The resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth is PARAMOUNT!
Our apostolic amigo – Paul of Tarsus – says, “I delivered to you as OF FIRST IMPORTANCE what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then the twelve. If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. If Jesus has not been raised from the dead – then our faith is futile and we are still in our sins, and we are of all people most to be pitied.”
So, the resurrection of Jesus is a big deal!
But what does that mean for our everyday, ordinary, lives?
Does it mean that we should read books by Lee Strobel[1] and Tim Keller[2]?
Does it mean we should be militant about the TRUTH of the resurrection?
Does it mean we should engage in debates with people who deny the resurrection?
Potentially (ˈpäsəblē ). Being militant about the emphatic truth of the resurrection ? …absolutely!
But FIRST AND FOREMOST it means having breakfast with Jesus!
When Jesus rose from the dead, he used his resurrection power and glory to – first and foremost – have breakfast with His friends.
“Jesus appeared to His friends by the Sea of Tiberias. Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore and said, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered Him, “No.” Jesus said, “Cast your net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and KABOOM… they caught 153 large fish! And they rowed to shore and saw a charcoal fire with fish laid out on it, and bread; and Jesus said, “Come have breakfast.” [John 21]
More important than having a cognitive category for the resurrection, or a passionate conviction about the resurrection, or an ability to prove the resurrection, or a library with some books about the resurrection …first and foremost we must HAVE BREAKFAT WITH OUR RESURRECTED LORD & SAVIOR EVERY DAY!
After binge watching Netflix the night before.
And after splurge scrolling before turning out the lights.
And after toiling with our anxious dreams all through the night.
WE MUST WAKE UP EVERY MORNING AND HAVE BREAKFAST WITH JESUS!
We must embrace His affectionately offensive question, “Child, have you caught anything?”
We must obey His seemingly absurd command to “cast our nets” in ways that feel foolish.
And every day we must honestly come to grips with the fact that, “Apart from Jesus we can do nothing.”
And then we must accept His invitation to join Him for breakfast!
We must let Jesus feed us at the outset of each new day.
We must feast on the WORD/Jesus and marinate in His mercy[3] before commencing the projects and play of each and every day!
Mercy & Manna
Tyler
“When you wake up in the morning, Pooh,” said Piglet, “what’s the first thing you say to yourself?”
“What’s for breakfast?” said Pooh. “What do you say, Piglet?”
“I say, I wonder what’s going to happen exciting today?” said Piglet.
Pooh nodded thoughtfully. “It’s the same thing,” he said.
- A.A. Milne
[1] “The Case for the Resurrection: A First-Century Reporter Investigates the True Story of the Cross”
[2] “Hope in Times of Fear: The Resurrection and the Meaning of Easter”
[3] Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matthew 9:13)
0 Comments