46 min
How Social Isolation Shaped the Resurrection Lake Merced Church of Christ
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- Christianity
He is risen! This is our celebration on this Easter Sunday.
When Jesus went to Jerusalem, he knew full well what his fate would be. Still, he implored God (Luke 22:42) “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” In the midst of his pain on the cross, he prayed to God to forgive his tormentors. And in Luke 22:40-43, when one of the criminals being crucified asked Jesus to “remember me when you come into your kingdom”, Jesus replied with “you will be with me in paradise.” Through all his agony, Jesus knew he would be with his Father in heaven.
Now, the original Persian word for paradise translates as “enclosed garden”, which gives us hope for a new garden of Eden. Indeed, in Revelation 22:1-2 John tells us how an angel showed him the river of the water of life, flowing through the city, and the tree of life bearing twelve crops of fruit, “and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse.” In other words, all was made right through the death of Jesus and the garden will be restored to us. In verse 5 we read that his servants “... will not need the light of a lamp...for the Lord God will give them light.”
Look to God’s light now in these dark times. Living through the isolation of Covid-19 is hard, but know that God has dominion over all and He has the answers. Our salvation is guaranteed. The garden will be restored, the curse will be lifted and we will all be invited into the garden. We will release our burdens and rejoice in the light. Lift your voice now to proclaim, HE IS RISEN!!
He is risen! This is our celebration on this Easter Sunday.
When Jesus went to Jerusalem, he knew full well what his fate would be. Still, he implored God (Luke 22:42) “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” In the midst of his pain on the cross, he prayed to God to forgive his tormentors. And in Luke 22:40-43, when one of the criminals being crucified asked Jesus to “remember me when you come into your kingdom”, Jesus replied with “you will be with me in paradise.” Through all his agony, Jesus knew he would be with his Father in heaven.
Now, the original Persian word for paradise translates as “enclosed garden”, which gives us hope for a new garden of Eden. Indeed, in Revelation 22:1-2 John tells us how an angel showed him the river of the water of life, flowing through the city, and the tree of life bearing twelve crops of fruit, “and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse.” In other words, all was made right through the death of Jesus and the garden will be restored to us. In verse 5 we read that his servants “... will not need the light of a lamp...for the Lord God will give them light.”
Look to God’s light now in these dark times. Living through the isolation of Covid-19 is hard, but know that God has dominion over all and He has the answers. Our salvation is guaranteed. The garden will be restored, the curse will be lifted and we will all be invited into the garden. We will release our burdens and rejoice in the light. Lift your voice now to proclaim, HE IS RISEN!!
46 min