Study 48
When God cleared His name
Read Mark 16 Verses 1-8
Could it be true?
How amazed these women would have been! Jesus had repeatedly
predicted that he was going to conquer death after 3 days. They had been with Him in his darkest moment. They had seen Him die. Surely it was too much to believe that His words were true, that He would come to life again. After all, death is so final. (Whether we are rich or poor, famous or a nobody, death comes to us all.)
On this quiet Sunday morning these women came to pay their last respects. They are confused that the huge stone covering the entrance of the cave had been moved. As they tentatively step into the cave, instead of the body of Jesus they find a young man sitting down waiting for them. No wonder they were afraid; the man was really an angel!
But this man is there to comfort them with some of the greatest words ever uttered: "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified (who really died). He has risen! He is not here. "
If you want to find Jesus you are not to look in Israel for a grave. You should look for a living person. Listen to what he says himself, "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead and look I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades" (Revelation 1:17,18).
Sacrifice accepted
God raised Jesus from the dead so that we might know that His sacrifice for our sins has been accepted. The bible says that the resurrection is of more importance than anything else (1 Corinthians 15:3,4).
The Christian can now say, "Where O death is your victory? Where O death is your sting? The sting of death is sin and the power of sin is the law (God's rules which we have all broken). But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15: 55-57).
Then comes this beautiful phrase, "tell his disciples and Peter". In other words: I know about Peter denying me, I know about his sin, I know he
feels he's failed me but I have forgiven him. I have died for him and risen again. Especially tell Peter. Imagine how Peter felt when he heard these words!
But the question is, do you know what it feels like to be forgiven and loved by God? How can you? Read Peter's words himself in Acts Chapter 10, verses 34-43.
Have you believed? Have you received forgiveness of sins through His name?
Time to think
- What evidence is there that Jesus rose from the dead?
- How can you know forgiveness?
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