Resurrection Week - Monday

Today is one day since Jesus rose from the grave and our Risen Lord has wasted absolutely no time in giving convincing proofs to His disciples that He is no longer dead, but that He lives. Is His concern for His disciples knowing and believing that He is alive and with them, only for the Eleven and others, of so many years ago?  O no! Our Risen Lord knows that if we do not believe in His Resurrection from the grave, our faith will be all in vain and we will be, above all people, most deceived. Is this not Resurrection Power? Is this not Resurrection Sweetness? Feast, devour and satiate yourself with the Living Word.

Let’s listen to some excerpts from Paul’s letter to the Church at Corinth.

Now if Christ is preached that He has been risen from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is vain and your faith is also vain. 1 Corinthians 15: 12 – 14.

Jesus is risen, therefore our faith is not futile, because Jesus has shed abroad in our hearts His sweetness, so that our lives will be continuous gain in Him. 

Jesus, sweet Jesus, You live, I know,

In me daily, Your delights to show,

You are alive, healing, forgiving,

Teaching, Your resurrection living,

You arose! You live! Bless­èd Jesus,

Love overcomes! Love Sweet and Precious.

Amen!

 

We were promised that for the remainder of Resurrection Week, we will be rejoicing, celebrating and feasting, as we sup on the Sweetness of the Name of Jesus. For all of us who believe, Jesus is Sweet, so that His Name is also Sweet.

John Newton wrote these words, centuries ago and aren’t they still unmovably true to you, me, and all who believe?  For all who know the hymn, listen again to these truths. For those who are unfamiliar with it, take and be satiated.

How sweet the name of Jesus sounds in a believer’s ear!

It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds and drives away his fear.

It makes the wounded spirit whole and calms the troubled breast;

‘Tis manna to the hungry soul and to the weary, rest.

These are but two stanzas, nevertheless, they have provided us with sweetness to keep us forever. The Name of Jesus is Sweet and we are feasting, not just on some reasons why the Name Jesus is Sweet, but my heart’s desire, my earnest prayer is that as each word, each line about the Sweet Name of Jesus is read, you will be fed that Sweetness, in the depths of your being. 

I have pulled out from these two stanzas, how and why the Name of Jesus is so sweet to the believer. We are receiving all our sweetness, our delights, our joys, in some after Resurrection Sweetness. Eat, enjoy, be made sweet, and even sweeter.