Rhemalogy

As we arrive at Resurrection Sunday—many are confused and divided about how the coronavirus variant is affecting their faith. However, right here, the variant does not take center stage as it cannot alter the fact Jesus rose on the third day after His crucifixion. You cannot put this belief behind a mask. This is the preface of the Good News. (Isaiah 61:1) And has long been taught and preached for some 2,000 years.

The greatest resurrection, to date, is that of our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ, who is the ultimate centerpiece of our Easter Celebration. For the Spirit of God raised him up. (Acts 2:23-24) Which is the foundational principle of all Christian beliefs. “The chief cornerstone that the builders rejected.” Peter’s preeminent point, as he quoted Psalm 118:22, was the stone rejected by the builders was chosen by God, the chief builder, to be the capstone. The traditional definition of a capstone is a final “crowning” and protective stone laid at the top of an exterior wall. Therefore, Jesus was the crowning glory of God’s word as it defines the salvation and redemption of humanity. Peter is exerting the fact Jesus Christ was rejected and crucified by his own people. But God, who is building the spiritual house, had chosen Jesus Christ to be the capstone of that building from the foundation of the earth, which is composed of all the believers in Him. (1 Peter 2:6-8)

How the Easter Bunny got into the picture still has me utterly confused. Although the explanation for his arrival can be found on Wikipedia.

The first time Jesus raised someone from the dead…

The first time Jesus raised someone from the dead was in the little village of Nain; which is two miles south of Mt. Tabor. The town of Nain was also near Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth, and not far from Shunem where Elisha raised the son of the Shunamite woman (2 Kings 4:18-37).

Luke, the physician, describes the miracle…

Now it happened, the day after, that He went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, and a large crowd. And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her.  When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.”  Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.”  So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother. Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen up among us”; and, “God has visited His people.” And this report about Him went throughout all Judea and all the surrounding region. (Luke 7:11-17)

It is important to reiterate “the only son of his mother and she was a widow“. Just as Jesus’ was Mary’s only son—conceived from the Holy Spirit and she too was a widow when Jesus began his ministry. Was Jesus preparing the true believers for his coming resurrection in this? Was this a foreshadow of what was to come? Let’s take this a step further. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

The widow represents the Church mourning the loss of Jesus on the cross. But God, the Chief Architect, foreseeing the needs of His Church, intervened and resurrected his Son. So the body of Christ might have an Intercessor for the needs that were to come. Such as the time we are living in right now. Is it not written And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus? (Philippians 4:19)

All this talk about resurrection—what does it mean? Resurrection means a ‘raising up’, or ‘rising up’ from the Greek word Anastasis. In the verb form, it means ‘to cause to stand or rise up; to raise from sleep or from the dead’.

There are ten recorded resurrections in the Holy Bible

There are ten recorded resurrections in the Holy Bible: the widow of Zarephath’s son, by Elijah, the Shunammite woman’s son, by Elisha, a man raised when he came into contact with Elisha’s bones, the widow of Nain’s son, by Jesus, Jairus’ daughter, by Jesus, Lazarus, by Jesus after 3 days, and many Holy people came out of their tombs when Jesus died on the Cross. Dorcas was raised by Peter and Eutychus, by Paul.

The old man has to die so the new man may live. You cannot put old wine in a new wineskin. In order to walk in the newness of Christ, you have to bury that old man. So yes, resurrection is imperative to walk the path to your destiny. Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, You must be born again.” (John 3:5-7 KJV)

Variant or no variant. So long as our hearts are opened and we believe in the birth of Christ, his burial, and resurrection. Then the Chief Cornerstone the builders rejected is still the foundation of our faith, a baptism to a new life, and the door to eternity for us.

HAPPY RESURRECTION SUNDAY! From us here at Rhema International. Blessings and peace to you!

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