Christian Living

The days that followed Jesus’ rising from the dead, glorified and victorious, were undoubtedly overwhelming to His closest friends and followers.  How they initially responded to it is very telling in regard to their humanity and, perhaps, to our own as well – especially when we consider how we react when we begin to truly grasp the miracle that God lavishes upon us the moment we become His children through faith in His Son. 

“On the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared.  And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.  While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, ‘Why do you seek the living among the dead?  He is not here, but has risen” (Luke 24:1-6 ESV). 

The disciples’ response to Jesus’ not being where common sense predicted He would be was predictable in itself.  They were confused and then startled by the presence of those supernatural witnesses who God appointed to present them the news that the One Whom they thought as being dead and buried, was not a victim to tragic circumstance and human hate, but the victorious slayer of death itself. 

Their difficulty was primarily rooted in the limitations that all their experience had taught them.  They were well-schooled in seeing people rise up to do and/or say the right thing being silenced permanently as either the Jews themselves would squelch what they perceived to be religious opposition or the Romans who were at best only ever tolerating them and were always too-ready to kill anyone who dared to stand up to them in very public ways. 

In a similar way, a newly-saved Christian may initially have difficulty in knowing how to live life from the framework of God’s forgiveness and Holy Spirit power because he is still  mentally entrenched in old ways of looking at things and old ways of dealing with problems or coping with pain.  But as he becomes immersed in the reading, exploring, and discovering of the promises of God and the principles of His Kingdom, he begins to discover, as those disciples of the first century church did, everything is changed and he moves forward by shaking off the chains of old assumptions, sins, fears and habits. 

As the reality of Jesus’ resurrection became more “real” in the minds and hearts of His followers, the qualities of wonder, worship, joy and courage began to take root and germinate in the hearts of His followers that ignited the hearts of multitudes beyond them. 

In a similar way, as Jesus’ forgiveness and lordship become more “real” in our minds and hearts, we too discover those qualities and we too may influence those around us towards the Savior we celebrate.  Not because we are suddenly so charismatic or convincing in rational arguments, but because the presence of God is real to us and, therefore, real to others through us.  We are genuinely and beautifully different because we have truly encountered Jesus Christ in our hearts and experience through faith. 

The question then for you and for me is whether or not we have really met the risen Lord.  Have we personally encountered His holiness and forgiveness?  Are we engaged by how deserving He is of our love and adoration?  Are we changed by the fact of His love?  Are we gripped by His glory?  If not, then let us turn our eyes to the Jesus of the Bible.  Let us drink deeply of His promises for us and of His soul-saving and life-changing presence.  Let us reconnect with Him through the reading of His Word, the fellowship of worship of Him in the community of His people at a local Bible-teaching church.  Let us meet with Him again and again in the quiet place of genuine communion that prayer grants us. 

If you have never encountered this wonderful Savior in a personal way, then waste no more time.  Connect with someone who has and ask how you too can be saved.  There is too much at stake to waste any more time.  And Jesus Himself is waiting to welcome you into a personal relationship with Him that turns your destiny from spiritual death to eternal life. 


Copyright © Thom Mollohan