Out of the Grave

             Preparing a “homily” or a “sermon” whichever you prefer to call it, requires a lot of time. Some preachers take Monday off but then the process begins for the preparing of the sermon for the following Sunday morning service. Most preachers know basically where there are going in this regard but all of the details have to be worked out. A minimum of perhaps sixteen hours is needed to get it all together realizing you also have to prepare a message for Wednesday evening and Sunday evening. You begin with a “central idea” that is, some basic purpose for the sermon. Then comes research in the Scriptures, cross referencing, outlines, and in some cases, actually writing out every word. Much prayer is spread about in all of the preparation. I had done all of this in one of my messages and after preaching the message, my friend, Paul Gillespie came up and said, “Well, you didn't get Him out of the grave.” In all of my words that morning, I had not mentioned the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. At first, I felt a little sad that after all of my preparation, someone didn't like the message. He was, however, right because everything in Christianity depends on one event. Matthew 28:5-6 says, “And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.” 

          When the women arrived, had they found the body of the Lord Jesus Christ, it would have stopped there. There would be no church, no hymns, no bells, no services, no Christian books, no witnessing, no missions and no hope for life after death. We know, however, that the statement made by the angels to the women opened the way for the only hope for mankind. The grave, with its linen wrapping and a rolled away stone gave evidence that the Lord Jesus Christ had raised from the dead. One might say, “well, others have also raised from the dead such as Lazarus.” The difference is that they eventually died again. The Lord Jesus Christ,however ascended into heaven after spending forty days walking around in His resurrected body preaching and teaching to all that He met. And, so it began! The early disciples began spreading the word and so soon, “called out gatherings” of people began to form in all of the areas beginning at Jerusalem, then to Judea, then to Samaria and finally to all the parts of the world. So, it is true. If you are going to preach the full gospel, you need to get Him out of the grave. First Corinthians 15:3-4 tells us what the gospel is and then goes on with the rest of the chapter telling us that if it wasn't true, we would be in big trouble. But, Hallelujah, it is true. He raised from the dead and because of that no matter what problem you are facing today, He is there to help. All of the promises of God are activated by the resurrection. So, when He said, He would never leave nor forsake us, we can be guaranteed by the events on one day, the day of the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is truly the way to eternal life. Praise God today for the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.