HE’S ALIVE!
HE’S ALIVE!
They told him, “Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is ruler of all Egypt.” Jacob was stunned; he did not believe them. But when they told him everything Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. And Israel said, “I’m convinced! My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.” —Genesis 45:26-28
When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it. —Mark 16:11
Twenty two years had gone by since Joseph had been killed by a wild animal. At least that is what Jacob believed because of Joseph’s brothers bringing back his bloody coat to their dad! Twenty-two years believing his son to be dead and why wouldn’t he with the “evidence” his other sons brought back?
But now he hears Joseph is alive. How can that be? He is dead. He has seen his bloody coat that his brothers had brought to him. He had grieved for Joseph. He’s alive? Jacob would not believe it. How could he believe it? For twenty-two years he had believed that Joseph was dead! His mind would not let him accept this new information that was so contrary to the previous testimony of the cloak and his sons. Now it was these same sons that were saying Joseph was alive. How could this be? And how could he be second in command of all Egypt? Jacob was stunned! Yet through further information from these sons the spirit of Jacob revived. He would see his son! His son was alive!
Think of the disciples. They had seen the results of the brutality the Romans had carried out on Jesus, then His death and burial. He was dead in the tomb and they were huddle in the upper room, door locked and fearful for their lives. When the disciples were told by Mary Magdalene that she had seen Jesus, they did not believe it. How could He be alive? He was in the tomb not one day, nor two days, but three. How could He now be living? No, they would not believe her.
“Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen” (Mark 16:14). Thomas had said, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe” (John 20:25). These men had to see Jesus alive before they believed, but “blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29). We have believed on the testimony of others. The testimony written down in God’s Word as they were led by the Holy Spirit to write what He desire them to write (II Peter 1:20-21; II Timothy 3:16-17) and by the testimony of those whose lives have been impacted by Jesus (Acts 1:8). He is alive and because He lives, we will live as well. Rejoice, Jesus is alive! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QCF_QyQ0x0 Share Him with others!
Dear Father, I am grateful for what You have done in raising Jesus from the dead, proving that He is Your Son. Thank You for the life You have given me. Now may I live it in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus that others may know Him as well.