Saturday, April 6, 2013
Romans 6:3-4 Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
GOD WILL EXCEED YOUR EVERY EXPECTATION
The women who ventured to the tomb on that first Easter Sunday expected to find a dead Jesus. But God smiled and gave them a resurrected Lord. They expected one last goodbye, but God showed them that this was only the beginning.
The Roman soldiers detailed to guard Jesus' tomb expected a rag-tag band of disciples to attempt an opening of this tomb. But God smiled, and sent a single, mighty angel to show the world that the risen Christ had already left.
The women expected the worst when they approached the broken tomb. But God smiled and sent them two gentle angels to explain the mystery. Then they expected to see Jesus in Galilee, some 75 miles north. But Jesus smiled and met them before they even reached Jerusalem.
Whatever John expected to find when he entered Jesus' tomb, it wasn't what he found. A tomb is not the usual place to find life. But God smiled when His Son finished suffering the punishment for the sins of the world and raised Him to life thus declaring that the sinner's debt was now paid.
For our daily sins of thought, word, and deed with might well expect God's judgment. But by God's grace we are led to repent of these sins, and in Christ we find complete forgiveness.
United to Christ Jesus through the powerful waters of baptism, and held to Him by faith, we are not only guaranteed newness of life after our earthly death, we are also given newness of life now.
Expect that God will raise you on the Last Day, and will place your gently by His side. But also expect that even in this, God will exceed your every expectation.
