Christian Living

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AFTER THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS, WHAT NEXT?

The flavour and merriment surrounding the remembrance of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is quite interesting and the experience is likely to continue till eternity. That's encouraging! I am sure, Jesus, Himself, sitting at the right hand of the most high, will be happy about this gesture, at least the people He came for, see reason and find delight in remembering and celebrating His sacrifice. The sore point, however, is that after the celebration and jubilation, the momentum do vanish within a twinkling of an eye in a short while. This has been an issue I have been pondering on for quite an age and it keeps bothering my heart if the death and resurrection of Jesus is actually about dining and wining alone.
That led to the question that has ever been persistent in my heart, 'after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, what next?'

1Corinthians 15:1-8
Now i would remind you, brethren, in what terms i preached to you the gospel, which you received, in which you stand, 2 by which you are saved, if you hold it fast-unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, 5and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 And last of all, as to me untimely born, he appeared to me also.

These were the immediate events that followed the resurrection of Jesus Christ; His appearance. He appeared to as many people as possible. More importantly, to the witness. This is, however, not the case in our own dispensation. We do not bother about His appearance, and we see no reason in seeing Him personally. Perhaps the merriments surrounding the season have carried us away from thinking of the needful. Jesus appeared to those people, most especially the apostles. It’s quite unfortunate we have neglected this aspect of the season.
No wonder, the message of His death and resurrection is one of the hardest to preach. This is because we have not seen Him ourselves. We are not a good witness because we have no proves. Hence, it is difficult to back up our claims that Jesus Christ is alive and that He truly rose from the dead. Come to think of it, are unbelievers not right to ask for proving whenever you claim Jesus rose from the dead? The question is, do you truly have proves that He is alive? Have you experienced His appearance? Consider the last verse again '........, He appeared to me also'. As a Christian and a witness of the good news, did He or let me say has he appeared to you also? These are questions that should strike your heart often. I believe that after the remembrance of the death and resurrection of Christ, you should seek the appearance of Jesus. The appearance of Jesus is as important as anything else and has a lot of benefits attached to it. He appeared to hundreds and many of them are alive till now. They have eternal life. If you must have everlasting life, you must see Jesus. Unfortunately, many people are not aware. Less regards we give to His appearance perhaps due to the fact that we are unaware of the benefits attached to it.

The first among the benefits the appearance of Christ brings is that He will open your mind to understanding.



Luke 24:44-45
Then he said to them, "These are my words which I spoke to you, while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled." 45 Then he opened their minds to understanding the scriptures.

He will open your mind to understanding of the scripture, things of the spirit and even things that has to do with the physical realm. When your mind is open to understanding, you'll know whether your life style is right or wrong with your maker. No one will tell you before you know whether fornication, smoking, fighting, backbiting and all of such are actually good or not. You will be able to distinguish between life and death. No one will need to tell you whether you should use ear rings and attachment or not. You will know independently. In other words, opening of your mind to understanding will bring about personal conviction which is important in the process of salvation.

Now when your mind has been opened to understanding and you are able to distinguish between life and death, and you are personally convinced that your ways are not right with your maker, this will lead you to the second benefit; repentance. Read verse 47.
The repentance here will be willingly and genuine. Not by force by fire. This is an important step that leads to salvation. And may I let you know that there is no repentance that draws forgiveness easily as genuine repentance. Another fact to know is that those who repent as a result of personal conviction don't backslide easily, if they do at all.

The third benefit that the appearance of Christ brings is divine impartation of the Holy Spirit.

The first part of verse 49 reads;
And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you;

What is the promise of the Father? Holy Spirit! This was what the disciples experienced too when he appeared to them.

John 20:22
And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy spirit.

The appearance of Jesus will bring impartation of the Holy spirit. And the Holy Spirit, the bible says will teach you all things. I love the word, "all things". He will teach you chemistry, physics, biology, mathematics, accountings, management, name it. All things! Most importantly, he will teach you the miseries in the word of God and the misery behind the birth, the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He will also help you to worship God. God is spirit and those who worship Him must worship in spirit. It is, however, impossible to worship in spirit without the Holy Spirit!



The fourth thing the appearance of Jesus brings is power.

The second part of that verse 49 reads;
"but stay in the city, until you are clothed with power from on high"

I do not know how many people waited until they were clothed with power before they left for the parties and merriments. The promise of power came when he appeared to them. The power to overcome sin; the power to conquer the principalities; the power to trample upon snake and scorpion; and the power to do exploit in all ramifications. After the apostles waited and received the power, we saw how they went about doing exploit for Christ.

And the last but not the least Jesus brought when he appeared was blessing.

Verse 50;
Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them.

That's the most interesting part of it; he blessed them. And when Jesus blesses you, who dare cause you? His blessing will bring everlasting joy, happiness, peace and rest into your life. The word 'everlasting' means something that last forever. That's why we call it 'ever-lasting'.

Note, however, that it was not until these things were done before Jesus ascended to heaven. And so these will serve as proves that he is alive in our lives. These are what should follow the resurrection of Jesus Christ. If you have not experience these, it is not too late. It's high time you went back and seek his appearance in your life. Because these are what will make the season meaningful and memorable, not the rice and chickens neither is it the wines and beers. Therefore, if after the celebration, your mind is not open to understanding, you did not repent of your evil ways, you have not received the Holy Spirit, you have not received the power and His blessings are not evident, i tell you categorically, you have no reason to celebrate Easter. You have not seen Jesus! Remember if you must have everlasting life, you must see Jesus before you die.

God bless you!

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