The Journey: One Time 4-13-2020
By Dean Foster
April 13, 2020
The Journey: One Time
5In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6He is not here; he is risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7'The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.' " 8Then they remembered his words.
Luke 24:5-8
Welcome to the Journey.
One time…with nine seconds to go fourth quarter, we were up by two, but they were set to attempt a chip shot field goal. When they snapped the ball, I pushed off the shoulders of the guy blocking me and jumped, both hands in the air. In the chaos I reached the peak of my jump at just the right time. I remember hearing the ball get kicked and a second later felt it "smack" flat against my open right hand. We had stopped them as the time clock ran out and went off.
One time…I went back for what I thought was going to be a third interview and the director of the department welcomed me into his office. As I sat down, he proceeded to tell me I seemed to be just the person they were looking for. We talked and he said they'd like to get things going so how soon could I start working there.
One time…I positioned the ring box on the dining room table so she would see it as soon as she walked in the door. Then I went in where I could see her when she came in and saw it. Naturally she came in with her arms full of stuff but she saw the ring box as planned. She looked up at me smiling and said, "Is that it?"
"That's it," I answered. Then after some joking around and laughing, I "popped the question" and we were officially engaged.
Each of us has those memorable times in our lives. Memories from our lives to look back at whenever we like to or need to. The memory of a turning point or event with special meaning for us are important because they have made us who we are as life changes and goes on. Those memories and moments of friendship, love, victory with God and defeat without him will always be with us. Those are God given memories we never will or should forget.
It is good to think about what some of those important moments in your life are and how you have turned to them over the years. Give those thoughts and memories some thought this week after Easter. Then before it slips away, consider again the memorable turning point we all have in common. The event that was a turning point for every person in the world. The time and special memory that all Christian Believers have in common and one we turn to daily, many times if needed, any time day or night, for the rest of our life.
Every day Christians call on the memory of Jesus for millions of reasons. Every day when Christians the World over get on their knees or bow their heads to pray, they remember, "He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!!"
The birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is a story that changed the world forever. There has been scarcely a person who has lived in the last 20 some centuries who has not been touched in some way by the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The full Gospel is in fact, the most stunning event that has ever or will ever occur. It is by far the most important story ever told.
The Good News begins innocently enough with Jesus who was born in the normal way, the same as you and me. He was born of a woman who went through the normal process of pregnancy and delivery. Even being born in a stable and placed in a feeding trough for a bed wasn't that far-fetched for the times, conditions and situation his parents were in.
His birth itself however, was completely unique. He wasn’t just born of a woman; He was born of a virgin. He was completely unmarked by the sin nature inherited by each of us at birth. Then, aside from knowing the old testament better when he was twelve, than much older men who had studied it most of their lives, he seems to have led a normal childhood. Grew up and became a carpenter.
The execution of Jesus was routine as far as Roman executions go. They crucified thousands of people all over the empire, around that time. One look at Jesus' death however, reveals how incredibly unique that event actually was. When Pilate gave in to the demands of the Priests and the crowd that day and agreed to set convicted murderer Bar Abbas free and crucify the prisoner he knew was innocent of any crime, our moment, the Christian turning point, was assured.
The death of Jesus you see, was totally unique. In death, sinless Jesus paid the price for your sin and my sin. The judgment of God against sin was satisfied. Salvation for all time, and whoever turns to Jesus in faith is also assured (John 3:16). The Lord was turned over to the Roman soldiers to be tortured and hung on the cross with a sign over his head that read "King of the Jews" in Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic. The stage was set and there was no turning back.
One time…8the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell the disciples. 9Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, 10Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."
Matthew 28:8-10
There is the Christian moment we all have in common and the one to remember when we get on our knees and remember that we all have everlasting life because He died and rose again.
This is the Journey.
