My God and My Country

March 27, 2016 Easter Sunday

Reading from the Gospel According to Luke Chapter 24 verse 6

He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you, when he was yet in Galilee -Geneva Bible Translation

He is not here, he has risen. As he used to speak to you while he was in Galilee - Aramaic Translation

He is not here; he has been raised. Remember how he told you while he was still in the Galil - The Complete Jewish Bible Translation

“ Witness is hereby given to Christ that he is living, of him it is witnessed that he liveth (Read Hebrews 7:8), and it is the comfort of all the saints, I know that my Redeemer liveth (Read Job 19:25); for because he lives we shall live also. But a reproof is given to those that look for him among the dead,—that look for him among the dead heroes that the Gentiles worshipped, as if he were but like one of them,—that look for him in an image, or a crucifix, the work of men’s hands, or among unwritten tradition and the inventions of men; and indeed all they that expect happiness and satisfaction in the creature, or perfection in this imperfect state, may be said to seek the living among the dead.

They [the angels] assure them that he is risen from the dead ‘He is not here, but is risen, is risen by his own power; he has quitted his grace, to return no more to it’ These angels were competent witnesses, for they had been sent express from heaven with orders for his discharge. And we are sure that their record is true; they durst not tell a lie.

They refer them to his own words: Remember what he spoke to you, when he was yet in Galilee. If they had duly believed and observed the prediction of it, they would easily have believed the thing itself when it came to pass; and therefore, that the tidings might not be such a surprise to them and they seemed to be, the angels repeat to them what Christ had often said in their hearing, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and though it was done by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, yet they that did it were not the less sinful for doing it. He told them that he must be crucified. Surely they could not forget that which they had with so much concern seen fulfilled; and would not this bring to their mind that which always followed, The third day he shall rise again? Observe, These angels from heaven bring not any new gospel, but put them in mind, as the angels of the churches do, of the sayings of Christ, and teach them how to improve and apply them.” - Matthew Henry – 17^th Century Theologian

Postscript

My Brethren;

It is for this reason that we believe; that God sent His only Son into the world to atone for the sins of mankind, to send Him to take our punishment, that is to say, death. But more importantly to rise Him up from death to life everlasting. For only God in the flesh, could do so. Man simply cannot attain redemption and furthermore salvation by his own efforts. We are flawed due to our sinful nature. We have good intentions, we try hard, but in the end our best efforts are naught but cheap copies of He that is most righteous of all: Jesus Christ, Messiah. - Doktor Riktor Von Zhades - A devoted disciple of Jesus Christ