In Kipling’s story, The Jungle Book, Mowgli, the man cub, asks the animals what’s the most feared thing in the jungle. He’s told that when two animals meet on a narrow path that one must step aside and let the other pass. The animal that steps aside for no one would then be the most feared. Mowgli wants to know what kind of animal would that be? One tells him it’s an elephant. Another tells him it’s a lion. Finally the wise old owl exclaims, “The most feared thing in the jungle is death. It steps aside for no one.”
Death is an absolute truth for all of us. No one is exempt from death.
Heb. 9:27 – It is appointed to all men once to die and after that the judgment.
Ecc. 7:2 – …for death is the destiny of every man.
But death was not the destiny of Jesus Christ. Jesus was God in the flesh and death had to step aside for him. Like a coward steps aside for the brave, death cowered in the presence of the power of Jesus Christ.
Rom. 6:9 – For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.
Today we celebrate Easter or what I prefer to call Resurrection Sunday and it’s the celebration that death could not keep Jesus down!
The resurrection is of supreme importance because it is what separates from all the other religious leaders of the world? Death stepped aside for Him and not them.
Death didn’t step aside for Muhammad, Buddha, or Confucius. Their religious teachings did make an impact on the world, but they died never to be seen alive again.
Jesus was more than a great teacher, more than just a man, He was God incarnate, and He proved His superiority over all religious teachers by conquering sin, death, and the grave.
The resurrection is important to our faith because it’s what guarantees the absolute validity about who Jesus was and the truth of His teachings. -If there was no resurrection of Christ, then our faith is based on the teachings of a mere man.
Dr. David Seamands tells of a Muslim who became a Christian in Africa: “Some of his friends asked him, ‘Why did you become a Christian?’ He answered, ‘Well, It’s like this. Suppose you were going down the road and suddenly the road forked in two directions and you didn’t know which way to go, and there at the fork in the road were two men, one dead and one alive. Which one would you ask which way to go?’”
Today there's no greater question than where you will spend eternity. Only through faith in Jesus Christ (trusting in Jesus alone), and by repenting of your sins (remorse for your sin and a promise to now turn from them to let God lead your lfie) can you be saved.
If you want more information on how to have a personal relationship with the Risen Savior Jesus Christ, contact your local Salvation Army or call me at 907.235.2609, or email mark.thielenhaus@usw.salvationarmy.org I would love to share more with you.
Jesus died to pay the penalty for your sins, and He rose again to prove He was God and that His teaching is true. Once you accept Him, GO AND TELL SOMEBODY RIGHT AWAY and don't ever stop, the free gift of eternal life is for anyone who will call on Him.
We aren't promised tomorrow, nor are those you come in contact with, let no one die in their sins, live holy, and preach Jesus.
HE IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED!
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