Speaking Of Life 1021 | All Included
Greg Williams
He is Risen! You can almost hear the excitement as the disciples of Jesus and believers gathered. He is Risen! Death could not seize him; the grave could not hold him. He is Risen indeed! More than 2000 years later, we still greet each other on Easter morning with those words. He is Risen!
His resurrection started a movement that is continuing today – the movement started with a couple dozen Jewish men and women sharing the good news among themselves and it has since grown to millions of people of every tribe and nation sharing the same message – He is Risen!
I believe one of the most amazing truths about the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus is that it is for all – all people of all nations. There is no more separation of Jew or Greek, Slave or Free, Male or Female. All are included in his plan and his life. Sadly, not all accept the good news and don’t live in that truth, but it doesn’t take away the reality of the resurrection. He rose for all.
The disciples didn’t realize this at first. God had to preform a series of miraculous interventions for Peter to understand Jesus wasn’t just the savior of the Jews, but the savior of all. In Acts 10 we re ad that Peter was praying when God gave him a vision telling Peter the Gospel was also for Gentiles.
Later in the chapter we find Peter at the home of a Gentile, Cornelius. Peter started by saying,
[LOOK DOWN]
You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone pure or unclean.”
[LOOK UP]
It seems this message is just as applicable today in our “us versus them” way of looking at so many things that divide us – culture, gender, politics, race, religion. It seems we’ve missed one of the greatest points of the resurrection.
Reading on, Peter says this:
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“I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.”
[LOOK UP]
The resurrection was for all – Jesus is Lord of all.
His birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension is for everyone. Because of this, believers all around the world, in many different languages, share in the same greeting.
He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!
I’m Greg Williams, speaking of life.
