Would you look back at Luke 24
once again? I've entitled this message, The
Message of the Angels. The Message of the Angels. And we're going to consider what
the angels had to say with regard to the resurrection of the Lord
Jesus Christ. There are created beings called
angels in the scripture. You've heard of the angel Gabriel
and Michael, the archangel. And it could be that there are
different orders of them. We read of cherubims, seraphims.
I know very little about those creatures and they don't want
much to be known about them. I think it's glorious the way
they cover their feet. They cover their face. lot we
just don't know about them. But Peter tells us that angels
are greater in power and might than us. They appeared with the Lord to
destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. They announced the Lord's birth
to Joseph and Mary and The shepherds, they ministered to the Lord during
his temptation in the wilderness. They loved the Lord Jesus Christ.
They ministered to him in Gethsemane's garden when he sweat great drops
of blood and angels appeared unto him and strengthened him.
The scripture says, they were at the cross ready to smite at
the order of God. They didn't know what was going
on. They didn't understand. They were amazed that this was
taking place. They were watching the second
person of the Trinity nailed to a cross. And I can just imagine
that they were in some kind of position ready to smite. Why
is he letting this happen? They didn't really understand.
But they were there at the resurrection. to announce the resurrection
of the Lord Jesus Christ to these people. Now, we know little about
these beings, like I said, but the scripture does say in Hebrews
2, they are ministering spirits, sent forth to be ministers to
them who shall be the heirs of salvation. That's what God says
about these beings. We do have guardian angels. In Matthew chapter 18, would you turn with me there, Matthew
chapter 18. You remember when the writer
to the Hebrews said, be careful to entertain strangers for thereby
some have entertained angels, unawares. You may have been in
contact with one and not even known about it. But in Matthew
chapter 18, verse 10, he says, take heed that you despise not
one of these little ones. For I say unto you that in heaven,
they're angels. These little ones, they're angels. Do always behold the face of
my father, which is in heaven. Now, every believer is surrounded
by these angels. I don't have any doubt there
are angels in this room right now. You know, they are interested
in the things of God. They're interested in the gospel.
They desire to look into these things. And there's always a
bunch of them around. I think of that passage of scripture
in 2 Kings 6. Would you turn with me there
for a moment? 2 Kings 6. This is when the Syrians had
surrounded the house of Elisha. They wanted to do damage. They
were upset that Elisha could tell where they were going and
Israel could escape from them. And they wanted to deal with
Elisha, these Syrians. They were angry. And then we
read in verse 15, or verse 14. Therefore sent he to their horses
and chariots and a great host. And they came by night and compassed
the city about. And when the servant of the man
of God was risen early and gone forth, behold, and host compassed
the city, both with horses and chariots. And his servant said
unto him, alas, my master, how shall we do? We're in trouble.
There's me, there's you, and there's this host of Syrians
surrounding our home. What are we gonna do? Verse 16,
and he answered, fear not, for they that be with us are more
than they that be with them. Do you know we're always a majority? God himself is a majority. Not
me and God, God himself is a majority. And having God for me, who can
be against me? But look what he said with regard
to this fear this servant had. And he answered, fear not, for
they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
We don't have anything to worry about. And Elisha prayed and
said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes that he may see. And
the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold,
the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about
Elisha. It's always that way. There's
an unseen world that you and I don't know very much about.
That doesn't take away from the reality of it. There are angels
everywhere. And these angels appeared to
these women to announce the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now
look back in Luke chapter 24, verse one. Now upon the very
first day of the week, And very early in the morning, there came
unto the sepulcher, bringing the spices which they had prepared,
and certain others with them. Now they had seen him put in
the grave. They knew he was dead, and that's
all they knew. The Lord was dead. And they found
the stone rolled away from the sepulcher, and they entered in
and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass
as they were much perplexed, they were confused. What in the
world has happened? They didn't have an understanding of what
had taken place. There about behold two men, angels
came in the form of men and stood by them in shining garments. There was literal illumination
coming from the glory of these beings. And they stood there
to announce the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ to these
people. Verse five, and as they were afraid and bowed down their
faces to the earth, and I imagine I'd be afraid too, wouldn't you?
