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He is Risen!

Today we had our final New Testament class of the semester. It was an awesome experience to learn about the life of the Savior in depth. As we came to the final verses in the four gospels, I found some interesting occurrences that coordinated with foreshadowing verses in the beginning of Christ's ministry. It seems as if the gospel writers are showing how Christ came full circle. How he, like one of his disciples, "fought a good fight and finished his course." Only his fight was one against death and the very jaws of hell. He came, he experienced it all, and he conquered. He did it for us.


Here are some about Christ's birth and death:

Luke 2:7
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Mark 15:46
And he bought fine linen and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre.


It was interesting and profound that both in the cases of his birth and his death, Jesus was wrapped. He was then laid. Both his birth and his death took place in a cave of sorts.



The next verses are about the disciples fishing:

Mark 1:16-18
16 Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
17 And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and i will make you to become fishers of men.
18 And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.

John 21:6
And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.



In the first passage, Jesus tells them that he will make them fishers of men. In the second one, he says, "Feed my sheep. Feed my lambs." It seems as if he is telling them to help and support the people that have come unto Christ and become his sheep, whereas in the first section he was asking them to find those who wished to follow Christ and be saved. At the time of the second passage, Jesus has won the victory over death and hell and has claimed us his if we will but choose to follow him.

I am so grateful that Jesus suffered and died for me and rose again so that I too may be resurrected. He loves me and he loves you. Never forget that he is there. When you feel your heart burn within you, remember that he is never far away.







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