“He isn't here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying.” (Matt 28:6 NLT)

 He is risen!

“As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.  “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’ ” (Mark 16:5-7 NIV)

According to the scriptures!

“And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.” (1 Cor 15:4 KJV)

The same spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in you!

“But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” (Rom. 8:11 NASB)

Therefore, go tell others!

 “With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all.” (Acts 4:33 NIV)

“You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.” (Acts 3:15 NIV)

“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance : that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.” (1 Cor. 15:3-8 NIV)

“Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb. 12:2 NASB)

The following are a few passages of scriptures telling what Jesus accomplished on the cross.

He fulfilled prophecy 

• Written by King David 1,000 years before Jesus Was crucified: "I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; It is melted within me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue cleaves to my jaws. And you lay me in the dust of death. For dogs have surrounded me. A band of evildoers has encompassed me; They pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones. They look, they stare at me; They divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots." (Psalm 22:14-18 NASB)

• Written by Isaiah 700 years before Jesus was crucified: "Surely our griefs He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried. Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth." (Isaiah 53:4-7 NASB)

• Written 500 years before Jesus was crucified: "And I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him, like the bitter weeping over a first-born." (Zach. 12:10 NASB)

Humbled himself - "And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." (Phil. 2:8 NASB)

Demonstrated the greatest act of love - "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends." (John 25:13 NASB)

He laid his life down for us - "I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep." (John 10:11 NASB)

Bore our sin - "and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed." (1 Pet. 2:24 NASB)

Reconciled us to God - "For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life." (Rom. 5:10 NASB)

Justified us - "So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men." (Rom. 5:18 NASB)

He became sin - "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Cor. 5:21 NASB)

He finished the atonement - "When Jesus therefore had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head, and gave up His spirit." (John 19:30 NASB)

Reconciled Jew and Gentile - "and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity." (Eph. 2:16 NASB)

Reconciled all things - "and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven." (Col. 1:20 NASB)

Cancelled out our sin debt - "having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us and which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross." (Col. 2:14 NASB)

Rendered the Devil Powerless - "Since then the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil." (Heb. 2:14 NASB)

Brought in the New Covenant - "And for this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, in order that since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. For where a covenant is, there must of necessity be the death of the one who made it." (Heb. 9:15-16 NASB)

He redeemed us - "knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ." (1 Pet. 1:18-19 NASB)

Died for sins - "For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit." (1 Pet. 3:18 NASB)

Propitiated our sins - "and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world." (1 John 2:2 NASB)

“And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up his spirit. And the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom.” (Mark 15:37:38 NKJV)

We were separated from God

Hebrews 9:1-9 explains that in the temple a veil separated the Holy of Holies—the earthly dwelling place of God’s presence—from the rest of the temple where men dwelt. This signified that man was separated from God by sin (Isaiah 59:1-2). Only the high priest was permitted to pass beyond this veil once each year (Exodus 30:10; Hebrews 9:7) to enter into God's presence for all of Israel and make atonement for their sins (Leviticus 16).

Jesus removed the separation!

This passage of Scripture says that the wall of separation “was torn in two from the top to the bottom.” It was not torn from the bottom to the top, but was from the top to the bottom to show that it was done by God not by man! The tearing of the veil at the moment of Jesus' death dramatically symbolized that His sacrifice, the shedding of His own blood, was a sufficient atonement for sins. It signified that now the way into the Holy of Holies was open for all people, for all time, both Jew and Gentile. We no longer need holy men to to be intermediaries for us but we could go directly to God ourselves!

You can now come to God boldly and confidently!

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Heb. 4:16 NKJV)

“For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us.” (Eph. 2:14 NKJV)

 “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.” (Galatians 3:13).

 What is the curse of the law?

Unlike the blessing of grace, the Law is a curse upon all mankind, and no one can possibly fulfill its requirements. While the Law itself is perfect and holy, those who try to justify themselves before its holy Author bring not His blessing, but His curse upon themselves. The Bible itself tells us what the curse of the Law is:

“For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.”  But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree.” (Gal. 3:10–1 ESV)

We need to be redeemed!

When I was growing up my brother David and I used to get extra money by collecting pop bottles from along the highway. We would take them to the local grocery store and redeem them. They would pay us for the bottles and send them back to the bottling plant to be washed and reused. That's similar to what Jesus did for us.

The word redeem means to gain or regain possession of (something) in exchange for payment. To retrieve, regain, recover, get back, or repossess.

He paid the price to redeem us!

Before Jesus died for us on the cross we were under the curse of the law! When Adam sinned he along with the rest of humanity became separated from God by sin. There was no escape from it. It was just; we were guilty. There was only one way to be set free: someone had to pay the penalty. Jesus paid the price to redeem us from the curse of the law and set us free! (John 8:36).

“For you have been bought with a price.” (1 Cor. 6:20 NASB)

“A person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ.” (Galatians 2:16).

 “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” (Rom 5:8 NLT)

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 NASB)

Jesus’ great act of love!

 “No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded." (John 10:18 NLT)

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13 NIV)

Therefore, you should love others, too! 

“We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.” (1 John 3:16 NLT)

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” (John 15:12 NIV)

 “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (1 Cor. 13:4-7 NKJV)

It's sometimes hard to do the loving thing, especially when others feel wounded by it

Recently a dear friend of mine with advanced Alzheimer’s disease had to be moved from his home into an assisted care facility. This was a difficult and painful decision for his family to make, but it needed to be done for his safety and protection. He doesn't understand why he was moved from his home. He is now upset, feels betrayed, wounded and lashes out verbally at those helping him. Everyone explains to him repeatedly why the move was necessary, but he doesn’t understand. Because they love him, they faithfully do what is best for him and compassionately endure his outbursts of anger. 

“Faithful are the wounds of a friend.” (Prov. 27:6 KJV)

It helps to understand that God also looks beyond our faults, covers them with His love, and takes care of our real needs.

God instructs us to do the same to others, especially to family members, so that any "wounds will quickly heal"

“Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help. “Then your salvation will come like the dawn, and your wounds will quickly heal. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the lord will protect you from behind.” (Isa. 58:7-8 NLT)

 “That the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.” (Philemon 1:6 NKJV)

The Bible tells us to “acknowledge the good things in you in Christ Jesus.” I believe it is a powerful thing to do! Many Christians are ignorant about who they are in Christ Jesus, so they behave weak and powerless, even though they actually are not! In fact, the Bible says the same power that raised Christ from the dead is inside them! (Rom. 6:10).

Open your eyes and understand!

“I  pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people.” (Eph. 1:18 NIV)

Look at what the scriptures say about you!

• A new creation - “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (3 Cor. 5:17 ESV)

• A chosen race - “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9 ESV)

• His workmanship - “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Eph. 2:10 ESV)

• A child of God - “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12 ESV)

• The righteousness of God - “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Cor. 5:21 ESV)

• A son of God - “For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.” (Gal. 3:26 ESV)

• A friend of God - “No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.” (John 25:15 ESV)

• A child of light - “For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.” (2 Thes. 5:5 ESV)

• An ambassador to Christ - “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” (2 Cor. 5:20 ESV)

• A fellow heir with Christ - “And if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” (Rom. 8:17 ESV)

• A powerful witness for God - “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8 ESV)

• The aroma of Christ – “For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.” (2 Cor. 2:15 ESV)

• Have the mind of Christ – “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.” (3 Cor. 2:16 ESV)

• God’s fellow worker – “For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building.” (2 Cor. 3:9 ESV)

“The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." (John 3:8 NIV)

I've always been fascinated with the mysterious connections found everywhere in nature

Certain types of moth have an olfactory sensitivity that can detect a single molecule of the female sex hormone from miles away. Salmon disappear into the ocean, travel a thousand or more miles away, and then return two years later to spawn in the exact stream! How did they find their way back? Then, there are the migratory birds that travel vast distances back and fourth, some even across the ocean without getting lost! Some birds even manage to return each year on the exact same day, like the swallows of Capistrano do on March 19! Then there is the amazing Arctic Tern, which migrates the farthest yearly journey of any bird. It travels from its Arctic breeding grounds to its wintering grounds off of Antarctica, about 25,000 miles! Wow! How and why do they do that?

God does it!

We serve an awesome God who connects everything in the world with amazing precision! He holds all His creation together! “He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.” (Col. 1:17 NLT).

There are mysteries

One of the strangest phenomenon in quantum mechanics is called quantum entanglement, where two or more particles are "entangled" and an action performed on one effects the others. This would be sort of like having an object on Earth and another on the moon, and if you did something to the one on earth it would instantly affect the one on the moon. Once entangled, the two particles stay inextricably linked. Quantum entanglement is so strange, in fact, that Einstein called it "spooky action at a distance."

We use technology we cannot see

The other day as I was listening to my radio it occurred to me that I am using a lot of technology I don't understand. Radio waves are all around us, we use them to listen to the radio and they even connect millions of us humans simultaneously by our smart phones. Wow! Even though I use the technology it's a mystery to me how it actually works!

We are also connected to God by what we cannot see

We can't see God, but His power is evident all around us. We are connected and helped by God’s Holy Spirit that is inside of us!

You must receive Him by faith

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the children of God, even to them that believe on his name.” (John 1:12 NKJV)

“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Rom. 10:9 NLT)

God’s  Spirit will dwell in you and help you

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” (John 14:16-17 ESV)

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own.” (2 Cor. 6:19 ESV)

“God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24 NKJV)

“Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.” (Prov. 27:2 ESV)

You are satisfied by the yield of your lips

“From the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach is satisfied; he is satisfied by the yield of his lips.” (Prov. 18:20 ESV)

Set a guard over your mouth

“Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!” (Psalm 141:3 ESV)

Make your speech judicious and persuasive  

“The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious and adds persuasiveness to his lips. Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.” (Prov. 16:23-24 ESV)

The Word is near your mouth and heart

“But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim)” (Rom. 19:8 ESV)