"The Queen is dead, long live the king". Or so the world views the death of a monarch. I'm English by birth. My family emigrated when I was almost 13. I have no particular interest in the Royal family, although the Queen Mother walked passed me when she was opening a facility at the school I attended. Which brings me to the point I'd like to make.
The fanfare around the passing of the Queen and the crowning of the new King could not be more different from the death of the Lord Jesus. Lord Jesus was tried in an illegal court, tortured and murdered, betrayed by one of His own. The Queen will be laid to rest with great pomp and ceremony. Her tomb was set aside centuries ago. The disciples had to borrow a tomb. Never mind, it would not be needed for long!
The death of Christ was the greatest event in human history up until that time. Only the resurrection surpasses it. Yet without the death, there could be no resurrection. When men have a great event, there is much fanfare. When God raised Jesus from the dead, there were no bands playing, no marching armies, no speeches (be thankful for that!), and no prizes were awarded - on earth, that is.
The night before the crucifixion, Lord Jesus instituted the New Covenant. This changed everything. Yet there were just 12 people. There was no banquet. They ate bread, a simple staple, and drank wine, nothing out of the ordinary in that time.
Why does this matter? Many people have trouble believing that God accepts them. I used to struggle with that myself. Yet the New Covenant, the greatest agreement ever, was witnessed by ordinary men. They were fishermen, a tax collector and from the wrong side of town. Galilee was considered a backwater by Israel's elites. God appointed such as these to change the world. The Kingdom of God will be brought about by people like you and me.
How can this be? When God is involved, the impossible becomes possible. If you are born again, you have the mighty, overcoming and victorious King of Kings and Lord of Lords living in you. The greatest and strongest people die eventually. Queen Elizabeth was a wonderful Christian woman who confessed Christ. Yet she is now in heaven where she is just another believer. Christian, God is pleased to use the ordinary, the plain and simple so that all the glory goes to the Son. Be happy that you are not a superstar. How hard it is for them to be humble and depend on Jesus. We who are weak are more inclined to depend on the resurrected Jesus who lives in us. We may not receive the accolades of men. But "well done, good and faithful servant" is the greatest compliment you could receive and dwelling in the presence of Jesus the greatest reward.
The fanfare around the passing of the Queen and the crowning of the new King could not be more different from the death of the Lord Jesus. Lord Jesus was tried in an illegal court, tortured and murdered, betrayed by one of His own. The Queen will be laid to rest with great pomp and ceremony. Her tomb was set aside centuries ago. The disciples had to borrow a tomb. Never mind, it would not be needed for long!
The death of Christ was the greatest event in human history up until that time. Only the resurrection surpasses it. Yet without the death, there could be no resurrection. When men have a great event, there is much fanfare. When God raised Jesus from the dead, there were no bands playing, no marching armies, no speeches (be thankful for that!), and no prizes were awarded - on earth, that is.
The night before the crucifixion, Lord Jesus instituted the New Covenant. This changed everything. Yet there were just 12 people. There was no banquet. They ate bread, a simple staple, and drank wine, nothing out of the ordinary in that time.
Why does this matter? Many people have trouble believing that God accepts them. I used to struggle with that myself. Yet the New Covenant, the greatest agreement ever, was witnessed by ordinary men. They were fishermen, a tax collector and from the wrong side of town. Galilee was considered a backwater by Israel's elites. God appointed such as these to change the world. The Kingdom of God will be brought about by people like you and me.
How can this be? When God is involved, the impossible becomes possible. If you are born again, you have the mighty, overcoming and victorious King of Kings and Lord of Lords living in you. The greatest and strongest people die eventually. Queen Elizabeth was a wonderful Christian woman who confessed Christ. Yet she is now in heaven where she is just another believer. Christian, God is pleased to use the ordinary, the plain and simple so that all the glory goes to the Son. Be happy that you are not a superstar. How hard it is for them to be humble and depend on Jesus. We who are weak are more inclined to depend on the resurrected Jesus who lives in us. We may not receive the accolades of men. But "well done, good and faithful servant" is the greatest compliment you could receive and dwelling in the presence of Jesus the greatest reward.
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