Yes!
God gave a command to rise.
Death could not hold Jesus.
That is why Jesus will destroy death at His second coming.
Christ died the same death you someday will.
We call it a sleep but it's much more.
All your bodily functions will cease and your earthly body will decay.
Your soul will return to God or hell.
Death is not a sleep you can be roused from except by sovereign supernatural means.
That means being a command from Sovereign God to rise.
What has prompted this post is a conversation I overheard yesterday in Culver's, a fast food restaurant.
A grandmother was talking to her grands and she told them that Jesus was just asleep.
There is an empty tomb!
There is no place that holds the body of Christ to go to to pray.
He is risen.
There is no Mecca.
There is no temple of Buddha.
He is risen!
John 19:16-18
[16] So he delivered him over to them to be crucified.
So
they took Jesus, [17] and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the
place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha.
[18] There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either
side, and Jesus between them.
John 19:33-35
[33]
But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did
not break his legs. [34] But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a
spear, and at once there came out blood and water. [35] He who saw it
has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling
the truth—that you also may believe.
John 20:1-7
[1]
Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early,
while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away
from the tomb. [2] So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other
disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken
the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.”
[3] So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going
toward the tomb. [4] Both of them were running together, but the other
disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. [5] And stooping to
look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. [6]
Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the
linen cloths lying there, [7] and the face cloth, which had been on
Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by
itself.
John 20:12-17
[12]
And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had
lain, one at the head and one at the feet. [13] They said to her,
“Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my
Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” [14] Having said
this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know
that it was Jesus. [15] Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?
Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to
him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid
him, and I will take him away.” [16] Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She
turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).
[17] Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended
to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending
to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
2 Timothy 1:9-10
[9]
who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works
but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ
Jesus before the ages began, [10] and which now has been manifested
through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death
and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,
1 Corinthians 6:14
[14] And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power.
1 Corinthians 15:13-17
[13]
But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has
been raised. [14] And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching
is in vain and your faith is in vain. [15] We are even found to be
misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised
Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not
raised. [16] For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been
raised. [17] And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and
you are still in your sins.
Matthew 28:2-7
[2]
And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord
descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.
[3] His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.
[4] And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men.
[5] But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that
you seek Jesus who was crucified. [6] He is not here, for he has risen,
as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. [7] Then go quickly and
tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is
going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told
you.”
1 Corinthians 15:52-58
[52]
in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the
trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we
shall be changed. [53] For this perishable body must put on the
imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. [54] When
the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on
immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
[55] “O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
[56] The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. [57]
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus
Christ.
[58]
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always
abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor
is not in vain.
Revelation 1:17-18
[17]
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his
right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, [18]
and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I
have the keys of Death and Hades.
Revelation 20:12-15
[12]
And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and
books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of
life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books,
according to what they had done. [13] And the sea gave up the dead who
were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they
were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. [14]
Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the
second death, the lake of fire. [15] And if anyone’s name was not found
written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
He is risen.
Hallelujah and Amen!!!
Will you believe and treasure Christ?
