the grave and came back to live forever!

The empty tomb is a compelling image, but what convinced the disciples that Jesus was resurrected was not the empty tomb, it was the fact that they experienced the real presence of Jesus! Jesus lives where His children are in need or in trouble. Didn’t He promise before He returned to heaven: “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20)? When a Christian goes down into the valley he is not alone, Jesus is there with him. A World War II veteran shared with me that he had a praying mother at home, and as men were dying all around him he was spared. His company was under a severe attack, and they sought refuge in an empty building. He suddenly had the strong impression to leave the place where he was standing and go to the other side of the room. Just as he went, the exact spot where he had been standing was struck. Had he not heeded this inner urging he would have been killed. Jesus lives where His children are going through trials!

 Jesus lives at the place of prayer! In the hymn “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” Joseph M. Scriven penned the beautiful words:”O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.”  A sister who was on her way to major surgery and had been quite anxious about it, after praying and knowing that other believers were praying for her, shared that on the way to the operating room she sensed such peace and felt as though Jesus was walking beside her. The living Christ walks with us when we walk the path of Christian duty. On the first day of the week after the crucifixion, the women who went to the tomb where Christ had been buried saw an angel who said to them: "I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, just as He said... Then go quickly and tell His disciples [the good news]" (Matthew 28:5-7 NIV). As the women ran, afraid, yet filled with joy to tell the good news, Jesus met them; they fell down at His feet and worshiped Him. When we walk the pathway of duty, spreading the good news of our risen Savior, He will fill our hearts with real joy!

I serve a risen Savior, He’s in the world today;
I know that He is living, whatever foes may say;
I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer,
And just the time I need Him, He’s always near.
He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me along the narrow way.
He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart!
 Alfred H. Ackley

Arthur Lange, 

Vernon, BC