2013 March 30 - Morning Manna

Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. And they remembered his words, And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not. Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass. (Luke 24:1-12)

Today's Morsel: The gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-3). The resurrection of Jesus Christ confounded many of His followers, and even today many are still confounded. They ask the question the same as Mary did, "How can these things be?" For many, for one to raise from the dead was a miraculous event. But Jesus told Martha, and He showed us, that He alone had the power to raise one from the dead and restore life. He told Martha, "I am the resurrection and the life" (John 11:25). In other words, I am the one that raises up and gives back life. When He raised Lazarus, Jarius' daughter and the woman's son at Nain from the dead, He was showing that He had the power to give back life and to resurrect. Jesus' resurrection from the dead was to complete the requirement to be in the New Testament Church. One must die to self, but one must also be raised to walk in newness of life ( Romans 6:1-5). Jesus died, was buried, and He rose again; revealing from dead to life. When we died to ourselves (repentance), were buried (baptized), and were filled with His Spirit (resurrected), we must walk in newness of life. Easter means the Passover, which is death; but Resurrection means to stand up, which is life. David said: "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright" (Psalms 20:7-8).

Sing: Aint' no grave gonna hold my body down. Aint' no grave gonna hold my body down. When I hear the trumpet sound, I'm gonna get up out that ground, cause aint' no grave gonna hold my body down.