On that first resurrection day, Mathew's Gospel account tells us that "Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave" where Jesus had been laid following His crucifixion. An angel of the Lord proclaimed to them the glorious truth that we celebrate this Resurrection day. "He is not here, He has risen, just as He said." Let me repeat those last four words, "just as He said." If God will allow it, it is my intention to express the importance of the truth that is represented in those four words.
Prior to His crucifixion Jesus had openly taught that the Son of Man would be delivered into the hands of men and be condemned to death. It came to pass, just as He said. On several occasions Jesus proclaimed that following His death He would rise from the dead after 3 days. As we celebrate today, He did indeed rise from the dead, just as He said, and our hope is in a risen Savior. Jesus proclaimed that it was to our advantage that He go away and that He would send the Helper. On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit (the Helper) came, just as He said. Jesus said that He would build His church and that the gates of Hades would not overpower it. For almost two thousand years He has been building His church, just as He said. And though the enemy has fought to rid the world of His church, the gates of Hades have not overpowered it and it remains this glorious resurrection day. Perhaps you see where this is leading.
Oh, how important are the things that He has said! And how important it is to know them! In John's Gospel, John records Jesus as having said, "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself, that where I am, you may be also." To be sure, just as Jesus said, there are mockers asking "Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation." Just as we can look back and see the things that have come to pass, "just as He said", so will His coming again be one day.
I do not propose to know the day or the hour in which He will come. I don't know the year in which it will come to pass. But I believe what the Hebrew author was inspired to write in Chapter ten and verse 37, "For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay." Yes, He said He would come again and one day, like His resurrection, it will be a past event wherein He was glorified.
May His church glory in His name as they remember Him this day. Perhaps a boy or a girl, a man or a woman came to know Him for the very first time today. Praise the Lord and praise the truth of His resurrection!
Greg