If you saw two shining beings like this and you couldn't account
for it, they were scared to death. And I understand that, they hit
the dirt. They said unto them, what a question. Why seek ye
the living among the dead? Why are you coming to a graveyard
to seek him who lives? Why do you seek the living in
your own dead works? Why do you seek him who lives
in the deadness of your nature? Why seek ye him who lives in
dead religion? What a question. Why seek ye
him who lives among the dead? Verse six, he's not here, but
is risen. Remember how he spake unto you
when he was yet in Galilee. Now, how is it that they forgot
this? On three different occasions. At least three, three we have
recorded, maybe many other times. You know, everything that he
said is not recorded, but on at least three different occasions,
he said to his disciples that he was going to be mistreated,
put to death, crucified, slain, and the third day he would rise
at him from the dead. Every one of these men had heard
that. As a matter of fact, if you read
Mark's account, after he told that to him once, they questioned
among themselves what the resurrection of the dead should mean. They
were afraid to ask the Lord about it. But I can just see Peter
saying to John, what was he talking about? What in the world was
he saying? Do you have any understanding
of that? But he did say on three different occasions, I will rise
from the dead. As a matter of fact, his enemies
knew about it. Hold your finger there and look
in Matthew chapter 27. Matthew chapter 27, verse 62. This is after his death. He had
not yet been raised from the dead. Matthew 27, verse 62. Now the next day that followed,
the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came
together in the Pilate saying, sir, we remember that deceiver
said while he was yet alive, after three days I'll rise again.
Isn't it amazing they remembered that and the disciples didn't?
They remembered, they knew about it. They knew exactly what he
had said. Command therefore that the sepulcher
be made sure unto the third day, lest his disciples come by night,
and steal him away, and say unto the people, he's risen from the
dead, so the last heir shall be worse than the first. Pilate
said unto them, you have a watch, go your way, and make it as sure
as you can. And they did make it as sure
as they could, but What was that against omnipotence? You know,
the Lord did in his resurrected body, just walked through that
stone. He walked through doors, but here the disciple or the
angels remind these women, don't you remember while he was yet
with you in Luke 24, verse six, he's not here, but he's risen.
Remember how he spake unto you when he was yet with you in Galilee
saying, The Son of Man, now here is the important word in this
passage of scripture. They're all important, they're
all God-breathed. But there's no understanding
of this resurrection of Christ without an understanding of this
word, the Son of Man must. The Son of Man must. It's absolutely
necessary. that the Son of Man be delivered
into the hands of sinful men. There's a necessity for this.
It's absolutely necessary that the Son of Man must be crucified. And it's absolutely necessary
that the Son of Man must be raised from the dead. Now, there's all
kinds of people who would say, I believe in the death, burial,
and resurrection of Christ, but they don't know what it means.
Why must the Son of Man be delivered into the hands of sinful men?
Why must the Son of Man be crucified? Why must the Son of Man be raised
from the dead? Now with that understanding of
this, there is no understanding of the gospel. just to believe
in the physical resurrection of Christ. There's all kinds
of people that believe in the physical resurrection of Christ and they
have no idea why he was raised from the dead. They look at it
kind of as a, you know, Easter, a time to new fresh beginnings
and all that kind of stuff. And there's no understanding
of why he must be delivered, why he must be crucified and
why he must be raised from the dead. Now, why was it necessary? for him to be delivered into
the hands of sinful men. And you think about what a horrible
thing that was for him to be delivered into the hands of sinful
men, to be abused, to be spit on, to have his beard ripped
out, to have a crown of thorns pressed upon his head, to be
beat with a cat of nine tails, to be flung down and nailed to
a cross and have that cross lifted up and dropped it into the stand.
What a horrible thing for him to be delivered into the hands
of sinful men. And let me remind you, when he
was delivered into the hands of sinful men, he wasn't a victim. He wasn't just an example. He
wasn't a martyr. When they came to arrest him,
he said, whom seek ye? Jesus of Nazareth, I am. They
were knocked backwards by an unseen power. And the Lord is
letting them know at that time, I'm not a victim in this. I'm
not in your hands. You're in mine. That's exactly
what the Lord was saying. When he's brought before Pilate,
Pilate said, and he didn't speak, and Pilate said, speakest thou
not to me? Don't you know I have power to release you and I have
power to crucify you? He said, you have no power at
all over me. except it be given thee from
above. Now, the Lord could have prevented
this, but he didn't. Why must he be delivered into
the hands of sinful men? You know, I heard a preacher
in this town actually make this statement. When the Lord was
on the cross, he relinquished his sovereignty. He let men be
in control at that time and do what they wanted to do. He and
his sovereignty relinquished his sovereignty. That never happened. That's blasphemous. That's a
shameful statement regarding what our Lord was doing on Calvary's
tree because he controlled every event. When he was delivered
into the hands of sinful men, there was one reason for this.
