The Triumph: Jesus Christ is Risen

Jesus Christ Is Risen, Indeed!

The Gospel of John, Chapter 20

1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.

2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the LORD out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.

3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.

4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.

5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.

6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,

7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.

8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.

9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.

10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.

11 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,

12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my LORD, and I know not where they have laid him.

14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.

15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.

16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.

17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the LORD, and that he had spoken these things unto her.

19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the LORD.

21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:

23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.

25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the LORD. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.

26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.

27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God.

29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:

31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

What will you do with Jesus?

A Child of the King

What is Easter About?

A new recent study by the Barna Group shows that a majority of Americans consider Resurrection Sunday (Easter) to be a religious holiday, but a fewer number can identify the resurrection of Jesus as the underlying meaning.

Two out of every three Americans identify the Easter holiday with some type of theistic or religious element. Other responses include describing it as a Christian holiday, a celebration of God or Jesus, a celebration of Passover, a holy day, or a special time to attend church or worship.

Evangelicals (73%) correctly identify Easter as a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus, followed by those who attend churches of 500 or more people (60%), and born again Christians (55%). Republicans and Democrats responded with similar numbers. Republicans agreed (77%) that Easter has a religious meaning, with Democrats at 71%, and those who self-identified as independents, 51%.

Although those polled gave answers that were religious in nature, confusion regarding historical events was evident. For example, single-digit percentages represented many distinct ideas, such as Easter referring to the birth or ‘rebirth’ (!) of Christ, the second coming of Jesus, or Easter as a celebration of spring or a pagan holiday.

While a majority of Americans indicated some type of spiritual connection with Easter, the research also showed that less than half of the respondents directly linked Easter to the Christian belief in the resurrection of Christ. In all, 42% of Americans said that the meaning of Easter was the resurrection of Jesus, or that it signifies Christ’s death and return to life. One out of every 50 adults - only 2% - said that they would describe Easter as the most important celebration of their faith. (I am in that 2%.)

Those American adults who identified themselves as non-religious described Easter in numerous ways, such as getting friends and family together, spring break, a symbol of new beginnings, rebirth, and renewal, or a time to dye and hide eggs for the pleasure of children. 8% of non-religious responders said the holiday means nothing to them or that they do not celebrate the occasion.

It is not exactly a news flash that we have our work cut out for us. All we need to do is take a step outside our own house to find ourselves in a ripe mission field. The widespread lack of knowledge about the meaning is a direct reflection on the church. We are the church. We have not accomplished the task given to us.

Resurrection Sunday gives us the very most rich opportunity to tell others what it stands for. Our primary mission, given to us by Jesus Christ himself, is the great commission - that of telling others that Jesus Christ shed his own blood as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins, and was resurrected, just as we will be.

This is the best possible news. People need to know about the greatest miracle in the history of the entire cosmos. He is Risen!

This is your assignment ... should you choose to accept it.

A Child of the King