He Is Not Here, But Is Risen

Text: “Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep”

(1 Corinthians 15a:20)

Jerusalem – OBITUARY – 33 A.D.

Calvary-Jesus Christ 33, of Nazareth, died Friday on Mount Calvary, also known as Golgotha, the place of the skull. Betrayed by the Apostle Judas, Jesus was crucified by the Romans, by order of ruler Pontius Pilate. The causes of death were crucifixion, extreme exhaustion, severe torture, and loss of blood.

Jesus Christ, a descendant of Abraham, was a member of the house of David. He was the son of the late Joseph, a carpenter of Nazareth, and Mary, His devoted Mother.

Jesus was born in a stable in the city of Bethlehem, Judea. He is survived by His mother, His faithful Apostles, numerous disciples, and many other followers.

Jesus was self-educated, and spent most of His adult life working as a Teacher. Jesus also occasionally worked as a Medical Doctor and it is reported that He healed many patients.

Up until the time of His death, Jesus was teaching and sharing the Good News, healing the sick, touching the lonely, feeding the hungry and helping the poor.

Jesus was most noted for telling parables about His Father’s Kingdom and performing miracles, such as feeding over 5000 people with only five loaves of bread and two small fish and healing a man who was blind.

On the day before His death, He held a Last Supper celebrating the Passover Feast, at which He foretold His death.

The body was quickly buried in a stone grave, which was donated by Joseph of Arimathea, a loyal friend of the family. By order of Pontius Pilate, a boulder was rolled in front of the tomb. Roman soldiers were put on guard in front of the tomb.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that everyone try to live as Jesus did. Donations may be sent to anyone in need.

---------Author unknown – received via email

Resurrection Sunday or Easter Sunday is one special day of the year when many people attend a church of their choice. Many of these people do not celebrate the other Sundays of the year, but this particular Sunday is important to them. There is something special about Resurrection Sunday or Easter Sunday.

Why are churches crowded on this one day and not the other 51 Sundays in the year? I believe that the Holy Spirit speaks to these people is such a way they realize this earthly life is not forever and at some moment it will come to an end. Death is a sure thing. There is no way any of us will get out of this world alive.

People begin to realize they are not perfect by any means. They don’t like to hear about sin, but the fact is we are all sinners. We were born with a sinful nature and we sin on a daily basis. There is no way a person can forgive their own sins and form a right relationship with the Creator. Those who have not formed a right relationship with Almighty God will not be permitted to spend eternity in His kingdom.

The term resurrection should be music to the ears of each one of us because we are all facing death. We don’t know when it will come, but it is inevitable or unavoidable. Almighty God could see the whole picture before man was ever created.

He knew that Adam and Eve would create a situation whereby all people born thereafter would be born with a sinful nature. This sinful nature was born through disobedience. Disobedience to the will of God places a void or space between man and God. God’s plan was to provide a means whereby man could form a right relationship with Him.

This was accomplished by His Son who was sent into the world in human-form to pay the price of our sin penalty. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

The Cross is what would bridge the gap or void between sinful man and sinless God. God incarnate or God in the flesh would suffer pain and agony far beyond what man could possibly conceive.

This was God’s plan and this plan would be carried out because of the love the Father has for His children. “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).

There are no strings attached to God’s love. His love is unconditional and it is ours for the asking. He does not force His love upon us, but instead gives us a choice to accept it or reject it. “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:17).