Are you able to feel the resurrection of Christ? Shane reminds us that the our faith in the resurrection should make us rejoice, even if we don’t feel like rejoicing!
Shane is a regular contributor to our Christian internet radio station, HopeStreamRadio through his program entitled “Wisdom for Fools”. Shane Johnson has been commended from Bethel-Park Bible Chapel since 1999. He resides in Brantford, Ontario with his wife Shelly and his five children. He has his Bachelor of Arts degree in English and a minor in History. His passions are teaching children, inspiring young people, writing, music and playing soccer.
The Resurrection Of Christ Changed Everything
“And He said to them, ‘What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?’ Luke 24:17
The resurrection changes everything. In stark contrast to the crucifixion, which filled the two believers on the road to Emmaus with deep sadness, the resurrection fills the believer with triumphant optimism. Remember what Jesus announced to Peter in response to his confession that He was the Christ? To him, and to us, He said, “I will build My church and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it” (Matt.16:18). The first rock hewn to lay its foundation was the risen rock of Christ, the chief cornerstone.
The grave did not conquer Christ; Christ conquered the grave. But it was an inside job. Like the Trojan Horse, Christ entered into realm of the dead through death. Unwittingly, the grave opened its gates and welcome Christ inside its heavily guarded fortress. For centuries anyone who entered there was unable to escape.
But once inside, after three days while all death and hell were rejoicing, Christ tore open the graves, letting all those who were in bondage to death go free. The writer of Hebrews tells us that He partook of flesh and blood for this very reason, “that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Heb.2:14,15).
No longer are we chained to fear. No longer do we need to stay shrouded in darkness. The night of despair gives way to the dawn of hope. Do you feel the resurrection? If you don’t, it doesn’t matter. The resurrection is based on facts, not feelings. It happened whether you feel it or not.
Feeling The Resurrection Of Christ
But again I ask you, do you feel the resurrection? If you don’t, you should. The resurrection is not based on feelings, but on faith. You should be able to rejoice even though you may not feel like rejoicing. Otherwise, how could we fulfill that joyous and continual command found in Philippians chapter 4: “rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice!” (Phil.4:4)
If you are anything like me, sometimes you feel the resurrection and sometimes you don’t. Like the weather, our feelings can sometimes dictate the day. When the sun is shining we feel great. But if the nimbostratus clouds are menacingly gathered overhead we feel gloom and doom. Sad but true, the “weather” of our feelings can have more power over our day than the Word of God.
The Weather Of Our Feelings
Brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so, nor does it have to be. When we wake up in the morning the “weather” of our feelings does not have to forecast the day. By faith we can rise above the weather. The two disciples on the road to Emmaus rose above their “gloomy” feelings and “dark” thoughts by listening to the stranger on the road explain to them the Word of God. From the Scriptures He showed them that the Christ indeed had to suffer first, then afterwards be received into glory.
Are you suffering today? Are you sad or gloomy? In one sense, that is okay. Suffering is supposed to come first, then glory. But in another sense, there is cheer for your sadness. There is peace for your anxiety. There is hope for your despair. To encourage the sad hearts of His disciples is precisely the reason the Risen Christ drew near to His disciples that day. In our sadness, fear and despair, He comes to us, to lift up our faces, cheer up our hearts and dry up our tears.
The Message Of Easter And The Resurrection Of Christ
But what is the cure for discouragement? To find the remedy let us hear the words of Christ: “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!” (Luke 24:25). There has always been only one antidote for a sad heart: to believe ALL that the prophets have spoken, not just some of them but all of them. The problem has perennially remained the same – we are SLOW of heart to believe.
Let us rethink the message of Easter. It alone has the power to blow away the clouds of despair. It alone has the power to remove the funeral shroud of gloom. It alone has the power to calm the storm of feelings which threatens to move us from our hope.
Look, ye saints! the sight is glorious:
Shane Johnson
You can listen to podcasts from Shane Johnson’s show, “Wisdom for Fools” here
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Images Courtesy of:
Chains- Didgeman
Umbrella- PeterNguyen
Denim- Pexels
Water- Unsplash
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