A VERY HAPPY EASTER

            TO YOU ALL

LUKE 7V12-14

'And he that was dead,

sat up and began to speak!

THE BOY in this event was DEAD.    His spirit had fled from the body; there was NO life in him, YET, Jesus was able to call him back into the body.    The BODY was DEAD, but the SOUL was yet AIVE IN some place that was REACHABLE.

Remember Lazarus?    HE was four days DEAD!  In the tomb, his body cold and lifeless.   YET, still Jesus could call Lazarus (the souls within the body) back into that body.    From WHERE did Jesus call him?   If not dead within that dead and lifeless body of flesh and bone - WHERE was he?

In both of these incidents we see proof that when our body dies, and is buried, we who inhabited it are NOT dead, as the body is, but we still continue to exist!

In another Scripture Jesus tell of a place where those who have died on Earth go to; a place He called Abraham's Bosom.  A place divided from Hades where the wicked go when their body dies.  JESUS tells of another Lazarus, a beggar, who dies and goes to Abraham's Bosom - and THERE see one who is in Hades crying out in despair.

JESUS was pointing out, strongly, that IS life and existence, after the death of the body.

AND JESUS DIED.   HE had told his disciples that he WOULD die ( meaning his body)   AND he also told them that on thee 3rd day His body would RISE UP from the grave.  Had they  forgotten?    His Enemies had not and they made sure his tomb was sealed and guarded....

Mary Magdalen and Salome,  and that other Mary, all went to the tomb hoping to properly embalm His body.    Maybe they had not known about the tomb being sealed and guarded, but I wonder how they thought they could move the great stone in front of the tomb's entrance.

Imagine their amazement and shock to find the STONE was rolled away to the side, exposing the entrance.    Even more shocked to find a young man in a long white garment, sitting on a rock nearby nearby, who said 'FEAR NOT!   Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified, IS RISEN - HE IS NOT HERE.'     The WHERE was He?   The tomb was empty - the dead and wounded body vanished, leaving it 'grave clothes' neatly folded.

JESUS SAID - 'The Father loves me because I lay down my own life, in order to take it up (continue it).    No one takes mu life from me.  I give it up volintarily - AND I have power to take it back again.   This is something the Father has tole me to do' - John10v17-18

WAS THIS TO DEMONSTRATE EVEN MORE FULLY THAT LIFE CAN CONTIUE FOR EVER?

The Apostle Paul, reminds us in 1.Corinmthians 15v3-8

Jesus DIED for our sins, iniquities, (Rebellion against God's Law)

HE (HIS BODY) was buried, as being DEAD.     He descended into Hell to preach to the dead.

He ROSE up, in his body, on the 3rd day.

He was SEEN by more than 500 people including all the disciples.

HE IS ALIVE, NOT DEAD - He is ALIVE even today.

Just before he was killed on the Cross Jesus told his friends, his disciples (those who followed him, and took note of His teaching) that he was going to prepare a place for them where they could be with Him, and that He would Himself come to take them there.  -  John14v1-3    NOT everyone!  Just those who BELIEVED in Him, and who would trust in His Words.

There IS another place from Heaven, where those who have NOT believed in Jesus, or His Father Who sent him to us all.   It is known as HELL.    There is no joy, peace, or happiness there; no health or lack of pain there.  It is place without LIGHT or Security.   A place so dark that no one will be able to discover a way out.

TODAY this Jesus says to ALL  ' HERE I AM!   I AM ALIVE!    and, BECAUSE I LIVE, I will make you to live, even though your body dies, and to be with Me where I am!'

JOB, writing long before Jesus was even born in Bethlehem, said 

'I KNOW that my Redeemer LIVES,

and that He shall stand, at the last day, on the Earth.

Whom I shall SEE for myself;\and my eyes shall behold and not anothers.

JOB 19V25-27

let JESUS be LIFE to and for you

EVEN NOW, and FOREVER

FEAR NOT, He says.

For if you will Trust my Words, then you your spiritual SELF

that dwells within your body, will NEVER die.

'MARANTHA'

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As I write the RAIN beats upon or roof tops.    WHAT Joyful Relief, after such long doubt.

One can just FEEL Life springing up in the ground, and in the trees and plants.   the morning will be full of the Praise of Birds - How truly Wondrous and Merciful is our God.

This IS just an Easter Greeting.     And perhaps a reminder not to let the Enemy use our earthly tabernacle in which we shelter to bring you to despondency or even FEAR enough to FORGET the Saving Power and Everlasting LIFE available to us in the Name of Jesus Christ.    The BODY with all its physical decay and emotional deception is dying from birth, but our Very Self is renewed constantly to LIFE.     We only need be sure WHERE we are headed to - Home or HELL.

Esther, my darling wife, if well.    She has regained her appetite, and sense of Wellbeing, her wound is healed, and she feels ALIVE.     Blessed be the LORD our Life and our Health.    And Thanks to all those of our Children, and friends who so lovingly reached out to bear our sudden burden and anxiety -  your loving kindness truly has been, and remains a balm from Heaven.

ALL PRAISE to HIM who works in each one of the LOVE of God.

With our hearts full of thankfulness to Him and to you all, in His Name

John and Esther Gree