The Great Dividing Line in History

I shared reflections on this weekend during the mid-week prayer meeting, emphasizing the significance of the resurrection.  The history uses designation BC/AD (Before Christ & Anno Domini).  The secular writers use alternative BCE/ACE (before the Common Era & Current Era)  one author suggests that the BR/AR would be more significant demarcation, meaning Before & After the Resurrection!

Think about the significance of the resurrection of Jesus Christ!  It is not just a doctrine.  It is an ongoing life with Jesus.  Nowadays the meaning is commercialized and used for free hobby time with few reflecting on the significance of what happened during that transition from Good Friday to the Resurrection Sunday.  On Saturday Jesus rested in the grave.  Death had dominion over him.  But not for long.  The gates of hell broke and the door into paradise opened.  Matthew 27;52-53 records that even before the resurrection Sunday, on Friday as Jesus died, the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.  Jesus’ resurrection was certain even before His death!

The resurrection of Jesus is experienced by believers through baptism, for the same Spirit that brought Jesus up, quickens our lives in baptism (Romans 8:11). 

On this weekend as you mingle with family and friends I invite you to consider the last two paragraphs from Chapter 8 from the book Desire of Ages by Ellen G. White: “As we associate together, we may be a blessing to one another. If we are Christ's, our sweetest thoughts will be of Him. We shall love to talk of Him; and as we speak to one another of His love, our hearts will be softened by divine influences. Beholding the beauty of His character, we shall be "changed into the same image from glory to glory." 2 Corinthians 3:18.

  It would be well for us to spend a thoughtful hour each day in contemplation of the life of Christ. We should take it point by point, and let the imagination grasp each scene, especially the closing ones. As we thus dwell upon His great sacrifice for us, our confidence in Him will be more constant, our love will be quickened, and we shall be more deeply imbued with His spirit. If we would be saved at last, we must learn the lesson of penitence and humiliation at the foot of the cross.

May this weekend be a reminder of Christ’s sacrifice of love, and the example of humility, freedom from sin, confidence in the future and joy in your life.  We serve a Risen Savior, who’s in the World today! Even as we await for the Glorious return of Jesus, may you encounter Jesus Himself as you serve others.  When you participate with Him in His story you don’t need to defend your belief in His story.