Thursday April 13th, 2023
Meditate on: John 14:3 ISV
« And since I’m going away to prepare a place for you, I’ll come back again and welcome you into my presence, so that you may be where I am. »
Read: John 20:1-9 ISV
1 On the first day of the week, early in the morning and while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and noticed that the stone had been removed from the tomb.
2 So she ran off and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, whom Jesus kept loving. She told them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”
3 So Peter and the other disciple took off for the tomb.
4 The two of them were running together, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and came to the tomb first.
5 Bending over to look inside, he noticed the linen cloths lying there, but didn’t go in.
6 At this point Simon Peter arrived, following him, and went straight into the tomb. He observed that the linen cloths were lying there,
7 and that the handkerchief that had been on Jesus’ head was not lying with the linen cloths but was rolled up in a separate place.
8 Then the other disciple, who arrived at the tomb first, went inside, looked, and believed.
9 For they did not yet understand the Scripture that said that Jesus had to rise from the dead.
Understand:
The first thing Jesus’ resurrection from the dead does is that it assures us we are not serving a dead God.
Our God is alive forevermore!
Jesus Himself says in Revelations 1:18 GNT:
« I am the living one! I was dead, but now I am alive forever and ever. Amen. »
When He rose and ascended to Heaven, He made room for the Holy Spirit to descend on us.
According to John 16:7 NKJV
« Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. »
If you know me very well, you would know that I love the Holy Spirit.
Oh, thank God that Jesus rose and ascended to Heaven.
It is because He sent the Holy Spirit to us that we are able to heal the sick, make the barren fruitful and raise the dead.
Jesus’ rising up and going to sit at the right hand of the Father means that we have an advocate in Heaven, pleading our case.
It is because He rose that no matter how dirty you are, no matter how far you have been in the world, you can come to the throne of grace and obtain mercy from God because Jesus will plead for you.
He has been tempted too, so you can share your temptations with Him and ask Him for grace to overcome them like He did His.
Ultimately, when He rose, He went to prepare a place for His people in Heaven.
Those of us who love Him do His will (John 14:15), and we have the assurance that a mansion is waiting for us in Heaven when we leave this world (John 14:3).
This however, is sad news for those who commit sin, because they will be going to hell with the devil (Matthew 25:41).
Do not allow Jesus’ death and resurrection be in vain over your life.
Reflection: With your current lifestyle, are you amongst those whom Jesus has prepared a mansion for in Heaven?
Author: Bishop Enoch. A. Adeboye.
Edited by Naomie
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