The fall of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden has not only resulted in mankind being cast out of the Garden of Eden but also brought death as the Lord God warned.
“but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Gen 1:17)
Most, if not all fear death, death is a taboo word for many, people find it hard to use it when death happens. Death is something difficult and hard to accept. But death came about because of sin. One day if the Lord has not return yet we too will die, like all the rest of mankind. Death brings great sorrow to people closest to the deceased.
The disciples of Jesus also felt great sorrow and disappointment because their master whom they hoped would overthrow the Romans and became the King of the Jews died. Some disciples hoped that perhaps they could reign with Jesus, seated on the right and left side of His throne but Jesus died. Jesus was crucified against their wishes and desires, and they were helpless in preventing the death of Jesus although Peter attempted to intervene at the garden of Gethsemane.
But the disciples who were with Jesus for three years failed to grasp the mission of Jesus. They were only looking at the amazing miracles and the amazing teachings of Jesus. They were only willing to see what they wanted to see and hear what they wanted to hear and ignored what did not tally with their understanding of the Messiah. Jesus has told them on several occasions that He would die and rise on the third day, but they did not understand this, then Jesus died and was buried in a tomb.
So after the burial of Jesus, on the first day of the week, the women came to the tomb of Jesus, worrying who would move the heavy tombstone as they did not expect Jesus to have risen from the dead.
But Jesus rose from the dead, the greatest news of all. Jesus has conquered the death. Jesus paid the sins of the world with his own life, now mankind can find forgiveness and live again without the fear of dead. If Jesus had not gone to the cross and die there would have been no forgiveness of sin, if Jesus had not risen from the dead there would have been no hope for mankind against death. But Praise be to God, Jesus has overcome the death. Hallelujah!!!
55 “Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
(1 Cor15:55-57)
Jesus has conquered death and for all those who believe in Him has this great assurance that we would rise from the dead too. The Disciples were amazed by the resurrection of Jesus however, the disciples were disoriented for some time. Their Master who had been always with them before, teaching and guiding them was not there every moment anymore after His resurrection. Some of the disciples even went back to fishing the profession they had before called them . But our Lord Jesus was not done with them, He has much greater gift for them, as He told them,
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 go, I will send him to you.
(John 16:7)
The Holy Spirit was poured down to the 120 disciples at the upper on the Day of Pentecost and the church was born. Three thousand people were added to church on that day itself. The Holy Spirit has made His home with all those who put their faith in the Lord Jesus. The promised Helper, the promised Comforter has come and dwell with all believers permanently. The disciples went out to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the end of the world proclaim this Good News of the Lord Jesus. Fear no more, death has been conquered; we have assurance of life everlasting through the mighty work of our Lord Jesus. Amen
Pastor Razo