The Empty Cross Did Not Bring the Answer, It Got Rid of the Problem...The Empty Tomb Brought the Answer!

  

  

Jesus has been raised from the dead eternally. He was given a resurrection body and now He is the Great Shepherd of the sheep. The One Who was raised from the dead is the One Who can supply all of our need. It was Jesus Who was already teaching, already healing, already saving, and already preaching. It was the same Jesus Who was already performing miracles; turning water into wine, walking on the water, raising people from the dead.

  

The empty cross did not bring the answer; it got rid of the problem. The empty tomb brought the answer. Yet today we still have many who want to keep a cross religion. Don't take me wrong the cross was and is important but don't keep Jesus on the cross and don't stay at the cross, go on to Pentecost but don't stop there go on to being seated at the right hand of the Father in Christ Jesus! This is what I am saying "just never stop" keep growing.

  

When Jesus came down from the cross, it was still dark. He spent three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. His body lay in the tomb during those three days and nights. The answer came in the resurrection. When a person receives salvation, they do not confess the cross. When we are born again, we confess the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Paul did not say, "That I may know Him in the power of cross"; he said, "That I may know Him in the power of the resurrection." The tomb is empty and Jesus is not still on the cross!

  

Once Jesus was resurrected from the dead, He was no longer just a Shepherd, as they had known Him in the Old Testament. In the Old Testament He was known as the "Shepherd of Israel". Jesus was never called the "Great Shepherd" until He arose from the dead. He is the great Shepherd of the Church".

The word "shepherd" means "provider". Yes, Jesus is the pastor, but it is because He is the shepherd that any need we could have has been provided for. There are no sheep that find pasture for themselves, the shepherd finds it for them. The sheep do not provide for themselves, the shepherd does. Jesus is the Great Shepherd of the sheep.

  

The observance of certain holidays, such as Christmas, Easter, or Halloween is highly offensive to some people. Some people have problems with bringing a Christmas tree into their home, believing it is associated with something evil. Many Christians want to know about Easter eggs because they have to do with fertility rites. Should we allow our children to paint and hunt for Easter eggs? The point is, God made trees and God made eggs. The vast majority of people are not worshipping the tree or the egg, which is why the Bible calls all these things, doubtful things.

The Bible doesn't talk about these specific things because God trusts you.

Psalm 1:1-3:

How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers!

But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.

And he will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers.

 

Notice the last thing this says: whatever I do will prosper! If you meet the qualifications in verses one and two, God simply says, "I trust you."

 

All of us at AMI trust you will have a blessed and wonderful Easter Celebration, enjoy the day and remember the risen savior is the one that made it possibly to have life more abundantly.