He is Risen!

And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. (KJV)– Mark 16:6


“He is Risen”

Each year I am blessed to learn more about “The Resurrection.” I can truly say, “He is risen indeed,” these first forty days after we have celebrated Christ’s Resurrection. It is difficult to see when you are in the middle of a storm. What may be a storm for you may not be a storm for another.

Those things that challenge you and weigh heavy upon your psyche and soul may not cause anyone else to give it a second thought. It is not until you personally are in a storm that you need to have your faith resurrected. It is not until you’ve prayed and bargained and lamented and sought to hold on to God’s unchanging hand and ignored all of the negative self talk, that you personally encounter ”The Resurrection.”

Those that believe in Christ is on a faith journey, a journey to hang out with Christ through thick and thin. It is not a matter of whether Christ will hang with you but rather if you will hang with Christ. It is easy to hang with Christ when all is going well. It is more difficult to hang when things are personally bad for you.

I was taught that when things are going well with you, you are being blessed, so consequently when things are going bad for you, you are being punished or damned. I realized that in the midst of my storm I had forgotten or chose to ignore the reality that rain falls upon the just and the unjust. I also forgot that we need rain for growth. I am reminded of a song that shares, “If I never had a problem, I wouldn’t know that God would solve them.” I believe that these statements are true, I have learned through my own resurrection that it is up to me to continue to believe and to continue to move forward despite obstacles, disappointment and setbacks.

I have learned that sometimes we need to slow down to gain new perspectives and to consider other options. I’ve learned that it is easy to look at negativity and much harder to really count our blessings. How often I have shared that if you can take a breath, walk up a flight of stairs, if you know your name, you are truly blessed. Being blessed has nothing to do with possessions; it has everything to do with who you love and who loves you back. I have been resurrected through those who I love and who truly love me. I am grateful for it is their love that resurrected me. So I too, like Jesus have been resurrected and I too have received the gospel; it “is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith" (Romans 1:16). Thus without a shadow of a doubt I can say, “He is Risen.” You ask me “how I know?” It is because, He is risen in me!

“Living in the Power of the Resurrection”
-Rev. Dr. Gary A. Williams