Thoughts From The Thicket
San Jacinto Newstimes - March 2008
By DR. DON SHANNON,
Pastor Coldspring
First Baptist Chruch

It may be said that time is the most important commodity in this world. Time is the chief ingredient in our existence. Without it we have no past, no present, and no future. When we run out of time nothing else matters. But while we have time, while we live and breathe and have our being, there is often a negativism that invades us. We find ourselves worrying about a past that we cannot change, bending under the weight of present difficulties, and fearing a future that we cannot predict. This was the case with the disciples over 20 centuries ago when they watched their friend and loved one die upon a Roman cross. But then a strange and remarkable event occurred. Jesus, that one whom they had seen die, and whom they had buried in a borrowed tomb, rose from the grave like a lily in spring breaking forth from the cold earth of winter into the warmth of the sun. Up from the darkness of death into the light of life, He came forth, and with His resurrection, His disciples found themselves rising above the anxieties of the past, present, and future.

When Christ arose, the disciples rose above their anxiety about a not too pretty past. A look back over their shoulders would reveal a past spotted with greed, hatred, doubt, unfaithfulness and any number of other human frailties. There was the betrayal of Judas, the denial of Peter, and John 6:66 tells us that many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with him. During the ministry of Jesus they had argued about which of them should be considered the greatest, and they denied access to little children who would come to Jesus. The disciples’ real brashness came to the forefront when Jesus was about to be arrested and Peter drew his sword and sliced off the ear of the high priest’s servant. Today, we call them saints, but a look at their past and that sainthood vanishes. But we cannot point the finger.

Like those disciples, we all have human frailties. We, too, have been greedy, unfaithful, short tempered, hateful, and even ungodly. The resurrection of Christ, however, raises us above those things that lay in our past because His resurrection verifies the truth of the Word of God. With the resurrection of Christ, the disciples rose above their anxiety, and bygones became bygones. Isaiah had said, Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool (1:18), and now they knew it to be true. In Jeremiah 31:34, the Lord had promised, I will remember your sins no more, and with the resurrection they knew it to be a promise kept. Above all, they remembered the words of Jesus, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die (John 11:25- 26).

Seeing the empty tomb they knew His words to be true. Because of the resurrection you, too, can rise above your anxieties about the past. Gert Bahana, a New York socialite, while appearing to have it all together, was in reality an alcoholic who had attempted suicide. She became a Christian after reading an article entitled, “It’s Never Too Late.” Gert described her experience in this way, The suitcases of life were too heavy. I needed a porter, and I found one in Jesus. The resurrection assures us that we can rise above a not too pretty past. With the resurrection of Christ, the disciples also rose above their anxiety about the present and the future.

Life under Roman rule was not easy, but with the death of Jesus the disciples had more to fear than the Romans. John 20:19 tells us that, During the evening of that same day, which was the first day of the week, the disciples shut the doors to the room where they had assembled because they were afraid of the Jews . . . But there behind locked doors the resurrected Jesus came and stood before them saying, Peace be unto you. With His appearance that fearful fraternity became a fearless family. Whatever present troubles you may face, whether it involves health, wealth, family, or friends, the resurrection of Christ assures you that He will always be there to raise you above them. Hebrew 13:8 declares, Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever. In the same way that He stood with the disciples, dispelling their fear, He will stand with you in your time of trouble, and He will secure your future.

When Jesus died the disciples faced an uncertain future. Jesus had said, Whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die..., but then He died, leaving them to ponder the truthfulness of His words and their own future. But with the resurrection, their uncertainty vanished, and Luke tells us, They worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: and were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God (24:52-53). The message of Easter is that you can know that same joy and have that same confidence in the future. Easter says to all who believe that because He lives, we too shall live, not just today or tomorrow, but forever.

Sir Michael Faraday, the wellknown English chemist and physicist, near the end of his life was asked by a reporter to share his speculations about life and death. “Speculations!” he replied, “I know nothing about speculations. I am resting on certainties. I know that my redeemer lives, and because He lives, I shall live also.” The resurrection of Christ causes us to rise above speculation and face the future with the certainty of everlasting life.