Easter Observations

Ron Hesser
To
Today at 3:14 AM
Dear Crio Family of Pastors:
I hope you had a glorious Sunday celebrating the resurrection of our Lord. In meditating on the
this key event of our Christian faith, I was wondering why Jesus chose to appear just to certain people
and for a short time only, and why some eye-witnesses doubted His resurrection. In the scene at the
tomb in Mt. 28 there are three separate groups represented: 1) the two Mary's, 2) an angel of the Lord,
and 3) the guards.
The guards were all "slain in the spirit" just as they were at His arrest in the Garden (Jn. 18:6).
They must have been also deeply touched by the earthquake, the rolled back stone, and it says they
"shook with fear" at the sight of the angel. After departing back to the city, however, Mt. 28:11 says
they reported their experiences and observations to the Chief Priests. The priests sowed "doubts" in
their minds that the miracle they had seen was not to be taken seriously. They offered them money to
keep quiet about the truth of the matter, and tell others that "his disciples came while we were asleep and
stole the body." This rumor is said to be "circulating among the Jews to this day". So in spite of all they
saw and felt, they were able to dismiss their experiences as eyewitnesses to the resurrection!
Mary Magdalene and "the other Mary" (believed to the mother of James the disciple) were the first
believers to witness the resurrection. Mary Magdalene was known to be a follower of Jesus after being
previously delivered of seven demons (Lk. 8:2). It is interesting that the first to announce the
resurrection (and become the first evangelist of the New Covenant) was this "unimportant" woman of
humble stature, and not one of the male disciples! This is in line with Peter's conclusion that "God is not
a respecter of persons and shows no partiality" (Acts 10:34), and that everyone is important equally in
the Father's eyes. Jesus' followers were quick to accept the evidence of the resurrection as real and life
changing. All the apostles who had fled the cross at Calvary, became men "who turned the world upside
down" in Acts 17:6, and later met martyrdom. He appeared to only those who had followed His
ministry in some way prior to the crucifixion.
The Lord's angel confirmed the resurrection, and in I Tim. 3:16, it states Jesus was "seen by angels"
on earth after the resurrection. The angels took this news back to Heaven to announce to the angelic
host that the Lamb of God has risen.
I was thinking if God truly wanted the whole world to know Jesus was resurrected, why did He not
appear to Pilate on Sunday AM? Why not to the Chief Priests (I would have loved to have seen their
faces!!!)? Why not to the crowd who shouted "give us Barabbas" and "crucify him" on Friday?
It seems the Father wants faith and the drawing of the Spirit to play a part in the knowledge of His
Son and believing a miracle. In John 6:44, Jesus says "no one can come to Me unless the Father who
sent Me draws him". I Cor. 12:3 says "no one can say Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit."
Even today when the power of God is displayed with mighty signs and wonders (like the healing
testimony above by one of our Crio pastors), it seems people are able to dismiss the obvious and go on
with their self-centered lives. It seems to me a miracle of being healed of the incurable disease of AIDs,
would convince the world, Jesus is real!!! However, the Bible truth, "without faith it is impossible to
please God" (Heb. 11:6), is evident all around us, every day as we hear doubt about the miracles of God
and about our own testimonies of healing and the work of God in our lives by co-workers, family and
friends. This can be discouraging. It seems it takes more than your five physical senses to believe a
miracle, and faith/spiritual discernment are essential. Even the miracles the children of Israel saw "did
not profit them as they did not mix it with faith" (Heb. 4:2).
There is an interesting statement also in I Tim. 3:16 as it says Jesus was "justified (or vindicated) in
the Spirit". It must have been discouraging to Jesus while on earth to see people walk away with hard
heartedness when He broke practically every Law of Nature, yet doubt their realness. Even though His
miracles were dismissed by the Priests and Pharisees, He found His vindication in the Spirit of God, not
man's opinions!
Could this be the key to our sanity as believers in this un-believing world-to seek an inward
"vindication" in the Spirit that we can see and spiritually know the power of God working and moving,
and that we need to double down to vow to continue to plead with others to believe the Gospel, and
continue to yield to the Holy Spirit to perform the signs and wonders (Heb. 2:4) that will give many a
chance to see the truth of the Gospel and birth faith in their lives and ignore the doubts and criticisms
that surely will come???
That is my plea to you, as pastors and leaders of His Body, that we "of the faith" will realize the
vindication of our calling and works of service for Him is through the Spirit and by faith, and seek the
praise of God rather than the praises of men (Jn. 12:43)!!! It also is encouraging to me that Jesus
appeared to only His followers, and that miracles will be evident predominantly for those who believe,
making us "good soil" for God's power to manifest in our lives, our families and our church members,
and having our needs met by His power!!!
For Him to be glorified in the nations of Africa, Bro. Ron

Blessings
Anita
To Me
Today at 5:46 AM
Blessings beloved brother,

I have just checked and noticed that I am overdue for sending further support to the South Rift Valley
group. I am also praying about being able to send something to help with your hospital bill. Before I
send anything I want to make sure that you safely received the last funds sent as the last record of
them I have is your email below.

Yours in Christ's love,
Sis. Anita

Renewal Ministries Fellowship
Uniting & Mobilizing the Body of Christ
www.renewal.asn.au
"I have given them the glory that You gave me, that they may be one as We are One. May they be brought to complete
unity to let the world know that You sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me." (John 17:22-23)