Tuesday, April 5, 2005
Acts 3:13-15 The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.
EASTER TRIUMPH
"Man proposes, God disposes," as the saying goes. God has the ability and the power to overthrow any of man's most cruel intentions. Look at the plans which the people had laid for Jesus on Good Friday. They handed Him over to be killed. They disowned Him before Pilate. They arranged for a murderer to be released and Jesus to be crucified. Only one thing was on their minds and that was to rid the world of the Man from Nazareth for good and for all. They thought they had it all figured out-- perfectly arranged.
But look how easily God unraveled all their wicked intent! Come Easter Sunday, what good had the false witnesses been? When the stone was rolled away, what harm had the shouts of "Crucify!" really been able to do? The enemies of Christ had given it their best shot. They had done the worst thing to Jesus they could possibly do-- and yet in a mere moment their best efforts were cast aside as nothing, for He was raised from the dead.
By His resurrection Jesus triumphs over all His enemies. He wins the victory over all those who try to speak against Him; who try to wipe His name from the face of the earth.
And He triumphs even over OUR sins. Though our flesh too has railed against Him, neither could our wickedness keep Him in the grave. He casts our sins aside with the message that He is risen, our evil is forgiven, and He lives and reigns forever and ever.
"Today the Son of God triumphs,
He who rose indeed from the dead,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
In great splendor and glory.
For this we thank Him forever.
Alleluia! Alleluia!"