God delivered him. His Father delivered him. Think of that passage of scripture
in Romans chapter 8, verse 32. He that spared not his own son,
but delivered him up for us all. How shall he not also with him
freely give us all things? Acts 2.23, him being delivered. by the determinate counsel and
for knowledge of God. You have taken and with wicked
hands have crucified and slain. For the truth against Jesus,
both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people
of Israel were gathered together for to do whatsoever thy hand
and thy counsel determined before to be done. Now, there was one
reason for him being delivered into the hands of sinful men.
One reason, it was God's will. It was God's purpose. He's the lamb slain from the
foundation of the world and now is when it begins in time. That's
why he was delivered. Turn with me to Hebrews chapter
10. beginning in verse 5. Wherefore, when he cometh into
the world, speaking of the Lord Jesus Christ, and this is a quotation
from Psalm 40. Wherefore, when he cometh into
the world, he saith, Sacrifice an offering thou wouldest not.
You're not wanting animal sacrifices, but a body hast thou prepared
me. This is talking about the incarnation
of the Lord Jesus Christ when he became flesh. Now there was
a time when he was not flesh. Some 2,000 years ago, he became
flesh. And he'll always be flesh. Great is the mystery of godliness. God was manifest in the flesh. Verse six, in burnt offering
and sacrifices for sin, thou hast had no pleasure. Then said
I, lo, I come. In the volume of the book, it's
written of me to do thy will. Oh, God. Now He came for this
one purpose, to do God's will. And it was God's will that He
was delivered up into the hands of sinful men. Him being delivered
into the hands of sinful men was nothing but God's will being
done. Nothing more, nothing less, and
nothing else. Let me remind you of something. That means he controls everybody
and everything. And that means the very thoughts
that are going through your mind, even right now, are under his
sovereign control. He is absolutely sovereign over
the free and uncoerced actions of men. He reigns, he rules,
and everything is his will being done. The reason he was delivered
into the hands of sinful men It was his father's will. Now,
the next thing the angel said, and these angels are really good
preachers. They really are. The next thing the angel said
was that he must be crucified. There was an absolute necessity
in him being crucified. Turn with me to John 18 for a
moment. Verse 28. Then led they Jesus
from Caiaphas into the hall of judgment. This is during this
mock trial against him. And it was early, and they themselves
went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled.
You know, they're getting ready to kill the Lord Jesus Christ,
but they're concerned about being defiled. It's kind of ironic,
isn't it? But that they might eat the Passover.
Pilate then went out into them and said, what accusation bring
ye against this man? They answered and said unto him,
if he were not a malfactor, a criminal, we wouldn't have delivered him
up unto thee. You know, they didn't know that
the father had delivered him. They were giving themselves a
credit, but no, they were puppets doing God's will. Now, they were
doing what they wanted to do, but they were puppets doing God's
will. Somebody says, you making men
puppets? Yes, I am. Yes, I am. Got no problem with
it either. Not at all. God reigns. Men do what they
want to do. Men do what they want to do freely.
They're not forced to do what they don't want to do. They do
what they do freely, but yet they're on God's string doing
God's will. So then said verse 31, then said
Pilate unto them, take him and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto
him, it's not lawful for us to put any man to death. that the
saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what
death he should die. Now the reason the Jews couldn't
put him to death is because they wouldn't crucify him. But it
was God's will for him to be crucified. Look in Matthew chapter
20. Matthew chapter 20. Verse 17, And as Jesus was going
up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples apart in the
way, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and the
Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and to
the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver
him to the Gentiles, to mock and to scourge and to crucify
him, and the third day he shall rise again. He told them plainly,
I'm going to be crucified. The Jews didn't crucify people.
The reason he was put to death by the Roman government was because
he was going to be crucified because the scripture says, cursed
is everyone that hangeth on a tree. He is to hang on a tree. Now, why? was Christ nailed to a tree. Now please listen to me carefully.
May the Lord give us light and understanding by his spirit to
understand this. Why was the Lord nailed to a
tree? Why was he treated in such a
horrible fashion? Why was he put to death? There's
one reason. Sin. That's the only reason. The wages
of sin is death. Christ was not nailed to that
cross as an innocent victim. He was not there as a martyr.
