WORDS OF RESURRECTED CHRIST (EASTER MESSAGE) - April 8, 2012

Matthew 28:5, 6 - But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.  He is not here; for He is risen, as He said.  Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

Once a big church meeting was held in a certain place and a nonbeliever was given an opportunity to speak.  He tried much to prove the non-divine nature of Jesus Christ with many proofs from the Bible.  The organizers of the meeting were very disappointed at this and called a Father to speak a few words before concluding the meeting.  Everyone in the audience seat was anxiously waiting for the words of the Father.  The Father just said one thing, “Jesus is alive.”  On hearing this, the whole crowd started raising their voices, shouted Hallelujah and clapped their hands glorifying Jesus.  This incident proved the resurrection of Jesus more than all the invalid proofs of the nonbeliever.

Our Lord is proving that He is alive in many incidences.  Even before one could share the Gospel to his fellowmen, Jesus gives inspiration on the hearts of these fellowmen and they voluntarily take baptism.  In Saudi Arabia where Gospel and church meetings are very much restricted, God is sending His angels to guide His chosen to certain underground churches and they get baptism there and start to live for Jesus.

The tomb of Jesus is the only tomb in the entire world which is open and empty.  Even while entering this tomb we feel the presence of God.  Joseph of Arimathaea gave his tomb for Jesus.  I believe the officials during the time of Jesus would have asked this man why he was giving his tomb to Jesus.  He would have told them that Jesus would use his tomb for just two days and after that his tomb will become a world famous picnic spot and it is so till today.

Usually when we go to a condolence meeting people might ask what were the last words spoken by the dead.  But here we are more concerned about the words first spoken by our Lord Jesus Christ after resurrection.  The disciples who surrounded the resurrected Jesus could not believe His resurrection.  So in order to make them believe and to change their mind sets, Jesus had to speak certain words.  Likewise Jesus is going to speak to you now as well.

1.    GREETINGS
Matthew 28:9 - Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said.  They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.

The NIV translation of the Bible says ‘Greetings’ while the KJV translation says ‘All Hail’.  Many would have sent you Easter wishes this day.  But Jesus sent you this wish 2000 years before with a true heart.  He is the only God who loves the prosperity of our lives and for this alone He rose on the third day.  Man may wish outwardly with certain expectations.

Once a senior officer of the Air Force complained to the officials that a particular sergeant did not wish him when he passed by.  Though the senior officials considered it a petty matter, they wanted to teach a lesson to the officer.  So they asked the officer and the sergeant to meet them.  The officials asked the sergeant to salute the officer 100 times and the officer was supposed to wish him back each time the sergeant salutes.  The senior officer could not do anything but to accept the sergeant’s wish 100 times.  This is human nature.

But Jesus Christ alone in this world will feel happy by the way we are blessed.  So Jesus Christ is greeting you to be happy.  He is near to take care of all your needs and will make you live.
Prayer:  Lord, thank you for greeting me this day.  I know that you have come to take care of me.  All hail to you, Jesus Christ.
Prophecy:  Although satan tried many times to take the last trace of you away from the earth, I never allowed him to do so.  I will make you live.  Also I have a special purpose for those who have committed themselves for My Ministry.  I have come to make you live.

2.    WHY ARE YOU LOOKING SAD?
Luke 24:17 - And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?”

While seeing at the long faces of some people, Jesus might have thought in his mind, “Is there any suffering that I had not faced or any trials or tribulations I was not experienced?”  We really cannot even fathom the sufferings of Jesus on the cross.  When compared to His all our sufferings seem insignificant.
We need to wear smile on our faces no matter how worse the situation we are in.  Even science says while laughing lot of muscles work expanding and contracting and it is good for our wellbeing.  So, looking at you Jesus is asking, "why you have a sad countenance?"  He suffered in the cross to make you glad.

We are sad because we forget the presence of living God and proclaim that Jesus Christ is dead in our hearts.  So always be cheerful no matter how worse the situation may be.  Our God will change the worse situation and bless us.
Prayer:  Lord I strongly believe that today you have come to change my worst situation and to bless me.  I will never look sad from today onwards since you are near to take care of my needs.

3.    WHY ARE YOU CRYING?
John 20:15, 16 - He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Children when fighting, the one which annoyed the other will cry first in order to escape the punishment of the parents.  Jesus also would have thought in His mind with much concern for the woman, “I was the one who suffered lot of agony and yet was not crying but why she was crying.”  The Lord consoled her by His words and in later verses she went to proclaim Jesus.

Likewise God is asking you, "Why are you crying?" We should cry only for our spiritual status, for our relatives and friends to be saved and for our nation.  Beyond that we have no business of crying.  Yet Jesus has come today knowing your secret cries.  Our Lord rose again to change your mourning to dancing.  There will be no more crying hereafter.  He will change your sorrowful tears to tears of joy.  And having your tears changed you are going to spread the gospel like this woman of the Bible.
Prayer:  Lord I thank you for changing my life from mourning to dancing by your resurrection.

4.    DO NOT BE AFRAID
Matthew 28:10 - Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

If you are reading this message with a heavy heart and afraid of certain situations Jesus is putting a question before you, “Of what reason you are afraid of?  This he asks you because you have forgotten one thing when you worry that your master is still with you in your agony.  You need to just keep confessing the fact that your Father is with you.  Jesus is promising you today that He will set all things right.
Prayer:  Lord, even though I am in much trouble I truly confess that You are with me and You will take care of all my needs.  I am holding your right hand from this day on.  Please guide and help me.

5.    PEACE BE WITH YOU
Luke 24:26 - Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.”

Jewish people greet each other saying Shalom, which means Peace.  This is a good way of remembering God’s peace inside us.  The same phrase is recorded in John 20:19 also.  Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.”  Jesus appeared in the room in the excellence of His resurrected body while yet the doors were closed.  The power of resurrection enabled Jesus to be in flesh as well as in the Spirit at the same time.  He knew very well the place where there was lack of peace.  Even today wherever you are the resurrected Jesus is commanding peace today.
Prophecy:  I am leaving my peace with you and your family.  Also my peace will prevail in your Job.  There will be no more quarrelling in the families.  I will unite them with my love.
Prayer:  Lord please let your peace rule my family and let my family be an example for your peace before others.  Thank you.

6.    BLESSED THEM
Luke 24:51-53 Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven.  And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God.

The Lord has risen again only to bless us.  When he blesses us, there will be joy in our hearts.  In order to receive the joy, we need to come to the appointed place of God which is the church.  This is the place where the Lord has kept you to nourish and to bless you.  So come to the Jerusalem of God which is the church to be decorated as a suitable bride for Christ.  Only then your blessing will be permanent and joyful.  Lord Jesus went to heaven with words of blessing as His final words in Earth.
Prayer:  Lord, hereafter I will give more importance to your church.  Please nourish me with your words and bless me.