Mat 26:1-5 KJV And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples, (2 Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified. (3) Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, (4) And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him. (5) But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people.
Mat 27:40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
Today, we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus!
Everything about who WE are hangs on the truth that Jesus is Alive. Something so easily forgotten by those who claim they are one of His… Too often we keep Him in the Manager, on the Cross, or in the Tomb. Or we keep Him back in the pages of History and not in real life… Yet Jesus is God robed in flesh! If God is not confined to man’s comprehension of Him, then neither is Jesus.
God is not confined to the limitations of man.
Our culture changes, our world changes, our church model changes, your likes and dis-likes… Yet God never changes – Mal 3:6 “For I am the LORD, I change not.” You can’t make an infinite God finite. You can’t make an eternal God temporal. You can’t make the creator of the earth subject to geographical areas on the globe. You see, he is God. He never has been, nor ever will be subject to this world!
Too many limit God to only working during a crisis, or some Holy Day, or even on Sunday, or only at some specific church. Some think He doesn’t work or move as He once did… No healings today, which stopped after the final book in the Bible was written. No more Spirit filled experiences as Acts 2 describes, that was then, and this is now… I can live any ol’ way I want to because He doesn’t matter any longer. Regardless of your limitations placed on Him, He is still God and you cannot change that! He may be limited in your life and how He’s able to work for you, but He is limitless even if we do not trust in Him. Jesus could not do many miracles in His own hometown because of their unbelief. Perhaps you need to re-introduce yourself to this God who has a name called Jesus!
Man has limits, God has None!
When faced with obstacles that would have beaten any man, Jesus always proved to be a victor. Making something out of nothing was not a struggle.
At the wedding in Cana, they ran out of wine, to you and me a disaster. But Jesus is asked to step in and assist… Fill the water pots… Between the filling and the pouring, He performs His first Miracle.
Now that’s a subject all unto itself – Before the infilling of His Spirit in your life, And the pouring out of your ministry to others, He performs a Miracle in your life!
Maybe you feel like you are out of energy and the will to go onward. Jesus can step into your world and cause the water pots of your life to be filled with His spirit and that gives you the energy! Nothing can challenge Him…
Man at pool of Bethsaida, he’s been carried there for over 30 years, hoping for a miracle. Jesus asks, “Sir would you be made whole?” He responds, “You don’t understand…. I’ve been this way for years, been coming here for years. My desire is there, just no help.” May I tell you today God is not limited by your past failures at encountering him! Maybe you just need to listen to His words, Take up your bed and walk! The healer is in the house today! He can heal you right now of whatever is wrong with your body! You do not have to wait, you can receive your healing right now. In the name of Jesus be healed!
Demonic activity was not a challenge. Living in the tombs, hurting himself, mind ravaged by sprits of every kind, torn and emaciated in his flesh. Can you not imagine that there is no worse situation that needs an encounter with God? He sees Jesus afar off, ran and fell at his feet and worshiped him…Others might be looking for a hiding place from a madman… But Jesus keeps walking to Him. You see, Jesus is not normal. He’s the God of Heaven! This was the one that reigns on the throne of glory. This is the God that angels worship day and night. (Holy Holy) This is the God that beheld Satan as lightning fall!
Whatever it is that has been holding you back, be delivered right now in the name of Jesus!
Death was not a match for Jesus! Jairus daughter, dead before Jesus could get there. Satan loves to hurry up and make things too hard for men. Again, this is not merely flesh! Jesus cast out the unbelievers, “Little girl, I say to thee arise!”
Your situation is not too hard for Jesus! He is lord over every circumstance. He is lord of all situations. There is nothing that he cannot do.
The Pattern of Three’s
I share these examples to let you know that Jesus is in complete control of the situation! He told his disciples all about his impending death and resurrection. He informed them that he would be away for a little while and then he would be back. His own disciples hear His words and fail to understand, nor remember His teachings. In just two days He is to be betrayed and crucified. Our scripture describes the animosity that the religious Jews had toward Jesus. Fear causes them to lash out at the unknown. Anger at His teachings causes their spirit to boil over into anger. I would also add that they were blind to His identity.
Jesus shows us Three Things, a pattern of life, and how we are to understand.
1. He endured a day of suffering
If we could only understand how He really suffered. On this Resurrection Sunday I will not describe it. Yet, have you ever suffered like He suffered? The closest one to Jesus writes later on about the connection to suffering.
1Pe 4:12-19 KJV Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: (13) But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. (14) If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. (15) But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. (16) Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. (17) For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, wat shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? (18) And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? (19) Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
2. He survived a day of seclusion in the grave
Have you ever been secluded from those you need to support you? His seclusion began in the Garden of Gethsemane, when all slept. (Mark 14:26-42) Yet it really started with those three words on the cross – “It Is Finished…” (John 19:30) But Holy Saturday, the Sabbath for the Jews, is just Christ dead and entombed. From those first disciples’ perspective, it’s a day when all hope is lost. It’s a meager day, probably not much hunger, and definitely scared of the repercussions. How could they go to the temple and worship? Is it safe?
Have you ever felt lifeless as the entombed body of Christ was? A hope or dream has died. Zest or gusto for life has waned. Perhaps today you can let these places in your life be buried with Him, resting and waiting for the power of God’s Spirit to raise Him (and you) up. Perhaps today can be the dark backdrop against which the bright joy of Easter stands out.
3. And then early Sunday morning He enjoyed success!
What happened on Friday is meaningless! What happened on Saturday, that day of Seclusion – who cares! On that First Day of the week, he arises with the Keys to Death, Hell and the Grave firmly grasped in His hands. What a joyous occasion to finally realize the scripture He taught is being fulfilled before their very eyes.
But there is one special person on that resurrection morning.
Joh 20:11-16 KJV But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, (12) And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. (13) And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. (14) And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. (15) Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. (16) Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
Isn’t this what you really want on the Resurrection Morning, to hear Him call your name? Maybe it will be when He calls us from the bounds of this earth, or perhaps when He speaks to us “Well done…”. Regardless, He knows your name and is calling to you to enjoy a day of victory.
Finally…
Jesus spent three days as a pattern for our life. What day are you in?
- Do you feel like you’re doing nothing but suffering?
- Do you feel isolated from all around you?
- Or perhaps you are entering into your Day of Victory!