The Bottom Line by Pastor Jimmy Tucker

Celebrating the resurrection of Christ will not be the same as last year. If you’re like me, you’ll be secluded in your home, holed up against the corona virus. The traditional Resurrection Sunday can be observed in a very individual way. You may watch a service online and try to keep the traditions, or you can let all the traditions go and worship the risen Savior individually as the Holy Spirit leads you.

A childhood Easter tradition is the egg hunt which has to do with Easter baskets, candy, chocolate bunny rabbits, and colored eggs. This tradition is great fun, but has little to do with the true message of the Resurrection of Jesus.

What is the true message of the resurrection that we remember this time of year? “Early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance” (John 20:1 NLT). Mary Magdalene was honored to be the first to see Jesus after His resurrection. It was announced to her, individually, and then Jesus Himself told her to go and tell the others. “Don’t cling to me,” Jesus said, “for I haven’t yet ascended to the Father. But go find my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God’” (John 20:17 NLT). 

This is the true message of the resurrection for all of us. Go, and tell others the good news of Jesus: His Father is your Father and His God is your God — that Jesus is here and alive! This is the story that has changed the world. The wonderful story of Jesus and His love is still changing hearts on an individual basis.

What makes the resurrection of Jesus meaningful to you? Is it the sunrise service or the breakfast that follows? Is it the squeals of delight as your toddler finds another plastic egg filled with candy? Is it the message from your pastor or singing in the church cantata that you’ve rehearsed for weeks? Maybe it’s none of these things. Maybe they all leave your heart dry and unchanged.

I suggest getting alone with your Bible and reading the beautiful story again, meditating on the eternal truth of Jesus’ resurrection and His love for you. Let it soften and change your heart. He will not disappoint you, but will meet you where you are.

The story of Jesus did not end with the crucifixion. Praise God! His story is still being written as He works in the lives of those who believe. He arose from the dead to give us hope for the resurrection unto eternal life. He wants the whole world to know about it. He wants to live in each of us and change us from the inside out.

Bottom line: Don’t let traditions take the place of the individual life-changing message of our risen Lord and Savior.

Pastor Jimmy Tucker

(620) 223-1483

Diamond Community Church

“ For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.” 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

Preston asked, “Did you know that sometimes dead bodies will move?” I answered his question with a question when I said, “What are you talking about?” My friend Preston, who is a funeral director, said, “Sometimes bodies will have muscle contractions after they are dead. Sometimes a hand will quiver. Sometimes a face will twitch. Sometimes an eye might even blink.”

Over the years, I have been around a lot of dead bodies. In my ministry, I have been with people as they took their final breaths and I have preached hundreds of funerals. I have seen a lot of dead bodies, but I have never seen one move. So, I looked at Preston with a look of doubt.

Preston said, “Once, I was preparing a body, and I had to reach down under the table to get something. When I bent over, the hand of the dead man fell on my shoulder.” “Be honest with me, what did you do?” I asked. “I screamed my lungs out.” I said, “If that would have happened to me, there would have been two dead bodies!”

Even though a dead body may still twitch and move, dead bodies don’t come back to life. However, I have a personal relationship with a dead body that came back to life. The Lord Jesus Christ came back from the dead. Jesus is not shut up in a hole. He is sitting up in Heaven. Jesus is not rotting in a tomb. He is reigning on a throne. Jesus is not wearing grave clothes. He is robed in King’s Clothes. Jesus is alive.

This Sunday is Easter. I prefer to call it “Resurrection Sunday” because the resurrection is a vital component of the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us that the Gospel has three parts. First, Jesus Christ died on the cross for sinners. Second, He was buried. Third, He was raised from the dead according to the Scriptures. The true Gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, and when you rest your faith in the Gospel – in the Person and work of Jesus Christ – you experience a new birth and have a personal relationship with a Holy God.

The point is: The resurrection of Jesus Christ sets Christianity apart from all the world religions. Other religious leaders died, but only One came back from the grave and is alive forevermore. There is no other religious leader in history who was killed, who was buried, who rose from the dead and left behind an empty tomb. Not one. Confucius, Buddha, Muhammad, Joseph Smith, Charles Taze Russell, L. Ron Hubbard, Ellen G. White – none of them ever died, was buried, and rose from the dead. A dead man can save no one. Salvation by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ is the only way.

Jesus is alive.

Do you personally know and boldly proclaim the living Savior?

Do you know my Jesus?

Get to know Him. Your eternal life depends on it.

James Collins is the senior pastor of First Southern Baptist Church where “Drive-In Church” will be held this Sunday. Find out more information at www.fortscottfsbc.com.