Thursday, May 22, 2014
Matthew 28:8-9 So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, "Greetings!" And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him.
SINCE JESUS' RESURRECTION IS FOR REAL, WE CAN BE SURE HIS WORD IS COMPLETELY RELIABLE
Now, one might expect the appearance of Jesus to cause the women sensory overload, to faint dead away. But they were not gripped with fear. On the contrary, they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him.
The women immediately recognized Jesus as Jesus. They didn't ask who He was when He met and greeted them on the way. They went right up to Him. "Well, of course they did, Pastor, it was Jesus!"
Exactly! There are those who claim that Jesus didn't take up the same body but arose as an angel or some other being. The reaction of the women is yet another proof that Jesus arose from the dead not as a spirit but bodily.
So, will we recognize one another after we rise from the dead? I'd have to say YES based on these words.
Now since we are discussing death, the resurrection and heaven, there is a movie in theaters called, "Heaven is for Real." It tells the story of a boy who had a near death experience, and who recounts the details of his amazing journey.
Let's remember that "Heaven is for Real" is a movie. Let me say it again: It's a movie. Let us be certain of heaven because God's Word says so, not because we saw it on the TV or in a movie or heard that someone "saw the light" in the throes of death. For if we build our confidence in heaven on the emotional experiences of others, we build on sand, but if our confidence comes from God's Word then it is built on the Rock that does not change.
