He Is Alive

Hello and welcome to Van Life Devotions. Today is Easter Sunday – the day that we particularly celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. It is a great day.

On Good Friday, I shared about the Ancient Egyptians, particularly the Pharaohs who had a strong belief in the afterlife and their elaborate efforts they went through to appease the gods. We then remembered that when Jesus died, it was for everyone else but Himself. He died so we can be forgiven and live in eternity with God. Jesus’ preparation for His death was so different to the Pharaohs who prepared their jewellery, gold, coffins, and tombs for their own afterlife.

Let me tell you something about the ancient Egyptian gods and goddesses. There were at least 2000 of them; they were an integral part of the people's everyday lives for over 3,000 years; and most had a principle connexion (for example, with the sun or the underworld or protector of Pharaohs). In the Valley of the Kings, we visited several tombs that had paintings of the various gods such as Anubis – the god of funeral rites and protector of graves. Inside King Tutankhamun tomb is Osiris one of Egypt’s most important deities. He was the god of the underworld. Horus was a sky god associated with war and hunting.

When we travelled to where the early churches were planted throughout Turkey and Greece, we again came across several gods and goddesses of ancient Greece and Rome such as Artemis, who is mentioned in the Book of Acts. She is the goddess of many things including fertility and childbirth.

I have a four-letter word that describes each of these gods and goddesses. That word is dead. They are dead. Not that they were ever living – only in people’s imaginations. Dead.

I have a five-letter word that describes Jesus Christ. That word is alive. Jesus is alive. The Apostle Peter who caught up with Jesus on several occasions after His resurrection declared to over 3000 people in Acts chapter 2 verse 24, “But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him” (Acts 2:24, NIV)

And it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. Very early on that Sunday morning when the women went to the tomb and found it open, the angels told them that Jesus “He is not here; he has risen!” (Luke 24:6 NIV). Jesus Christ is alive and is now seated at the right hand of God until the day of His return.

The resurrection of Jesus gives us immense hope. It affirms the Lordship of Jesus Christ. It is said that the Resurrection was a divine endorsement of Jesus’ teachings, God’s confirmation that Jesus’ teachings were true. Throughout the gospels Jesus made some big claims. He said that He was God (John 10:30). He spoke about His own death and resurrection well before it happened (Matthew 16:21). He claimed that no person can come to God unless they follow Him (John 14:6). If Jesus remained dead, then His teachings would be lies, His claims false, and there would be little hope.

As Jesus was raised to life, His teachings and claims are all affirmed therefore giving us hope that Jesus is who He said He is - Lord and Saviour. These affirmations give us hope – that we worship a real, living, loving God. He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!

Let’s pray.

Heavenly Father. Thank you raising back to life Your only Son Jesus. Because He isn’t dead but indeed alive, we have immense hope. O God, preserve us who travel; surround us with your loving care; protect us from every danger; and bring us in safety to our journey’s end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

David Moyes