HE IS RISEN!

This is taken without permission from a Facebook post written by one of my faves, Jen Hatmaker, though I have NO DOUBT, she would be delighted it's being used and passed on....

"While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”

40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in their presence.

44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”

45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." (Luke 24)

He spoke of us on Resurrection Sunday all those years ago! The cross meant the gospel for the whole world. We are grafted in by faith. The punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We are so incredibly loved and set free.

It is all finished: all the necessary work, all the forgiveness, all the reconciliation, all the sacrifice. We cannot add or subtract one thing to the work of the cross. We cannot increase it with good behavior or diminish it with bad. It is complete, and grace is ENOUGH for us all. No one can thwart its reach. We didn't earn it, so we can't lose it. Salvation is ours simply because God loves us that much and Jesus made us perfect. 

We can come to the cross lost and be found, blind and find sight, broken and be healed, angry and find peace, brokenhearted and discover joy yet again. It is all done. It is already there in that empty tomb. God will have it all back. There is nothing left to do but sing hallelujah. 

My heart will sing no other name.
Jesus.