The Present Riseness of Jesus

 

The resurrection of Jesus is the greatest miracle in history. It is the central event in Christianity. The early Christians were not persecuted for proclaiming Jesus’ birth or His life, but for proclaiming His resurrection from the dead. If Jesus’ resurrection is not real then Christianity is a lie and our faith in Jesus is worthless.

 

All four Gospels record Jesus’ resurrection.

 

Matthew 28:6

He is not here, for He has risen, as He said. Come, see the place where He lay.

 

Mark 16:6

And he said them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; He is not here. See the place where they laid him.”

 

Luke 24:6

He is not here, but has risen. Remember how He told you, while He was still in Galilee.

 

Notice three things:

Jesus had risen, He was alive.

The place where Jesus lay in the tomb was empty, resurrection was bodily.

Jesus had told them before His resurrection that he would die and come back to life.

 

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is believing that Jesus bodily rose from the dead and that He is alive today.

 

So, let me introduce you to a term that I have just came know. The term is “present riseness”. It means that Jesus’ resurrection is to be an everyday reality in our lives. Jesus’ resurrection is not just a historical fact, it is a present reality.

 

So, what does it mean to live in the present riseness of Jesus?

 

It means living with Jesus’ presence in our lives in daily living.

 

Galatians 2:20

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And this life I live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

 

It is knowing that through the Holy Spirit Jesus is living His life in and through me.

 

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is living knowing the presence of Jesus in us every day.

 

It means knowing that what I face, I face with Jesus living in me.

 

Jesus tells us in John 16:33 that while we live this life, we will face troubles. He also tells us that we can have peace in the midst of these troubles because He has overcome the world and thus it troubles.

 

As you and I live in the midst of this Covid situation, we have new and different troubles than we have ever had before. But because of the fact of Jesus’ present riseness, we can know peace in the midst of chaos.

 

Rise the Roof and Remove the Walls is experiencing the peace of Jesus in a confusing and chaotic world.

 

It means I can live in complete trust in Jesus because He is always with me and He is all-powerful.

 

In Matthew 19:23-24 Jesus tells His disciples that it is difficult for a rich person to get into heaven and that it is actually easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.

 

The response of the disciples is to ask who then can be saved.

 

Jesus then responds in Matthew 19:26, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

 

God is all-powerful so what can overpower us or overwhelm us cannot overpower or overwhelm Him. When I live in the present riseness of Jesus I know that whatever comes against me, God is bigger than it.

 

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is trusting Jesus with everything in our lives.

 

It means that I am never alone.

 

In Hebrews 13:5 we are promised that Jesus will never leave us or forsake us.

 

Jesus will not abandon me.

Jesus will not ignore me.

Jesus will not forget me.

 

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is living with the total assurance that God is with me no matter what.

 

May you and I live every day with the present riseness of Jesus filling our lives. May you and I experience the fullness of God’s presence, power, love, and grace daily.

 

In the Present Riseness of Jesus Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls

                                                     Joe