The resurrection - restoring relationship with Man

Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying.

He (Jesus) asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

 Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” John 20: 13, 15 - 16

The Gospel accounts of the resurrection vary but the basic facts are consistent. Jesus appeared first to the faithful women who had gone to the tomb, not sure what they would do as they could never move the stone, but they had to be there. 

John’s Gospel is my favourite account. Jesus met Mary who only recognised him when he called her name. How precious. 

As I was pondering again the terrible account of the death by crucifixion of our Saviour, I came back to the original thought ‘Why? Why would Jesus do it?’ The answer has to be love and love of a magnitude that we have no comprehension of. 

If we consider all other ‘gods’, and many other leaders only interested in power, all they demand is slavish obedience, fearful worship. They only want people who will bow down and do their will. They may sit in fake grandeur, high and distant from their subjects surrounded by obsequious attendants and ‘ministers’ but all they engender in these people is fear. There is no relationship.  

Instead, our wonderful, magnificent God created a beautiful world with Man as the pinnacle of his creation, made in his image, with whom he desires to walk in the cool of the day. Ever since Man rebelled from God’s plan, He has been working towards restoring the original design and the only way for Man to be redeemed from his sin and rebellion was for His precious, sinless son to pay the penalty in our place. 

The reason he would do this is love. God doesn’t want slavish obedience, he wants relationship based on love, his love for us and our love and adoration in return, freely given. We have only to read the accounts in the Bible of God’s presence and we see clouds of glory, majesty that creates such awe in sinful man that they fall flat upon their faces. Anyone who has come face to face with God in any measure whether Moses, Isaiah, Daniel, Ezekiel, Peter becomes overwhelmed by their sinfulness. Yet God wants to breach that gap between sinful man and holy, holy, holy God and the price was high, extremely high. 

Love always finds a way because love grieves over separation, love wants relationship - face to face relationship and the only way was the death of the sinless, perfect, beautiful Jesus.

As we celebrate again the victory of Easter – not just the death but the glorious resurrection conquering death, sin and all its attendant woes, let us be those who walk in the victory that Jesus won for us, not wallowing in our sin, guilt and shame but letting the work of the cross, the body and blood of Jesus do the work God intended to set us free, to walk in beautiful relationship with him. He loves us and all he wants is our hearts, our love and everything follows on from that. Our salvation and freedom came at a terrible cost, but Jesus says again, ‘I love you. It was worth it.’ 

The Lion roars

September 2008 - even more relevant today 2019

Behold the Lion of the tribe of Judah stands over this nation

He roars over the land      

Strongholds tremble and fall

Arise church and take your place

Declare the goodness of God to an unbelieving generation

Declare His love, His mercy, His forgiveness

The lion shakes his mane and gold dust falls over the land

Each fleck of gold is a glint of glory

Every speck is a miracle, a healing, a sign.

Gold falls as snow on the nation

Glory covers the land.

Church arise, declare the goodness of God to an unbelieving generation

Declare victory over the enemy

Declare the Lordship of our King over this land.

The Lion breathes over this nation

His breath warms cold hearts and cold lives

Apathy turns to passion

Indifference becomes a fire; an intense love for Jesus

A zeal for His Kingdom

A passion for His name.

The Lion swishes his tail

Strongholds tremble, falter and fall

Cracks appear in major institutions

Those built on power and greed totter and fall.

Governments tremble

The people fear, their knees shake

Hearts melt, bile arises in their throats 

‘What will become of us?’ they ask.

Church arise, declare the goodness of God to an unbelieving generation

Speak peace to fearful hearts 

Show love to those who have no hope

Do not fear for Our God reigns 

Let God’s people arise

Let His enemies be scattered

Let mercy like a tidal flow sweep this land

Grace will wash away greed and selfishness and cleanse the land

Love like a never ending stream 

Will cause righteousness to blossom and flourish

Church, arise, declare the Lordship of the King over this land.

Jesus came to destroy the devil's work

The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s works I John 3:8

One of the devil’s many ways of attacking the saints is through weariness. The Amplified Bible speaks of this in Daniel 7: 25. The devil loves to wear us out in any way he can and loves to try and get us to over commit ourselves and do too much. He will even use good works and try and make us feel guilty that we should do more.

People can become weary just from everyday life whether that is a poor person in Africa, struggling to get water, grow crops and have enough to feed the family, let alone get the money to send children to school to the busy executive in our western culture. Too many of us have so many commitments that require our attention from family, home, career, let alone church or a daily time with God. The devil will just burden us down with anything that slows us and will always try and persuade us that we have not done enough – of anything.

The good news is that Jesus has destroyed the works of the enemy. That is why he came into the world and by destroying his works he liberated every one of us. The devil does not want us walking in this freedom – he wants us weighed down, weary and guilty but through Jesus we have complete victory over every one of his lies, deceptions and dirty tricks.

One of the many keys to this victory is found in Isaiah 40: 31. Those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. They shall run and not grow weary; they shall walk and not grow faint.’ Imagine soaring on wings like eagles over the pile of things that need to be done or running through the day without getting tired or faint.

I am not a ‘morning’ person and for some time I resisted getting up early to spend time with God. I was already exhausted and needed all the sleep I could get! Eventually I gave in to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, set the alarm for earlier and with a cup of tea spent such precious times with God that refreshed and renewed me and gave me all the strength and strategy I needed for my busy day. I was no longer overwhelmed with all that had to be done. I let the Holy Spirit guide me and make my priorities. My body was sometimes still tired but my spirit was refreshed and renewed daily and carried me through each day.

Today set aside time to just be with God. Give yourself time, time to unwind, time to quiet your racing mind, time to shut out all the urgent things that are clamouring for your attention and sit down with the Lord and give him your full and undivided attention. His presence will refresh you and wash away the weariness and he will guide you and help you set Godly priorities. God’s presence and ways do not weary. If the work of the Lord is wearying you, ask him to show you if anything needs handing over to others or if you have picked up burdens that are not yours to carry. Ask for his strategies and priorities and don’t worry! God knows; trust him. He does not want his precious children weary and exhausted. He wants us full of his joy for ‘the joy of the Lord is your strength.’ Nehemiah 8:10