Bless You On This Resurrection Day (not Easter Day),                 April 8, 2012

Today we celebrate the resurrection of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ! Praise God! The tomb is empty. He is not there! He is not dead! He is alive! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! Yes, our Lord and God is alive. On this celebration day nearly two thousand years ago, world history was changed forever. Remember what Jesus said in
Matthew 12:40: “For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” This was fulfilled exactly when Jesus was crucified, buried, then resurrected. This sequence of events occurred this way.
(Day One): He died on the Jewish Feast Day of Passover.

(Day Two): His body lay in the tomb through the Jewish Feast Day of Unleavened Bread.

(Day Three): He came up out of the grave just before dawn on the Jewish Feast Day of First Fruits. It is to be noted that the Jewish day went from 6:00 pm of a day to 6:00 pm the next day. Remember, the Jews also considered any part of a day as the whole day. Thus, the reference of a day and a night does not necessarily mean a WHOLE twenty-four hour day. This possibly could work out for Him to be crucified, died and buried on Thursday afternoon before 6:00 pm,
and then resurrected early on Monday morning, (as the day dawned). Thus making Sunday the Eighth day of a seven day week. The Lord’s Day being referred to in:

Matthew 28:1, “In the end of the sabbath, as it began to
dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.”

Mark 16:2, “And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.”

Mark 16:9, “Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of
the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.”

Luke 24:1, “Now upon the first day of the week, very early in
the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.”

John 20:1, “The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.”

John 20:19, “Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.”

Acts 20:7 “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.”

Rev. 1:10, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet”.

In this last scripture, Rev. 1:10, the Apostle John makes reference to the Lord’s Day. This was the day of Jesus’ resurrection from death and the grave. All of these scriptures lets us know “why” Christians, from the Apostles of Jesus, and all the early Christians, met on “Sunday” instead of the Jewish Sabbath day of Saturday. Consequently, we today meet on Sundays also and not on Saturday. And today is that celebration day! Today, we rejoice that our God has given us victory over death, hell, and the grave. Not only that, but through faith in Jesus’ Name, we are recipients of the promises God made to Abraham. And what are they? Salvation, health, healing, deliverance, prosperity, blessings of all kinds, and citizenship in Heaven!Jesus is at the right hand of God right this very minute praying for each of you to succeed. “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” 3 John 1:2. So, be blessed and prosper in Him. We love you.

Pastor Lyle, Sister Jean, and your BJWC Church Leadership