He is alive now!
This month Christianity is celebrating the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. I would like therefore to use this opportunity to have look at this event.

1. Resurrection: Not an event of the past  

Jesus Christ is not a personality to be remembered only by history. He is not someone that lives only through his written teachings. In contrast, Jesus is an alive and active personality NOW ! He is seating at the right hand of the throne of God NOW ! He is pouring out the same spirit that He poured out on the day of Pentecost, NOW ! He came to the world to save sinners and He does this NOW! He is in you that believe in Him, NOW! JESUS IS ALIVE NOW AND will be alive forever! AMEN.

 2. He is alive now: He is blessing us

Jesus is ALIVE AND ACTIVE NOW, MANIFESTING HIMSELF to everyone that loves him.

3. Matthew 28:20

It was only some days after the resurrection, and in a mountain in Galilee, the disciples had an appointment with the Lord. There he gave them what came to be known as “the Great commission”. Matthew 28:18-20 tells us:

To many of us this commission is something WE have to accomplish BY OURSELVES. But I believe when Jesus gave it, he didn’t mean something like this. For, giving it, he also said: “I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, EVEN TO THE END OF THE AGE”. In accomplishing the great commission and in serving the Lord, we are partners with him. He is the Head of the church, the one that gives commands and helps us to carry them out. His commands are NOT a missing leader’s commands. In contrast, they are the commands of an alive, active leader, who works together with his people TODAY, TO ACCOMPLISH THE PURPOSES OF HIS KINGDOM.

4. He is alive now: He instructs us

In Acts 9, immediately after the Lord’s meeting with Paul, there is the record of Ananias, a disciple in Damascus. Let’s go to verses 10-18 and have a look at it:

The same good shepherd of John 10, the Lord Jesus Christ, is in charge of the sheep today as well. He knows us by name. he speak to us as he spoke to Ananias: calling us with our first name. May when he calls us we give him the same reply Ananias gave: “Here I’m Lord”.

 5. “Where there are two or three….”

Most of us probably know the below passage of Matthew 18:20:

“Where two or three are gathered together in my name, I’m there in the midst of them”

What this passage very plainly says, is that every gathering of believers done in the name of Jesus, brings Jesus in the meeting. Not of course as a passive visitor but as an active member. Do you remember those two that were on their way to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35)? They were discussing about the Lord, and the Lord joined them in person, explaining to them the scriptures and opening their minds to understand them. Exactly this happens today when believers are gathered in Jesus name: Jesus becomes an active member of the meeting, opening the minds and the understanding of those that want to learn about him. Through his spirit, he explains the Scriptures, he teaches, he admonishes. And wherever there are two or three gathered in his name, Jesus is there as well. He never misses an appointment.

 6. He is alive now: He encourages us

We probably remember from the gospel records, the Lord to give strength and encourage the people. We probably remember him saying: “Be of good cheer”, “do not fear”.

    Well, this has not stopped with the gospel records. Jesus is here today and as Hebrews 13 says “He is the same today, and yesterday and till the end of the age” (Hebrews 13:8).

    As Paul characteristically said in Philippians 4:13

He didn’t say: through Christ that strengthened me. It is PRESENT. JESUS STRENGTHENS US NOW.

    Let’s see an example of the Lord’s encouragement as it is given in the book of Acts. The apostle Paul went to Jerusalem where the fanatic Jews captivated him and put him into prison. Probably no one else was able to reach him there. No-one, except one: THE LORD. 

    THE LORD STOOD BY PAUL AND STRENGTHENED HIM! Paul was not labouring for someone that said nice words and then died and the only that was left was his words. Who could stood by Paul then? PAUL AND EVERY ONE OF US, IS LABOURING FOR AN ALIVE LORD: THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. The Jesus of the gospels is not a historical but AN ALIVE JESUS, FULL OF THE SAME LOVE AND COMPASSION TODAY, FOR EACH ONE OF US.

 7. He is alive now: He is coming back

Closing this short study on the resurrected Jesus Christ, we couldn’t forget the fact that as Jesus ascended into heaven 40 days after the resurrection, so also he will come back from heaven. As the angels said to the disciples, who were gazing at Jesus ascending into heaven:

Revelation 1:7

“BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH CLOUDS, AND EVERY EYE WILL SEE HIM, EVEN THEY WHO PIERCED HIM. AND ALL THE TRIBES OF THE EARTH WILL MOURN BECAUSE OF HIM. EVEN SO, AMEN”

 Matthew 24:30-31

“Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, AND THEY WILL SEE THE SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN WITH POWER AND GREAT GLORY”

      Jesus is coming back with power and great glory. To this, we say:

“Yes, come Lord Jesus!” 

(Revelation 22:21)

                                               Tassos Kioulachoglou