When people of like precious faith gather together, with minds and hearts focused upon their Lord, intent on praising Him and eager to hear His Word, I know I have come into His courts, and He is pleased.
That is frequently my experience on Sunday mornings. But Easter Sunday has become for me one of the highlights of my year.
This past Sunday, God graciously enabled us to offer up to Him our best. And, I believe, He mercifully chose both to encourage and challenge us.
I will not list names. But to those of you who put in lengthy hours of preparation to lead God’s people in their celebration of Jesus’ resurrection, thank you.
Do you remember the invocation? As we asked God to be with us, we confessed to believe and understand that the passion and resurrection of our Lord is the hinge of all human history.
And it is.
All of the Old Testament anticipates this moment. The Gospels tell us the story. The rest of the New Testament teaches us by example and instruction the meaning and significance of our Lord’s life, death, resurrection, ascension, reign and return.
C. S. Lewis is famously quoted as having said that Jesus is either a liar, a lunatic or the Lord.
In our day, we need to add a fourth "L". Jesus is either a liar, a lunatic, a legend, or the Lord.
Clearly, many must believe that the story told in the Gospels is a legendary tale.
How else could anyone know this story, and then choose to walk away from the One Whose claims are so absolute — I am THE way, THE truth, and THE life — and Who by His bodily resurrection and appearances, validated all He did and said?
If Jesus did not rise bodily from the dead, then we are all fools. And obviously, many believe that we are simpletons. Clearly, many must think that we believe a tale told by idiots signifying nothing.
And if Christ be not risen from the dead, they are right. Even the Apostle Paul taught if Christ has not been raised, our preaching and faith is useless (1 Cor 15.13).
I have a book for you to read. I’ve mentioned it before. I would suggest you get a copy of Anne Rice’s Out of Egypt. It’s a novel about Jesus as an eight-year-old boy.
Some of your will find this suggestion objectionable. Some of you know that Anne Rice is famous for writing about vampires. Some don’t believe anyone should write a story about Jesus for which there is no Scriptural support.
I understand. But the main reason I’d like you to see a copy of this book, is so you can read her testimony which comes at the end of her novel.
She researched extensively the story of Jesus in preparation to write her book. This is the bottom line. Having read far more than I have of the history and the works of historians focused upon the events of this time, she found herself coming to an inescapable conclusion — Jesus Christ rose bodily from the dead and appeared to many.
This is the good news that changes everything. He is risen! He is risen, indeed!
Pastor Caines