Pearls of Wisdom 03-31-2013

Up From The Grave He Arose, The Resurrection of Jesus

Matthew 28:1-20; Mark 16:1-20; Luke 24:1-53; John 20:1-31, 221:1-25

When the Sabbath was past, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the sepulcher.  They had brought sweet spices that they might anoint Him.  They said among themselves:  “Who shall roll away the stone from the door of the sepulcher?’  There was a great earthquake, and an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.  The angel said to the women:  “Fear not; for I know that you seek Jesus, Who was crucified.  He is not here; for HE IS RISEN, as He said.  Come, see the place where the Lord lay.  And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goes before you into Galilee; there you shall see Him; lo, I have told you.”

They departed quickly with fear and great joy and ran to bring His disciples word of His resurrection.  As they went, Jesus met them, saying, “All Hail.”  They came and worshipped Him.  Then He said to them:  “Don’t be afraid; go tell my brethren to go into Galilee, and there they will see Me.”

Some of the guards who saw all these things, went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had occurred.  The priests gave money to the soldiers and told them to say that His disciples came by night and stole Him away while the soldiers slept.

When Jesus had risen, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene.  When she went to tell the disciples that He was alive, they did not believe her.  He also appeared to two others, as they walked, and went into the country.  When they told the others, neither did they believe.

Afterward, when Jesus appeared to the eleven as they sat at meat, He reproved them for their unbelief and their hardness of heart because they had refused to believe those who had seen Him after he had risen.

The 11 disciples went into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.  When they saw Him, they worshipped Him, but some doubted.  Jesus approached them, breaking the silence and said to them:  “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.  Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything that I have told you.  Behold, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”

Later, Jesus ate with His disciples and said to them:  “Thus it is written that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead.  And that repentance and remission or forgiveness of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.  You are witnesses of these things.  And, behold, I will send forth upon you the promise of My Father, but remain in Jerusalem until you are clothed with power from on high.”

Then Jesus led His disciples out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them.  And it came to pass that while He was blessing them, He parted from them and was taken up into heaven.  And they, worshipping Him, went back to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple celebrating with praises and blessing and extolling God.  Amen, So be it!

HE IS NOT HERE!  HE IS RISEN!  FOR GOD SO LOVED THAT HE GAVE——-!

Go into all the world and tell them how much Jesus loves them.  His love is unconditional, unfailing, never ending!  Once you have experienced His love for you, you will never be the same again.  His love marks you for life!  He will do anything for you.  In fact, he already has.