My Easter reflection on Luke 24...

3 things to reflect on what Easter is all about.

1. Death: Jesus death had/has a purpose!

• Justice: The penalty for sin was paid on the cross. Jesus was the sacrifice that took the wrath of God on himself, the wrath due us (this is justice). Romans 3:25-26
• Love: He gave so we live. John 3:16

2. The 3 days. Interesting aspects/emotions of his disciples and family.

• Perplexed or puzzled Luke 24:4 (what had happened to Jesus, where was he?)
  
• Wondering or marveled Luke 24:12 (Peter saw the burial clothe and this left him wondering)
  
• Lonely or sad Luke 24:17 ( the yet to be recognized Jesus asked the Emmaus travelers about their discussion topic and this evidently brings back the thought of Jesus before his death and the sadness of him not being among them anymore and the thought - could this Jesus not be the Redeemer, the promised Messiah?)
  
• Troubled, doubting and disbelief Luke 24:38-41 (this has to be the most intriguing of them all. Jesus was right in front of them, proof positive, yet doubt and disbelief).

Are these not the same emotions and things we struggle with as well? Even though we see the changed lives of others and we feel God's Spirit and have His power and give testimony in word and live changed lives in full view of others. But, have doubt and disbelief in what Jesus can accomplish for us...

3. Resurrection. New life and hope.

• Foundational to believing...Romans 10:9
• We are assured of new life...1 Cor 15:20
• With Jesus we have Peace...Luke 24:36

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Mo leverett is always able to put forth the right words and I would like to snip some from a recent article, you can read the whole article here.

The glories and the benefits of the incarnation of Christ on our behalf cannot be understated...It inaugurates the end of death, the end of sin, the end of shame, the end of darkness and the rebirth of life, holiness, and hope for the downtrodden. Those in the darkness of their own shame are enlightened by the incomparable radiance of the Easter story.

No matter where you come from, the resurrection brings hope. If a pauper in this life, the resurrection assures for you that you will be so no more! You will be crowned and robed as royalty as an adopted son of the King who rejoices over you with singing!

Easter has serious import and real profit to those who are rich as well. Not only are the benefits of Easter afforded to you, but now you have something real and lasting to invest in. A portfolio with permanence!

Easter makes the possibility of change available to all who believe in its power. The bum and prostitute prosper from Easter or even those bums who prostitute themselves for the powers and prestige of this inferior and fallen world.

If you are bleeding in the streets from oppression or inwardly hemorrhaging from abuse or neglect, Easter is for you! If you have never received the affirmation and love your soul craves then Easter is for you! If you have stumbled or faltered in all of the many ways in which all of us have, then Easter is for you!

If we are united with Christ in his death, we are also united with Him in His resurrection, and are eternally exalted!

Blessings from The Bridges Family

Do you stand on your morality?

Indeed a Christian believer should be a moral person. You can be a worldly moral person but godly morality comes by obedience and faith in Christ. Morality is not the foundation of being made right with a just God and does not bring salvation.

Repentance is necessary for civil persons. These have no visible spots on them. They are free from gross sin, and one would think they had nothing to do with the business of repentance. They are so good that they scorn a psalm of mercy. Indeed these are often in the worst condition: these are they who need no repentance (Luke 15.7). Their civility undoes them. They make a Christ of it, and so on this shelf they suffer shipwreck. Morality shoots short of heaven. It is only nature refined. A moral man is but old Adam dressed in fine clothes. The king's image counterfeited and stamped upon brass will not go current. The civil person seems to have the image of God, but he is only brass metal, which will never pass for current. Civility is insufficient for salvation. Though the life be moralized, the lust may be unmortified. The heart may be full of pride and atheism. Under the fair leaves of a tree there may be a worm. I am not saying, repent that you are civil, but that you are no more than civil. Satan entered into the house that had just been swept and garnished (Luke 11.26). This is the emblem of a moral man, I who is swept by civility and garnished with he endure thus to have his name and glory trampled upon? The Lord has usually been more swift in the process of his justice against the sins of a professing people. God may reprieve this land a while by prerogative, but if ever he save it without repentance, he must go out of his ordinary road.

Thomas Watson, ch 5, Doctrine of Repentance

Consider this...

Here again, Bunyan gives a piercing review of "what could be" for the person who can't or won't accept the saving grace and power of Jesus. This truly gives a dismal outlook...but on the reverse it is only joy! The joy of a free gift and safety beyond this life where the joys are few and not everlasting. Moreover, the joy of knowing that we have no value or worth to give for our own salvation - only Christ.

-Brian

The second thing I told you was this, that all the ungodly that live and die in their sins, so soon as ever they depart this life, do descend into hell. This is also verified by the words in this parable, where Christ said, He 'died and was buried, and in hell he lifted up his eyes.' As the tree falls, so it shall be, whether it be to heaven or hell (Eccl 11:3). And as Christ said to the thief on the cross, 'Today thou shalt be with me in paradise.' Even so the devil in the like manner may say unto thy soul, To-morrow shalt thou be with me in hell. See then what a miserable case he that dies in an unregenerate state is in; he departs from a long sickness to a longer hell; from the gripings of death, to the everlasting torments of hell. 'And in hell he lifted up his eyes.' Ah friends! If you were but yourselves, you would have a care of your souls; if you did but regard, you would see how mad they are that slight the salvation of their souls. O what will it profit thy soul to have pleasure in this life, and torments in hell? (Mark 8:36). Thou hadst better part with all thy sins, and pleasures, and companions, or whatsoever thou delightest in, than to have soul and body to be cast into hell. O then do not now neglect our Lord Jesus Christ, lest thou drop down to hell (Heb 2:3). Consider, would it not wound thee to thine heart to come upon thy death-bed, and instead of having the comfort of a well spent life, and the merits of the Lord Jesus Christ, together with the comforts of his glorious Spirit: to have, first, the sight of an ill-spent life, thy sins flying in thy face, thy conscience uttering itself with thunder-claps against thee, the thoughts of God terrifying of thee, death with his merciless paw seizing upon thee, the devils standing ready to scramble for thy soul, and hell enlarging herself, and ready to swallow thee up; and an eternity of misery and torment attending upon thee, from which there will be no release.

John Bunyan, A Few Sighs from Hell, verse 23

Words of Watson...

I find myself some days forgetting the price paid. Don't we all, as soon as a debt is paid the feeling is wonderful, joyful for getting past the worry and the feeling of being overpowered by a balance due. Our liability to Christ should never end though. He should be due our gratitude forever.

Blessings, Brian

Thomas Watson, Doctrine of Repentance, Chapter Six

Let me in the next place persuade you to this great duty of repentance. Sorrow is good for nothing but sin. If you shed tears for outward losses, it will not advantage you. Water for the garden, if poured in the sink, does no good. Powder for the eye, if applied to the arm, is of no benefit. Sorrow is medicinable for the soul, but if you apply it to worldly things it does no good. Oh that our tears may run in the right channel and our hearts burst with sorrow for sin!

It is not so much to endear us to Christ as to endear Christ to us. Till sin be bitter, Christ will not be sweet.