All this past month I've been posting about the Child born in a manger two thousand years ago. However, we should not forget that that Child grew up and did wondrous miracles - and then willingly went to the Cross and died to pay for our sins.
Normally, the story would end there, a tragic tale of the death of a hero. Everybody would mourn, and then after wiping their tears away, everybody would then get on with their lives. But, of course, that is not the end of the story!
Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.'" And they remembered His words. Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles. And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them. But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened. (Luke 24:1-12, NKJV)
Jesus arose from the dead! By His own power, as the Lord of Life, and to show that He had indeed conquered the grave on our behalf. Do not ever forget that this Child, Whose birth we celebrated yesterday, is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe - and He is also our Redeemer and Friend. He who once was born, executed and buried, has risen again, and He is at the right hand of His Father in Heaven.
He will also return:
Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. (Revelation 19:11-16, NKJV)
On that Day, all the earth will know Him for Who He is:
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. (Colossians 1:15-18, NKJV)
Do you know Him? Have you accepted His sacrifice and humbled yourself under His almighty hand? Now is the time, for you could die in the next breath, and then it would be too late. He waits patiently, and His arms are open and longing for lost sinners to accept His gift - but He will not wait forever.
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