The Promise of a resurrection

Mark 9:31 "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men.  They will kill him and after three days He will RISE."

Death surrounds us.  It is on out TVs and in our newspapers.  It has taken family members, friends and coworkers.  It will come to each of us.  For all who are crushed by the reality of the fall of man, Jesus gives this promise.  There is a resurrection.  Maybe we have heard this from the pulpit so often that we have lost a sense of amazement over this impossible claim.  I mean this just does not happen in the eyes of world.  This is simply not a logical statement.  Most religions have a form of afterlife, but to be physically raised from the dead?  No one has ever made that kind of claim.  Except Jesus Christ.  Even His disciples, who had seen Him raise Lazarus, a widow's son and a little girl were dumbfounded (v. 32).  They did not know what to make of this prediction, because it was beyond their comprehension.  It just didn't seem possible.  People die they are buried or cremated period.  But, Jesus erased the period.  His resurrection, from from being an exclusive privilege of the Son of God, means everything for us!  it reversed the curse of death that we brought upon ourselves at the fall.  it is the re-genesis, the beginning of a new creation.  And when we become believers and followers of Christ, we are invited to be a part of it!

The promise of this resurrection is astounding.  Every privilege of the risen Jesus, in all of His glory is offered to us to partake in.  It is the reality of the eternal promises of God:

- He intercedes for us at the right hand of God (Hebrews 7:25)

- He lives in us (John 14:20)(Galatians 2:20)

- He exercises all authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18)

- Not only is He exalted, but we are seated with Him in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6)

- We are fellow heirs of His inheritance (Romans 8:17)

- We have eternal life (John 6:40)

These are magnificent and astonishing truths.  As we get closer to Good Friday, let us not dwell on His death on the cross.  Don't get me wrong, without the death there could be no life.  Just remember the best part is yet to come.  Stayed tuned and remember that we must be ready!

God's timing is always on time!

"Now Is the Acceptable Time The Spirit of the Lord God is on Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and freedom to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of our God’s vengeance; to comfort all who mourn."—Isaiah 61:1–2
God's timing is perfect! When He speaks, the time to respond in obedience is now. We often act as if we have all the time in the world to obey Him, but history doesn't wait on our commitments. There is no such thing as postponing a decision with God. Either we obey, or we disobey. It is either faith or unbelief, obedience or disobedience. When God announces that now is the acceptable time, what you do next is critical. How often people have been unprepared when a word came to them from the Lord. God said, “Now is the time for you to respond to Me” and their response was, “But I'm not ready. I have some things I need to do first. I'm too busy!” (Matt. 8:21). God's timing is always perfect. He knows you, and He is fully aware of your circumstances. He knows all that He has built into your life until now, and He extends His invitation knowing that His resources are more than adequate for any assignment He gives you. That is why Scripture tells us God is concerned with our heart. If we do not keep our heart in love with Jesus, our disobedience when God speaks could affect the lives of others. When God speaks it is always out of the context of eternity. We don't have to know all the implications of what He is asking. We just have to know that it is a word from almighty God. “Now” is always the acceptable time to respond to the Lord! —Experiencing God Day by Day