Soar we now where Christ hath led, Alleluia! Foll’wing our exalted Head, Alleluia! Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia! Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!
Christ the Lord is Risen Today By: Charles Wesley, 1707-1778
Listen as you read. This is a nice instrumental ambient version.
On Tuesday we tuned our hearts with the wonder of what is in store for us one day we soar into the skies to join our Resurrected King! Today we are going to think again about how He accomplished that, and what the implications of that are for us. Glad you could join us as we ponder these things.
Exalted Head
When we go soaring on high we will do so by following our “exalted head”. There are a number of things that come to mind with these words. The first to ponder I believe is what does it mean by saying Christ is our head. Next how exactly He earned that exalted position. Finally, how we will follow.
And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. Colossians 1:18ESV
Jesus was the firstborn from among the dead, but many more will follow His lead. Those who will follow are His church, His blood-bought bride. They are the ones who are trusting Christ’s work to make us right with the Father. He is our Head, and we His body will follow Him, just like every body follows wherever its head goes. He has ascended to the Father, and so shall we.
But that right to ascend was not easily acquired, even though He had willingly and voluntarily laid down His glory to become one of us and perfectly obey the Father. When I think of Christ as head, my mind often goes to this translation of an old German hymn. It alludes to the glory He had laid down to walk among us, “once…bright as morn!”
O Sacred Head
O sacred Head, now wounded,
with grief and shame weighed down,
now scornfully surrounded
with thorns, thine only crown:
how pale thou art with anguish,
with sore abuse and scorn!
How does that visage languish
which once was bright as morn! Anonymous
That self-sacrifice not only paved the way for Christ’s exaltation, but shows us our path to follow as well. We must be willing to lay down our lives and take up our cross just like Jesus. This is what it means to follow our exalted Head. Though we will not be offered as a sacrifice for the sins of the world, we must follow His example to deny our selves that we may fully pursue the path our Father has marked out for us.
Like Him
When there is repetition in any form of literature the author is always emphasizing something. It is a very deliberate choice to repeat the words “like Him” in this line. “Made like Him, like Him we rise.” Colossians 3:1, 4puts it like this.
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God…When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Made Like Him
Since we have been made like Him in His resurrection, we will rise as He did, not only from the dead, but also on high to join Him in glory. As the last line says, “Our the cross, the grave, the skies”. We are made like Him so when He appears we will appear with Him in glory. What an incredible promise! But with it comes an exhortation to “seek the things that are above”.
So often we get mired in daily living, the rudiments of our earthly existence, that we forget we have something coming that far surpasses the best of these days. We must daily remind ourselves to “seek the things that are above”. How do we do that? By setting on mind on them, and allowing the reality of them to shape not only our thoughts but our behavior as well.
Reflect on the fact that you are made like Him, but acknowledge you would like to be more even more like Him. Then ask Jesus to show you today how you can practice that.
Jesus, thank You for making me like You. I know that I am a work in progress, but I welcome Your transforming power into my life today. Show me how I can be more like you today, even as I long to “appear with you in glory” one day. In Jesus name. Amen.
Deliberate Thinking!
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Podcast 5.4 Transcript
Welcome to Thursday Thoughts at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s think about this.
And when (Jesus) had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.
This account is from the Ascension of Christ, when He was taken up into glory. After His resurrection Jesus appeared to His disciples many times, but this was the final time. He led the way and one day we will join Him. What if were today? Are you ready?
And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.
He was the firstborn from among the dead, but many more will follow. Who are they? His church, His blood-bought bride. All who are trusting Christ’s work to make us right with the Father. He is our Head, and we His body will follow Him. Are you following Him today?
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God…When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Our having been raised with Christ, enables us to be made like Him in resurrection glory. Being made like Him ensures that we will appear with Him in glory. The wonders that await us are beyond comprehension. Thank Him for making you like Him.
Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
So let’s keep our eyes on Jesus. That makes it much easier to follow Him, and since we want the skies, like Him, we must take up our cross and die to ourselves, so we can live for Him. Ask Him to help you take up your cross today and die to sin.
Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has come to your mind, or just listen to what He is saying to you, then I will read our text once more.
Soar we now where Christ hath led, Alleluia! Foll’wing our exalted Head, Alleluia! Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia! Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!
Take the mindfulness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond. Until next time, be Resonant.
Soar we now where Christ hath led, Alleluia! Foll’wing our exalted Head, Alleluia! Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia! Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!
