journey onWord with us

We here at Journey onWord want to extend a special thank you to our colleague Mark Robb for the exceptional articles this past Holy Week.   His thoughts were a wonderful help on our path toward Easter Sunday.

It’s the day after resurrection Sunday, and life goes back to normal. For us, often it’s difficult to give proper emphasis to what the cross and resurrection really mean… and then to extend that beyond resurrection day. I can only imagine what the days following the resurrection meant to the closest followers of Christ. The resurrected Lord made different appearances and ministered along the way. He showed care for a “doubting Thomas” and restored Peter. He commissioned His disciples to go and make disciples. A new day of ministry was upon them, and that ministry is alive and well today.

I Corinthians 15:3-5
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve.

In these verses, Paul is giving us the essence of the gospel, the good news. Christ died and rose again for our sins that we might be justified. But on this first day after resurrection Sunday, are the implications still vibrant and new in our lives? Or have they already dulled and blended into the routine? Consider the experience of Dr. Robert W. Dale, and contrast that against your own resurrection response.

Dr. Robert W. Dale, one of Great Britain’s leading Congregational pastors and theologians, was one day preparing an Easter sermon when a realization of the risen Lord struck him with new power. “Christ is alive!” he said to himself. “Alive-alive-alive!” He paused, and then said, “Can that really be true? Living as really as I myself am?” He got up from his desk and began to walk about his study, repeating, “Christ is living! Christ is living!” Dr. Dale had known and believed this doctrine for years, but the reality of it overwhelmed him that day. From that time on, “the living Christ” was the theme of his preaching, and he had his congregation sing an Easter hymn every Sunday morning. “I want my people to get hold of the glorious fact that Christ is alive and to rejoice over it; and Sunday, you know, is the day on which Christ left the dead.”

Taken from, “Be Transformed” by Warren W. Wiersbe

You’re probably not going to be comfortable walking around verbalizing, “Christ is living!” But you can choose to live it in front of others today, and make it the theme of every day that God grants you. For without the cross and resurrection Sunday there would be no hope. History tells us that Christ lives. Saving faith reveals that Christ is living in me. Let each day reflect the love of your resurrected Lord. The Father wants those who know Him to spread the word of His peace and love because His Son is alive-alive-alive!

If you are not certain of your faith in Christ, or are struggling to find the power of the resurrection in your everyday life, send us a note.  We would love to share the reason of the hope that is within us.