Date: 14 April 2023
Preacher: Reverend Faith Ngwale
Editor: Mrs Nthabiseng Motubatse
Principal Scripture Reading: John 20:1, Matthew 28:1-2, Mark 16:1-2, Luke 24:1
The resurrection of Jesus is not just a historical event that happened over two thousand years ago, it is a reality that we can experience in our lives today. The resurrection of Jesus is a symbol of the victory that we have in Him, the victory over sin and death. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are given a new life, a life that is abundant and full of hope.
In this article, we will explore several aspects of the resurrection, including the common stance of the four biblical characters who witnessed it, the bravery of the women who stood by Jesus, the call to come and see the victory of Jesus, the responsibility to go and tell others, and the victory we have in Christ. By examining these different perspectives, we can gain a deeper understanding of the power and significance of the resurrection and how it continues to impact our lives today.
The Common Stance on the Resurrection
Here we see four Biblical characters John, Matthew, Mark, and Luke narrate their perspective on what happened during the time of the resurrection of Jesus. The common stance that these four characters had concerning the day of the resurrection of Jesus was the fact that this had happened early in the morning, and that they all saw Mary Magdalene, one remembered seeing Mary Magdalene alone, another said he had seen Mary Magdalene with other women. The common factor here was that there were women at the scene and that this happened early in the morning, all of this is cited in John 20:1, Matthew 28:1-2, Mark 16:1-2 and Luke 24:1.
Women of Courage
Now from the accounts of the four Biblical characters (John, Matthew, Mark, and Luke), we can confirm that there were at least four women who had gathered the courage to go to the grave of Jesus. These four women are women that had personal encounters with Jesus, they had testimonies of what Jesus had done for them. When Jesus was crucified, His disciples were nowhere to be found, the women stood and were unashamed of Jesus. Children of God we need to be like these women who were bold enough to stand and allow themselves to be identified as part of the fold of Jesus.
See the Victory of Jesus
These remarkable women had experienced Jesus and their individual experiences with Him were enough for them to take a stance on following Jesus even when it was not a favorable decision. If you know what God has done for you, the provision He has made, the healing He provided, do not be swayed by the winds and troubles of this world stand and believe in the ability of your savior Jesus Christ. Now that the women had seen that Jesus was not in the tomb, the angel gave them an assignment, to go and tell the disciples that Jesus had risen. In Mark 16:7, the angel says “But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’” This assignment was not only for the women, but it was also for all believers of Jesus Christ. We are called to go and tell others about the resurrection of Jesus, about the victory that He has over sin and death.
The Responsibility to Go and Tell
It is easy for us as believers to get caught up in our own lives, to focus on our own problems, and forget that we have been called to share the good news of Jesus Christ with others. We need to remember that we are not saved just for ourselves, but we are saved to be witnesses of the love and power of God. The resurrection of Jesus is not just a historical event, it is a current reality that we can experience in our lives today. As we share this reality with others, we are inviting them to experience the same victory that we have in Jesus Christ.
Child of God come and see what the Lord can do, come and see the victory of Jesus over your life, take a decision, and see what the Lord is capable of doing in your life. Whatever darkness you encounter, whatever situation you come across, God is able to change even the situation that seems impossible to conquer. Women be encouraged because God takes you seriously, the women were the first ones to experience the miracle of resurrection. God has confidence in you as a woman, that you can do whatever you set your mind to do.
In Acts 1:8, Jesus tells his disciples “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” We have been given the power of the Holy Spirit to be witnesses of Jesus Christ. We have been given the responsibility to go and tell others about the resurrection of Jesus, and to share the love and power of God with others.
In conclusion, the resurrection of Jesus is a reality that we can experience in our lives today. As we see the victory of Jesus over sin and death, we are called to go and tell others about this reality. We have been given the power of the Holy Spirit to be witnesses of Jesus Christ and we have a community of believers to support and encourage us as we share the good news of Jesus Christ with others. Let us be like the women who stood with Jesus through a tough time, who had personal encounters with Jesus, and who were bold enough to stand for Him. Let us go and tell others about the resurrection of Jesus, about the victory that He has over sin and death and invite them to experience the same reality that we have in Jesus Christ.
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