He is Risen!

Happy Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025:

John 20:8-9 NLT: “The disciple (John) who had reached the tomb before Simon Peter also went in, and he saw and believed—for until then they still hadn’t understood the Scriptures that said Jesus must rise from the dead.”

To the Jews – even those who had been with Jesus – this “rising from the dead” was something new. They’d heard talk about it, but it was sort of like a fable or a fairy tale. No one had actually been an eyewitness to a well-known public figure having a second life. That’s about to change!

Mary Magdalene, first to arrive at Jesus’ tomb Sunday morning, noticed the stone had been rolled away. Simon Peter and John began a foot race to get to the tomb. John arrived next and saw the linen wrappings lying there, empty. Then Simon Peter then entered and saw the head wrapping, folded up neatly, separate from the other grave clothes. No doubt about it – Jesus had gone missing!

Mary then encountered two white-robed angels at the head and foot of where the body had once lain. “They have taken away my Lord and I don’t know where they have put him.”

Now Mary knew Jesus as well as anyone, but when a voice in the garden addressed her, she didn’t recognize him. After all, the last time she saw him, he was certified dead. But it turns out this was Jesus, now risen from the dead! “Mary,” verbalized the gardener, and then she knew.

“Rabboni!” she cried out, which means “Teacher.”

Jesus appeared to more than 500 people total, on at least 12 different occasions, including Apostles, disciples and other believers. These are the eyewitnesses who would go on to testify that in fact the once dead Jesus had risen again! They could communicate that Jesus of Nazareth was indeed the Son of the Living God! They could perpetuate the truth that Jesus had conquered sin and death, benefiting all mankind!

Help them share the Good News!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Saturday in Sheol!

For Saturday, April 19, 2025:

John 19:28a NLT: “Jesus knew that his mission was now finished.”

With the sins of the world now heaped upon him, Jesus knew that his earthly mission was completed. It was time to move on. He would take the world’s sins to Sheol, the place of the dead. But he would not remain there. He would be resurrected on the third day!

The concept of resurrection was still fairly new to the Hebrew people. In fact, some Jews didn’t believe in any life after this life. Those who believed that it was possible recalled Lazarus and the daughter of Jairus, both restored by the command of Jesus. But Jesus himself was a public figure, well known by everyone. His death was documented by Roman soldiers, whose business was death. Jesus returning from the dead would be eyewitness evidence that death was not the end! Theology would be rewritten!

Returning on the third day fulfills prophecy. Jesus was crucified on a Friday. Saturday was the Sabbath when no work could be done. Best to lay low that day. And on Sunday, he rose again!

Friends, there is life after this life! Jesus proved it, and believers all want to be a part of it. Jesus will go ahead to prepare your place in eternity. Use his name when you get there!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Good Friday!

For Good Friday, April 18, 2025:

John 19:6 NLT: “When they saw him, the leading priests and Temple guards began shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

Today, we remember the day Jesus was crucified. The previous night, he was betrayed, arrested, denied, interrogated and flogged. He was declared innocent by Roman standards, but found guilty of Jewish Law for calling himself the Son of God. It was his own people, the priests and temple workers, who shouted, “Crucify him!”

On the cross, Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” That’s what it felt like at the time. Jesus had lived his life on earth perfectly, but now the sins of the world were heaped upon him. As he died, he took those sins of the world to the place of the dead and left them there. Jesus himself would be resurrected three days later.

This absence of sin allows mankind to spend eternity with Jesus and his Father. If we repent and return to the Lord, our sins can be forgiven, and we get to see heaven from the inside. This is a major plank in our theological platform.

With Jesus, everything will be OK!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship