But we trusted that it had been He which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; And when they found not His body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that He was alive. And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but Him they saw not. Then He said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory? And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. (Luke 24:21-27)
Jesus death, burial, and resurrection were foretold in the Law, Prophets, and the Writings, the Hebrew Scriptures or Old Testament. God had his plan of redemption in place from the beginning, had spoken of the seed of the woman, the Kinsman-Redeemer, and the Holy One of Israel who was not only King, but also the Son of God who was God the Son and who put on flesh to pay for our sins. The Word of God became a man that men might be reconciled with God and Moses and the Prophets spoke of all these things, proclaiming the suffering Servant of Jehovah who would rule all things in His time.
Our Saviour is indeed alive, sitting on the right hand of the Father and making intercession for His own. All who have put their trust in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary in repentance and faith know Jesus who is called Christ, the Messiah of God, not only from the Gospels, but also from the Old Testament. From Genesis to Malachi, from Adam to John, we see the person of Jesus Christ our Saviour and the work of God to redeem mankind from curse of sin we brought upon ourselves when we rebelled against our Creator. The One who spoke all things into being with the Word of His power became as we are, yet without sin, that we might become, not gods but one with the Father, reconciled with Him through His shed blood for our sin. The Scriptures speak of Him who is Creator, Redeemer, and King, who suffered for sin, who put on flesh and endured all our punishment, and now awaits that Day when all things shall be consummated and He will rule and reign over Israel and the world. His death paid our sin debt and we rejoice in that He is risen, He is risen indeed, and we await His return first for His own and then to judge sin and all those who oppose Him.
Until that day, God has sent those of us who are His saints and know Him out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our God has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of God so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of God might have life in His Name.
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. God calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with God, forgiveness from God, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet