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Easter
Facts
Lest we forget...
Lest we forget...
Lest we forget...
Lest we forget...
Lest we forget...
Lest we forget...
Christ's death had caused them great sorrow; to have Him back again from death gave them unspeakable joy. Indeed there never would have been any Christian joy if Jesus had not risen from the dead. It was necessary that He should die for our sins; but if He had died and remained in the grave, no benefit could come to us from His dying. A dead mother cannot do anything for her children; nor could a dead Saviour have helped those who trusted in Him. We need a living Saviour, to whose feet we can creep with our penitence when we have sinned, and in whose hands we can be kept safe until we reach glory. We need a living Friend, who will bless us by His rich love; whose strong arm will hold us up in weakness, and defend us in temptation; whose presence will restrain us from sin, and inspire in us all good thoughts and holy desires and aspirations. We want a living Comforter, who will stand for us in heaven and plead our cause there, and stand by us on earth in all our imperilled life. We want a living personal Caretaker, who will look after all our interests, plan for our lives, order our steps, and provide for all our wants. We want a Prince who has won for us the battle over death and the grave, and is able therefore to bring us also from under the power of death. No wonder, then, that the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord, when they had Him back again from the dead. We should be glad, too, and rejoice in the glorious truth of Christ's resurection. We have a living Saviour. We have one in heaven who loves us. Our Redeemer holds the keys of death. No dark grave can hold us or any of ours who sleep in Jesus. We can enjoy as real communion with Jesus as did His disciples, because He lives and is one with us.
There seems to be a voice of hope in this call. The disciples had sadly failed in one great duty: they had slept when the Master wanted them to watch with Him (Matt 26:41, see below). He had just told them that they might as well sleep on (v 41), so far as that service was concerned, for the time to render it was gone forever. Yet there were other duties before them, and Jesus calls them to arise to meet these. Because they had failed in one hour's responsibility they must not sink down in despair. They must arouse themselves to meet the responsibility just before them. Again the lesson is plain. Because we have failed in one duty we must not give up in despair. Because a young man has wasted his youth he must not therefore lose heart and think all is lost. There are other opportunities waiting for him. The loss of youth is irreparable. The golden years can never be gotten back. The innocence, the beauty, the power, are gone forever. Yet why should a man squander all because he has squandered the best? Because the morning has been thrown away, why should all the day be lost? The lesson is for all who have failed in any way. Christ ever calls to
hope. He bids us rise again from the worst defeat. In the kingdom of
grace there is always margin enough to start again, and to build up a
noble life. Even down to life's latest hour this remains true. The door
of opportunity opened to the penitent even on the cross in his dying
hour: there was no time to make anything good or beautiful of his life
on the earth, save in his dying confession and testimony; but the
eternity into which he passed is very long, with time enough for a
glorious career. So it is always. In this world, blessed by Divine love
and grace, there is never any need for despair. The call after any
defeat or failure still is, "Rise up, let us go."
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Books
The Murder Of Jesus - John MacArthur. Drawing Near: Daily Readings for a Deeper Faith (Daily Readings for a Deeper Faith) - John MacArthur. The Glory of Heaven: The Truth About Heaven, Angels and Eternal Life - John MacArthur. ........................................ Quick tips on :
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