A RESURECTION “PARABLE”

A message from Rick Mosher, Senior Minister

Last year, I started April in the hospital. I went in on March 30 and missed being in Worship with the church on Easter for the only time in my life. I was so sick that on April 1, when Dr. Errico said he was sending me down to ICU, I didn’t even ask him if it was an April fools joke. With God’s blessings and good care, I got out on the 8th, the day of the eclipse. A good result of my illness was that I lost some weight that I needed to lose and now I feel as well as I did ten for fifteen years ago.

The day before I typed this message, our Youth/Associate Minister, Keegan, preached on parables. As I thought what to share for this month’s web site message, it hit me that my experience was kind of a parable. My coming back from serious illness, in a way parallels and illustrates the story of Jesus’ resurrection.

Following His crucifixion on Friday, Jesus started that Sunday morning in the grave. He wasn’t just sick or injured, He was dead as a door nail. He started the day DEAD, but just as dawn came and some of the women who followed Him approached the tomb to anoint His body, something spectacular happened. He arose from the dead, never to die again and He reigns as Lord and Christ!

Let the Scriptures, themselves, tell the story.

MATTHEW 28.1-6: 1 Now after the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.”

I CORINTHIANS 15.3-8: 3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one untimely born.

ACTS 2.32, 36: 32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. 36 Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.

Certainly, folks, Jesus died on the cross to pay the price for our sins. However, HE DIDN’T STAY DEAD. He arose from the dead and offers us salvation from sin and the hope of eternal life. He also provides help for us now by interceding with God on our behalf and by putting His Holy Spirit into our lives. These blessings are ours when we put our faith in Him, obey the Gospel, and live in Him.

How about you? Are you in Christ? Is He YOUR Lord and Savior? Have you put your faith in Jesus, repented from sin, confessed your faith in Jesus, and been baptized (immersed) into Him? Are you living daily in Jesus Christ? If you died today, would you go to heaven or hell?

Maybe as you have read this, you realize that you need to take Jesus as your Lord and Savior and become saved so you can have Him in your life. You can find scripture references that give more information about making Jesus your Lord and Savior by clicking on our Path to Salvation page on this web site. If we can assist you in obeying the Gospel, or in your walk with Christ, contact us.

CREDITS: Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.