************************
"SaturdayReflection"
19th April 2025
'Meg Bucher'
writes about everyday life within the love of
Christ
"Here is Not Here,
For He is Risen"
Matthew 28 v 6
"He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay"
"'He is risen' means that Jesus was raised from the dead, and now is with God in heaven".
"It means He has overcome death as those who believe in Him will have eternal life."
The Gospel of Mark also records,
"'Don't be alarmed,' he said, 'You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him"
John made a point to mention the disciples still did not understand the full scope of the Scriptures being fulfilled in Jesus' resurrection.
Through the Holy Spirit's divine revelation through the writings of the apostles, we receive confirmation of Jesus' life, death and resurrection.
Mary Magdalene and Mary discovered Jesus' tomb was empty the Sunday after He had been crucified.
Shocked and worried about what may have happened, Jesus' teaching about this day was not the first thing to cross their minds.
An angel provided comfort and clarity to them by telling them what had happened, and giving them their next steps.
It's quite one thing to listen to teachings and believe, but another to experience their unfolding in the moment.
Their reaction was pure joy, and in Matthew's Gospel account they ran to do as the angel said.
On their way to tell the disciples what had happened, "Jesus met them".
He greeted them!
Imagine their state of awe!
Matthew wrote, "They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him".
The hope welling up in these women upon their discovery and reunion with their Messiah is linked to the wellspring of hope we find in Jesus everyday as we wake as sinners, forgiven and rescued by our salvation in Christ Jesus.
Matthew wrote of a rumour purposefully spread to blame Jesus' disappearance from the tomb on His own disciples, claiming they took His body.
"And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day"
Luke specifically mentioned Peter looking in the tomb, even holding the strips of linen, but not understanding what had happened.
When Jesus met his disciples in Galilee, some doubted it was Him.
In our search for concrete answers, we sometimes entertain believable rumours instead of placing our whole faith in the truth of God's word.
"God's word of revelation through the angel tells the real story - Jesus has indeed been raised from the dead."
Jesus said He would rise from the dead.
Jesus also spoke of His death and resurrection indirectly, and in conversation with others.
John Piper explains.
God's plan from the beginning was to rescue us from sin.
The fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies of Jesus' life, death and resurrection is an important foundation of the Christian faith.
It further reveals the character of our great God to keep His promises,
His unsurpassable love for us, and the alive and active nature of Scripture as a means in which He communicates with us.
Through the Holy Spirit's divine revelation on Paul's pen, Jesus' identity is again confirmed.
John chose to begin his Gospel account by stating Jesus was with God in the beginning, and through him all things were made.
The author of Hebrews confirmed "Jesus is the same yesterday and today and forever".
The empty tomb solidifies the foundation of Christianity.
Jesus didn't appear on the first page of the New Testament.
He is present throughout the entirety of Scripture.
His life, death, and resurrection not only fulfill Old Testament prophecies, but prove the great love of our Father in heaven to rescue us from the penalty of sin, which is death.
God created us in His image, with dignity and a purpose our enemy is constantly trying to distract us from.
When sin succeeds, destruction abounds.
Christ's resurrection gives us hope for today, and for our future.
Jesus will return again.
He will right all wrongs and mend all hurts.
Death will cease to exist, and we will go home to heaven with Him.
><(((°>
This is an edited version.
The full article and Bible references are avaiable on request
Meg Bucher
writes about everyday life within the love of Christ at megbucher.com
A contributing writer for Salem Web Network since 2016, Meg is now thrilled to be a part of the editorial team at Salem Web Network.
Meg loves being involved in her community and local church, leads Bible study, and serves as a youth leader for teen girls.
During the Interregnum
March 2025 to ....
Contact the Benefice Office
E-mail:
thebeneficeofbhkandr at gmail dot com
Contact the Benefice Office
Sunday School Rooms, Church Lane,
BUGBROOKE, Northampton, NN7 3PB
Land Line: 01604 830373
E-mail:
thebeneficeofbhkandr at gmail dot com
Mon., Tues., Wed., Thur.
9:00am to 11:30am
For Baptism bookings (Christenings)
to arrange an appointment please contact
the Benefice Office.
For Wedding bookings:
please contact the Benefice Office to arrange
an appointment.
Who Made This?
Seeing as you asked, if you can give helpful
advice or report factual corrections and
'deliberate mistakes',email:-
regparker3 at gmail dot com
Email addresses shown using words in an
attempt to avoid 'spam',
Type the email address replacing 'at' with '@',
and 'dot' with '.'