Pastor's Corner 

                                               

                                                 “The Lord Has Really Risen…”

 

I am sure that all around the world, churches were joyfully singing at the top of their lungs the song pinned by John Wesley… Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia! Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia! I pray all of you were able to join in chorus in singing that song at church, if not here, then somewhere yesterday for Easter, the day Christians celebrate the Resurrection of our Risen Lord.  No matter how it is spelled, 'hallelujah', 'halleluyah', 'alleluia' or 'alleluja', the word means “Praise the Lord,” and that is what we should be doing, not just on Easter Sunday, but every day of our lives. For without the Resurrection, we have no hope. 

 

We see in Luke chapter 24 starting in verse 5 “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’”  Often it is asked, even debated on who was responsible for the death of our Savior. If you want to know who’s to blame for the death of Jesus, all you need to do is listen to Peter in Acts 2:22-23. Peter lays the blame right where it belongs: “You men of Israel, here these words. Jesus of Nazareth, a Man approved of God among you by miracles, and wonders, and signs, which God did by Him in the midst of you as you yourselves also know.” It is right there in Scripture… “which God did...”  As John MacArthur clearly puts it: “Who was ultimately responsible for the death of Jesus Christ? It wasn’t the Jews, and it wasn’t the Romans, although they bear guilt for the actual execution and for the sin involved. It was God the Father. God who determined it, God who laid it out, God who planned it. And Jesus in an act of submissive obedience as a son to a father’s will, carried out the eternal plan, laid down His life.”  The purpose of this plan foretold years before His death in Genesis 22:8, “God will provide Himself a Lamb!”  Jesus conquered sin and death and because of that has given all who choose to believe and follow the promise of eternal life.

 

The glorious, best news of all time is that the Lord has really Risen. That is my reason with both hands lifted up to the heavens to shout “Alleluia, my Savior lives!”  And because He lives, I can face another tomorrow!

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Blessings,

Pastor Paul