Ian Johnson
Mar 26, 2005
On Good Friday I heard a radio broadcast on a secular station. It was run by Christians trying to be user friendly, talking about the peace that all religions supposedly believe in. Many "Christians" were phoning in and agreeing that there is little difference between the religions. I almost burst trying to hold back my amazement. For there is one great difference between Christians and all others! Its the Glory of the Resurrection.
ROMANS 6: 4 For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. 5 Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised as he was. 6 Our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. 7 For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. 8 And since we died with Christ, we know we will also share his new life. 9 We are sure of this because Christ rose from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. 10 He died once to defeat sin, and now he lives for the glory of God. 11 So you should consider yourselves dead to sin and able to live for the glory of God through Christ
Yes it’s true "We serve a risen saviour" How do we know? He walks with me & talks with me along life’s narrow way! He Lives! He Lives! Hallelujah He is alive!
Its no mistake that Paul talks of the Glory of the Resurrection. For there is no greater glory!
But it seems that even Christians fail to see this Glory!
The veil must be removed!
Note the story of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. Luke 24:13-34.
They walked seven miles with Jesus but did not recognise him. Because they had a veil over there eyes. They were looking for a different kind of Jesus. One who would run the Romans out of town. The Jesus they were looking for didn’t fit the description of the Jesus they were walking with.
Then Jesus removed the veil off their eyes by revealing what was there all along.
25 Then Jesus said to them, "You are such foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. 26 Wasn’t it clearly predicted by the prophets that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his time of glory?" 27 Then Jesus quoted passages from the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining what all the Scriptures said about himself. 28 By this time they were nearing Emmaus and the end of their journey. Jesus would have gone on, 29 but they begged him to stay the night with them, since it was getting late. So he went home with them. 30 As they sat down to eat, he took a small loaf of bread, asked God’s blessing on it, broke it, then gave it to them. Suddenly,their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared!
A covenant is always sealed with a meal!
Where did they see his glory? Around a meal.
The simple act of breaking bread broke the veil off their eyes and they saw Him!
In 2 Cor 3:7-18 Paul calls it The Glory of the New Covenant. He speaks of a veil being removed, to show forth the glory.
The Glory of the New Covenant
7 That old system of law etched in stone led to death, yet it began with such glory that the people of Israel could not bear to look at Moses’ face. For his face shone with the glory of God, even though the brightness was already fading away. 8 Shouldn’t we expect far greater glory when the Holy Spirit is giving life? 9 If the old covenant, which brings condemnation, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new covenant, which makes us right with God! 10 In fact, that first glory was not glorious at all compared with the overwhelming glory of the new covenant. 11 So if the old covenant, which has been set aside, was full of glory, then the new covenant, which remains forever, has far greater glory. 12 Since this new covenant gives us such confidence, we can be very bold. 13 We are not like Moses, who put a veil over his face so the people of Israel would not see the glory fading away. 14 But the people’s minds were hardened, and even to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, a veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ. 15 Yes, even today when they read Moses’ writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, then the veil is taken away. 17 Now, the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, he gives freedom. 18 And all of us have had that veil removed so that we can be mirrors that brightly reflect* the glory of the Lord. And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more.
Turning to the Lord removes the veil. But the veil could only be removed by a new and more glorious covenant. Sealed by the glory of the resurrection.
This Glory opened a new and living way!
When he rose fronm the dead!
The Curtain was rent in two in the temple that for the first time the glory of the Holy of Holies was visible to all.
That which was hidden is now revealed because of the resurrection of Christ! The resurrection rent the veil not only in the temple on earth but it rent the veil between heaven & earth! The way is now open for us to see even the glories of heaven! That Angels might descend and ascend with ease, Stephen saw directly into heaven because the veil was torn and the glory of God was revealed!
When we turn our lives over to the Lord Paul says the veil is removed.
When I was at high School the Gideon’s gave me a bible. I used to get it out sometimes and try to read it, but I just couldn’t understand it. When I turned my life over to Jesus the resurrection power of Jesus tore the veil that was over my mind and suddenly I wanted to devour the word like food, I understood it.
The veil is torn because of the resurrection. But the enemy is always trying to cloud over the truth.
I had seen many pictures of Mt Taranaki in NZ it looked beautiful.But I had never seen it for myself. I had been to the area four times before I actually saw the mountain. When the clouds were removed the sight of the mountain took my breath away it was magnificent.
Many know alot about the Lord and they enjoy His beauty from the description in the word. But when the veil is removed and we see him face to face it is glorious! His glory is beyond the description of mere words!
There are many veils that prevent us from seeing Veils of pride Veils of religion Veils of unbelief Veils of sin Veils of rebellion
But all these will be removed when we turn to the Lord! Put away pride put away religion put away rebellion & sin. And the Power of the resurrection will serge through us transforming us in the Glory of resurrection power.
The power surge in the universe at the time of the resurrection must have been amazing. It caused an earthquake in Jerusalem. It caused men to tremble and fear. It caused life from the dead for many saints of old who came out of the grave It caused heaven to open over the city It caused a transformation of ordinary men & woman into power packed disciples
The resurrection is more than a story it is the seal of a new covenant. Many had come before to say that they were Messiah but only Jesus remains alive forever! Acts 5;33-39 The advise of Gamaliel was If this is of God who can stop it!!!!
All others who have come. Proclaiming this or that. Their testimony is the same, their bones are on view for all to see! But Jesus is raised and lives forever!
Stephen saw it Acts 7
Paul saw beyond the veil into this glory
John saw the glory beyond the veil. Rev 1:10-18
We need to listen to what the Apostle Peter said 2 Peter 1:16-19 16 For we were not making up clever stories when we told you about the power of our Lord Jesus Christ and his coming again. We have seen his majestic splendor with our own eyes. 17 And he received honor and glory from God the Father when God’s glorious, majestic voice called down from heaven, "This is my beloved Son; I am fully pleased with him." 18 We ourselves heard the voice when we were there with him on the holy mountain. 19 Because of that, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. Pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a light shining in a dark place—until the day Christ appears and his brilliant light shines in your hearts.
He is risen just as the Prophets foretold! He is risen just as he said would happen He is risen His people declare it this day
We celebrate the Glory of His resurrection with faces unveiled!
Ian Johnson
www.papelim.org.nz
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