Christ the Lord is Risen Today By: Charles Wesley, 1707-1778
Listen as you read. This is a nice instrumental ambient version.
Make certain you check out the video log below!
The first and last lines give us the opportunity to consider an interesting tension between the standing and experience of every believer. It is this simultaneous nature of the now and not yet that exist in our relationship with God, at least from our perspective. Take a few minutes and enter into the reality of this tension today.
Soar
Beautiful Clouds
First, let’s deal with this whole idea of soaring…
And when (Jesus) had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. Acts 1:9 ESV
It is very difficult for me to imagine what that moment must have been like for those disciples as they stood on that hill and witnesses Christ’s Ascension into heaven. I try to place myself in that moment. Those final words of instruction and inspiration. The goodbyes. The emotions. The tears.
But another moment is like it, both in the wonder of it and my inability to imagine it. One day we will soar with Christ! And not just in a poetic sense, but at the very least in an other-worldly, hard to imagine what it will really be like, enjoying the Kingdom of God in all it’s fulness kind of way. It will be so unlike our current existence that I am certain I do not have the capacity to conceive of it, yet I fully believe it will be true.
Why? Because I believe the chronology of the last line is equally true.
Cross, Grave, Skies
Cross Grave Skies
Second, let’s consider our path…
Jesus commands us to take up our cross daily in Luke 9:23. While this invitation certainly is declaring His path of self-denial, we vicariously experience each of this things through Christ’s obedience to the Father. In the next few verses Jesus talks about losing our lives for His sake, and goes on to allude to the opportunity to share in the glory of the Father if we embrace His teaching and way of life. Cross, death, glory looks a lot like cross, grave, skies.
And while our path will not be exactly like that of Jesus because we do not have to actually be crucified for the sins of the world because He already did that, our journey will have similar elements to it. Embracing the Father’s will and dying to ourselves that we might enjoy the benefits of those decisions.
Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2 ESV
Time and Eternity
If we are going to follow Jesus, we are inspired to go all the way so we may share in all that Paul alludes to when he says this in Ephesians 2:6-7.
And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
What Christ accomplished in His crucifixion, death and resurrection is so certain that though it happened in the past, it is as if it has already happened in the future as far as God is concerned. Not only is this true because God’s will is such a definite thing, but there is another way that I like to think about it.
Time Versus Infinity
We are bound by time so what has not yet happened is impossible for us to experience. The same can not be said of God. Because He is eternal there is a sense in which everything is happening all at once for Him: creation, redemption and the re-creation, everything. It other words, for God everything is now. I like to refer to Him as the “Great Eternal NOW”!
For Him there is no such thing as not yet, because it is all now. For us there is a sense of not yet, because we are not soaring and neither the skies, or the grave for that matter, are ours yet. So, there is a sense in which our soaring is both now and not yet because for God it is now, and for us it is not yet.
What I hope is the result of imagining this is a deeper longing for the eternal perspective of things because I believe that shapes how we choose to live today, since eternity for us has already begun, even though we wrestle to grasp it.
Happy Tuning!
Jesus, thank You for accomplishing something in time that has changed eternity for me. Thank You that not only are the cross and the grave mine, but so shall the skies be. I believe I will soar. Help me live today like that is true, since it is. In Jesus name. Amen.
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Everyone, please enjoy this video log usually only available to Subscribers and sometimes to Free Members, as well as the transcript below.
Video 5.4 Transcript
Welcome to Tuesday Tunings at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s tune our hearts.
Soar we now where Christ hath led, Alleluia! Foll’wing our exalted Head, Alleluia! Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia! Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!
After appearing many times to His disciples after His resurrection, Jesus’ final appearance culminated with a grand exit. He ascended into the clouds, and in so doing led the way for us. Thank Him that one day you will follow Him, and soar to realms on high.
We are the Church, and Christ is our Leader, or Head. Where He goes, we will follow. That will never be more true than when He calls us home, either from our final resting place or our daily living. Are you ready to hear your name called? If so, praise Him! If not, why not?
Jesus rose in Resurrection glory. Whether we rise from a grave like Him or simply leave earth behind, we will be made like Him. Though our flesh is destined to decay, we will be raised incorruptible. Let that overwhelm your heart even now.
He taught us to take up our cross, and we struggle to learn to deny ourselves daily. If He does not come back first, some of us may face the reality of the grave. Even still, all of us will follow Him into the clouds, the culmination of following His example. Ask Him to help you be ready.
Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has surfaced in your heart, or just listen to what He is saying to you, then we will sing once more
Sing
Take the awareness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond. Until next time, be Resonant.
Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia! Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia! Death in vain forbids His rise, Alleluia! Christ hath opened paradise, Alleluia!
Christ the Lord is Risen Today By: Charles Wesley, 1707-1778
Listen as you read. This is a neat orchestral karaoke version.
On Tuesday we considered how Christ finished the work the Father had given Him to do thus opening paradise. He did this by defeating death. Today we are going to think about a couple ways that defeat is described in lines 2 and 3 of this stanza.
What Battle?
Descended into…
The hymn alludes to a battle, so you may wonder what battle is it talking about? Some have likened this to the idea that Christ descended into hell, which is expressed in some versions of the Apostles Creed with the words “he descended into hell.” There are a few different Scriptures that can be interpreted to support this, but none of them explicitly state this, so it is a bit of a stretch.
One other way of making sense of the line in the creed is to acknowledge there were different versions, some not including this line. Some newer versions substitute dead for hell, which is probably a more accurate acknowledgement of the fact that in the ancient world Hades was often equated with the grave, rather than hell.
For all this controversy, there is no debate among Christians as to whether Jesus descended into the grave. It is clearly described in a number of the gospel accounts, and helps to clear up the possible confusion. Either way, it is widely accepted that Jesus defeated death based on a number of different verses, not the least of which are Jesus’ own words.
[The Son of Man] laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last,and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.” Revelation 1:17b-18ESV
Arm Wrestling
In these verses, John has a vision of Jesus as the Son of Man. Jesus declares He died, but is alive forever, and that overcoming death has earned Him the keys of Death and Hades.
I think of it like arm wrestling. Jesus fought Death for the right to have final authority over Death. Jesus won the match or battle, so He gets to keep the keys, saying effectively who comes and goes. You can not take someone’s keys unless you have authority over them.
Thank Jesus for winning that battle.
Stay Down! Ok, Get Up.
Jesus demonstrates His victory over death through His resurrection. Can you imagine what that must have been like? For a couple days Death thought it had won. Then on the third day, there was an earthquake and everything changed. It is as if Death tried to tell him, “Stay down!”, until it realized it had no dominion over Him, so it conceded with “Ok, get up.”
He did die, but now He lives. I like how these verses say it with the double doubles of “he died he died” and “he lives he lives.”
We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. Romans 6:9-10ESV
We are invited into a similar transaction, dying to sin and living to God. As we enter into that activity by faith, we ensure that Death will have no dominion over us either. Like Christ, we may very well descend into a grave, but also like Him we will leave it behind one day.
Thank Jesus for making that possible.
Alleluia!
Jesus, thank You for fighting the fight and winning the battle with death. Thank You for demonstrating your victory by rising to life, and giving me the hope I will as well, even if I die. Until then, may Your resurrection power be at work in me helping me to live for Your glory. In Jesus name. Amen.
Grateful Thinking!
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Subscribers enjoy this podcast! Everyone else, the transcript below.
Podcast 5.3 Transcript
Welcome to Thursday Thoughts at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s think about this.
After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.”…When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Jesus went to the cross out of love and obedience to the Father. He went there to redeem us by offering His life as a perfect sacrifice. He finished His work. Give Him praise!
[The Son of Man] laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.
John has a vision of Jesus as the Son of Man. Jesus declares He died, but is alive forever, and that overcoming death has earned Him the keys of Death and Hades. You can not take someone’s keys unless you have authority over them. Thank Jesus for winning that battle.
We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God.
Death no longer has dominion over Him. His life was not taken from Him, instead He willingly laid it down, then took it up again. He rose to life and invites us into that life. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you live your life to God, like Jesus, our Risen Lord.
And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
One thief on the cross beside Jesus chose to acknowledge Him for who He was by rebuking the other thief, and followed it with a simple request, remember me. Christ has opened paradise to all who will acknowledge Him for who He is. How can you acknowledge Him today? Not sure? Ask Him to show you.
Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has come to your mind, or just listen to what He is saying to you, then I will read our text once more.
Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia! Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia! Death in vain forbids His rise, Alleluia! Christ hath opened paradise, Alleluia!
Take the mindfulness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond. Until next time, be Resonant.
Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia! Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia! Death in vain forbids His rise, Alleluia! Christ hath opened paradise, Alleluia!
Christ the Lord is Risen Today By: Charles Wesley, 1707-1778
Listen as you read. This is a neat orchestral karaoke version.
The first and last lines of this weeks stanza allude to a couple of Jesus’ last words from the cross. He speaks a promise to a thief, and then quietly declares His work is done before taking his last breath. Both of these “words” or phrases evoke a response in our hearts if we will let them. Will you let them?
Finished
It is Finished
Jesus…said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:30
Finished means complete or perfect in all details, as in a product. The work the Father had for Jesus to do, “Love’s redeeming work”, was done. Several times earlier in the book of John Jesus had referred to finishing the work the Father had for Him, using this same word translated finished. He completed that cycle when He declared “It is finished”.
His sacrificial death satisfied the wrath of God. As we considered a few entries ago, sin has a consequence. Death. Jesus paid in full the debt we owed to a Holy God. Sin had to be atoned, and Jesus did just that. He redeemed us, purchasing our forgiveness at a great price when He said, “It is finished.”
I wonder if the devil might have been confused thinking Jesus had misspoke. Notice He did not say, “I am finished”.
I wonder how often we find ourselves confused thinking there is still something we need to do to finish our salvation. There is nothing more we need to do.
Let me be clear. Jesus still had to leave the tomb empty to demonstrate His victory over sin, death and the grave. The unleashing of His resurrection power for all who believe had not yet occurred, but Love’s redeeming work was done. He opened paradise, but before we consider the effect of His sacrifice, allow you heart to revel in the juxtaposition of these two extremes: death and life, suffering and paradise.
His going to Golgatha, while it purchased our access to paradise, was the antithesis of it. This is the connection between these two. So, once again, Jesus brings together two very disparate things. Take a few moments and let the wonder of that sink deeply into your heart. He took what we deserved to give us what we could not earn.
Paradise
Christ and the Thief on the Cross
(Jesus) said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43
What do think the thief on the cross felt when Jesus spoke those words to him? I wonder what paradise would have meant to him? Anything would be better than the anguish he was experiencing on the cross, but paradise? I have a feeling he took Jesus at His word. Was is that sometimes so hard for us to do?
How does the word paradise make you feel? What words would describe those feelings?
Joy
Peace
Hope
Light
Relief
Security
Safety
Beauty
Our answers would probably be about as different as you could imagine because we would likely each define paradise very differently. When you try to imagine paradise what comes to mind? Does it have some of the elements of this beautiful image?
Stairway to Heaven
This is actually a Thomas Kinkade work titled “Stairway to Paradise”. I like some of the elements here.
the light
nature
the warmth
the mist
The most obvious thing it is missing is people. I suppose you can imagine they are just out of view, but the idea of paradise without others to enjoy it makes it something less, even for introverts like me. This is especially true for the Christian, which I suppose would describe the thief as well, since the very presence of Christ is the essential figure that makes any place a paradise. After all, Jesus told the thief he would be with Him in paradise.
We should find great comfort in that we can not only face death knowing it has no dominion over Jesus, but that when we die we will be with Him, like the thief. We can say with Paul,
“Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 5:8
Alleluia!
Happy Tuning!
Jesus, thank You for completing the work the Father gave you to do. Thank You for opening paradise for all who believe in You. Help my hear to believe that Your work is finished and paradise is mine, today. In Jesus name. Amen.
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Below is content available only to Subscribers Free Members. Want to learn more about accessing all the additional material in the Subscriber Content Library, click here, or the Free Member Content Library with some examples of the Subscribers content, click here.
Subscribers, please enjoy this video log! And everyone else the transcript below.
Video 5.3 Transcript
Welcome to Tuesday Tunings at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s tune our hearts.
Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia! Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia! Death in vain forbids His rise, Alleluia! Christ hath opened paradise, Alleluia!
Before He breathed His last Jesus said, “It is finished.” He came to seek and save the lost, and with His death He completed that work. You are redeemed because you are loved. Marvel at His gift of love today.
In the Garden of Gethsemane, as in anguish He sweat drops of blood, Jesus asked His Father “Let this cup pass from me. Yet not my will but Yours be done.” In His surrender, He was victorious. How can you follow His lead today?
What a shock Death must have had on that Resurrection morning when Jesus rose to life. Death tried, but could not hold Him down. Accordingly, Death will be equally unsuccessful with you. Give Jesus praise for completing His Father’s assignment so powerfully.
One of the those who hung with Him on Calvary acknowledged who Jesus was and asked to be remembered when Christ would come into His kingdom. Jesus rewarded his belief by responding, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” That promise echoes in every heart of faith. Listen, can you hear it?
Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has surfaced in your heart, or just listen to what He is saying to you, then we will sing once more
Sing
Take the awareness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond. Until next time, be Resonant.
Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia! Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia! Once He died our souls to save, Alleluia! Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!
Christ the Lord is Risen Today By: Charles Wesley, 1707-1778
Listen as you read. This is a short but beautiful cello version.
Let’s think about this. He is alive because He has the authority to take His life up again after He laid it down. He had to lay it down because our sin had a consequence. The consequence was death.
Borrowed Tomb
There is a powerful line in a song we sang on Easter Sunday called Resurrecting, from Elevation Worship.
The tomb where soldiers watched in vain, was borrowed for three days. His body there would not remain. Our God has robbed the grave.
Where Thy Victory, O Grave?
Who borrows a tomb? Only someone who knows they will be able to return it, having only needed it for a short time. Jesus had a grave, but the Father robbed it.
Though when we sing this powerful stanza we are asking the rhetorical question, “Where thy victory, O grave?”, it could just as well be Jesus making the inquiry. In fact, He had already asked those questions through the prophet Hosea hundreds of years before.
I will set these people free from the power of the grave. I will save them from death. Death, where are your plagues? Grave, where is your power to destroy?Hosea 13:14 NIrV
The grave thought it had defeated Christ, but it was only a fleeting illusion. He conquered the grave when He left it empty. Alleluia! Take a moment and thank Jesus for leaving that tomb empty, and in so doing, giving you hope you will one day do the same.
Dying Once
Some versions of this stanza say “Dying once” instead of “Once He died”. That is the one I am more familiar with so I like how it rolls off the tongue, possibly more from familiarity, but I have to admit the one here is actually more clear. He was not dying once, he died once. And He did so, because He had to.
Consider these two Scriptures.
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,Romans 3:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.Romans 6:23
We have all sinned. The wages of sin, what you get for doing it, is death. Ergo, we all have earned the right to die. Jesus traded us what He deserved, life eternal, for what we deserved, death. His death dealt with sin, once for all.
So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. Hebrews 9:28
Sacrificial Lamb
When Jesus died once for all He was satisfying the wrath of God in a way the sacrificial system of the Old Testament could never do. The Tabernacle/Temple sacrifices had to be repeated over and over because they could not really deal with sin by perfecting the conscience of the worshipper. Hebrews 9 explains this beautifully, but these two verses capture it well.
Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own,for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.Hebrews 9:25-26
Once for All
Only Jesus was able to offer the perfect sacrifice. Thanks be to God, He did! Take a moment and thank Jesus for dying once, and in so doing, saving you for the wages of sin and offering you the gift of God, eternal life.
Alleluia!
Jesus, thank You thank You for offering the perfect sacrifice, once for all, to save me from my sin. Thank You for demonstrating victory of the grave by leaving that tomb empty. I will ever sing praises to Your matchless name. Alleluia! In Jesus name. Amen.
Grateful Thinking!
Are these thoughts helping you to develop greater spiritual awareness? Sign-up in the form to the right above to get updates of new tools to help you be Resonant.
Below is content available only to Subscribers. Want to learn more about accessing all the additional material in the Subscriber Content Library, click here. Or check out some samples at our Free Member Content Library. We have lots of tools and lots of options designed to help you be Resonant! Check them out today!!
Subscribers enjoy this podcast! Everyone else, the transcript below.
Podcast 5.2 Transcript
Welcome to Thursday Thoughts at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s think about this.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
Jesus Christ is alive again. Because He lives, we have a living hope into which we have been born again. Our Father’s great mercy has accomplished this. Bless Him for raising Jesus and in so doing, giving us life and hope and peace.
54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
What an incredible rhetorical question! What a remarkable statement of faith! Jesus’ body having perished, put on the imperishable, and in so doing, swallowed up death in victory. Even though we may die, we will live. Alleluia!
So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.
He accomplished His Father’s will, and will come a second time, having dealt with sin, to save us. And who are we? Those who are eagerly waiting for Him. You may be waiting, but are you eager? Ask Him to make you eager.
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
You have victory over sin, death and the grave. You could never have accomplished this, but Jesus already did. Thank Him.
Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has come to your mind, or just listen to what He is saying to you, then I will read our text once more.
Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia! Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia! Once He died our souls to save, Alleluia! Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!
Take the mindfulness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond. Until next time, be Resonant.
