Easter Sunday - He has risen indeed!

On Friday you would not have known that he was the Son of God. You would have seen and witnessed a gruesome and unreasonable death on Golgotha.

But Easter Sunday was completely different. On Easter Sunday we see the heavenly transformation of the Messiah. The body that was so grossly humiliated, was now raised and exalted and received eternal qualities!

It was not only Jesus who was changed or transformed by his resurrection. His followers were too. Their sorrow was turned into Easter joy! Despair was turned into hope! Unbelief was changed into faith.

Jesus is alive, because his work in us has not been completed:
Jesus has not finished his work when it comes to Mary. He meets her in the garden. He talks to her.
Do you see the change in Mary? She was crying. She was sad. She was upset. But now she was filled with great and exciting and joyful news!
Jesus still has to restore the joy of his people.

Jesus has not finished his work yet. He appears before the disciples and they are "overjoyed" (Jn 20:20).
He sends them on a mission to tell others about the Good News that he is alive. (Jn 20:21). Jesus fills them with the Holy Spirit (Jn 20:22) and gives them the authority to declare the forgiveness of sins (Jn 20:23).

Jesus has still not finished. He knows there are doubters and sceptics. He appears before one by the name of Thomas. Thomas sees Jesus and he believes (Jn 20:28). "My Lord and my God!" he says to Jesus (Jn 20:28). Thomas acknowledges that Jesus is the One he worships. Doubting Thomas receives assurance of faith.

Jesus has not finished his work. He speaks to Peter about his denial. He forgives him. He commissions him to pastor his flock. He takes away his fear and gives him the back bone he needs to do Gods work.

Jesus has not finished his work. He is thinking of you and me and those who profess their faith in church. Unlike John and Peter and Mary and Thomas and the other disciples, we do not see Jesus' hands and his side. But by his Word and Spirit Jesus works faith in us. Jesus talks about us when he says, "blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed" (Jn 20:29).

Jesus has not finished his work. Faith is not the end. Profession of Faith is not the end either.
Jesus wants to work in you and me.
He wants to remake us in his image. He wants to get rid of sin in our lives. He wants to get rid of cowardice, and laziness and slackness in his work and in his kingdom.

Jesus has not finished his work. Jesus wants us to be filled to overflowing with the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal 5:22).

Jesus has not finished his work. Jesus wants us to present all that we have and all that we are to him as a living sacrifice of thanks and praise. He wants us to withhold nothing.
He wants our heart's desire to be his praise and honour and glory.
Jesus has not finished his work. Jesus wants the entire world to know about him.
Jesus wants every square inch of this universe to know he claims it.
He wants to gather his sheep from the four corners of the earth – from every tribe and language and people and nation. He wants to do this through you and me and everyone else who believes.

Jesus wants to prune out the dead parts on the tree of his church, because someday he wants his church to be complete and perfect.

Jesus has not finished his work in and through us. There is still more for him to do. Someday Jesus shall return to resurrect my body and to judge the living and the dead. Someday Jesus shall make a new heaven and a new earth.
Jesus blesses me with his resurrection power! And has not finished doing just that!