The Glory Of The Resurrection

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.