HE LIVES WITHIN MY HEART

On this fifth Sunday of Easter I am wondering if the full meaning of Jesus' resurrection has dawned in on us yet.  I am wondering if the full meaning of the resurrection can even be realized by our minds in a broken and splintered world. 

Talk about a mind-bender, ""He suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures" (Nicene Creed).  The apostle Peter said it this way, "Jesus…you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.  But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power" (Acts 2:2-4).  The apostle's Creed reads this way, "Jesus Christ…suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hades; the third day He rose again from the dead…"

How does one truly get one's mind around all this?  That Jesus suffered, died, and was raised again is a mammoth size declaration.  It's a game-changer.  If it is true then every other truth in the world is subjugated to this one truth.   If it isn't true then, with the apostle Paul, we must say, "Our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain…your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins" (I Corinthians 15:14, 17).  If it is true then, with Thomas, We must bow before Him and declare, "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28)

Many of us have chosen the way of Thomas.  We've seen the risen Jesus at work in our world, at work in our lives, and everyday the words that roll off our lips are, "My Lord and my God."  The anthem of our lives is,

I serve a risen Savior He’s in the world today.

I know that He is living, whatever men may say.

I see His hand of mercy; I hear His voice of cheer;

And just the time I need Him He’s always near.

He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!

He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way.

He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!

You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.

("He Lives," by Alfred H. Ackley, 1933)

In the early 1920s Communist leader Nikolai Bukharin was sent from Moscow to Kiev to address an anti-God rally. For an hour he abused and ridiculed the Christian faith until it seemed as if the whole structure of belief was in ruins. Then questions were invited. An old Orthodox Church priest rose and asked to speak. He turned, faced the people, and gave the Easter greeting, "He is risen!" Instantly the assembly rose to its feet and the reply came back loud and clear, "He is risen indeed!"  (Today in the Word, September, 1989, p. 8.)