He was not there as an example to us to follow. He was doing
business with his father, dying for sin. Now, how does that work? Turn to Proverbs 17, and this
is a very important proverb for us to understand what the Lord
was doing on the cross. Proverbs 17, verse 15. Proverbs
17, 15. He that justifieth the wicked, And he that condemneth the just,
even they both are abomination to the Lord. Now that's strong
language. Somebody that justifies a wicked
man, he's an abomination. Somebody that condemns a just
man, He's an abomination unto the Lord. Now on the cross, God
did not condemn the innocent. This is a hard thing to say,
but on the cross, God did not condemn the innocent. Like the scapegoat of old, he
bore the iniquities and the transgressions and the sins of Israel. The great
high priest put his head on a scapegoat, signifying not only the transference
of the guilt, but the sins themselves. So that Christ died guilty of
sin. That's the only thing it can
mean. Now somebody says, how can you say that? Because that's
the teaching of scripture. God is just. God is just. He's not going to condemn an
innocent man. The reason Christ was crucified,
nailed to a cross, because he was getting exactly what he had
coming. He deserved to experience the
wrath of God Almighty. because he took my sins and my
sorrows and he made them his very own. He bore the burden
to Calvary and suffered and died alone so that he did not die
as an innocent victim, but as guilty of committing those sins. Do you really believe that? I
have no doubt about it. Because God is just. Did Christ
ever sin? Of course He never sinned. He
knew no sin. He did no sin. In Him was no
sin. Somebody will listen to this
and say, well, you're saying on Calvary's tree that Christ
started committing sins. He started lusting. He started
lying. And He started having all kinds of wicked thoughts.
No, I'm not saying that at all. The spotless Son of God never
sinned. Never sinned. Worse, he was made
sin. So if you want to know what sin
is, there it is. That's what God
thinks of sin. The sins of God's elect became
his sins so that he was actually guilty of them. And he bore more
than the guilt. Understand this. This is a mystery. I don't know how to explain it.
But he bore more the guilt when he drank of that cup that the
father gave him to drink of. He was drinking the sins of his
people. That's what made him sweat great drops of blood. In
Gethsemane, we said, if it be possible, let this cup pass for
me. Oh, he was just overcome with
the thought, the holy, harmless, spotless Son of God was going
to drink in sin. And oh, how his soul recoiled
at it. Father, if it be thy will, if
it be possible, let this cup pass for me. but it wasn't possible,
it was God's purpose. This is the glorious God, this
is the great mystery of godliness of how God forgives sin. That is why he must be crucified. Guilty as charged. Why didn't
he defend himself? when he's before that mock jury
and those people he was in could have just blotted out if he wanted
to. Why didn't he defend himself? I tell you what, if I'm accused
of something that I didn't do, I'm gonna defend myself. I didn't
do it! The Lord kept his mouth shut for this one purpose. He
knew he's guilty. He didn't have a leg to stand
on. He was utterly guilty. And that's why he was nailed
to that cross. The reason he must be crucified
is because he's getting exactly what he personally deserves. And just as truly as my sin became
his sin, His righteousness becomes my personal righteousness. So that when God looks upon me,
he sees someone with the exact same righteousness as his son. You know, I'm amazed at preachers
who Talk about some kind of judgment of believers, like they're going
to be judged for their sins. What sins? I don't have any sins
to be judged for. I have perfect righteousness,
even the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ. There's not
going to be judgment of the believer's sin because the believer don't
have any sins. That's what the Lord accomplished by being nailed
to that cross. Why was he nailed to a cross?
because he was guilty. And that's what he deserved when
he took my sins and made them his sins. Now he must be delivered. God's will. He must be crucified. He's guilty. But on that third
day, He must. It's absolutely necessary. He must be raised from the dead. Once again, he must be raised
from the dead because he said he would be raised from the dead.
He told the disciples, I'm going to be crucified the third day.
I'm going to be raised from the dead. Whatever he says must take
place. You know that. I know that. His enemies came
and they said, show us a sign. He said, destroy this temple
in three days, I'll raise it up. His enemies came to him once
again, show us a sign. They always wanted a sign. He
said, an evil and adulterous generation seeketh a sign and
there shall be no sign given, but the prophet governs. Three
days in, three days out. That's it. He must be raised
from the dead because it was the Father's purpose, the Father's
will, but turn with me to Romans chapter four. Believer, you have a reason for
complete assurance. And the reason you have a reason
for complete assurance is you're the very righteousness of God
in Christ. That's all you are. Because of
what he did for you. Now look in Romans chapter four,
verse 25. Who was delivered for our offenses. and was raised again for our
justification. Now our offenses became his offenses,
that's why he died. But when he died, something took
place that only could take place with his death. God was satisfied with what he
did. That's why he was raised from
the dead. How satisfied was God He was completely satisfied. That's why he was raised from
the dead. Now, how satisfied is God with you? He's just as satisfied with you
as he is with his dear, blessed, glorious son. When God raised
him from the dead, God was completely satisfied with what he did. He
couldn't ask for any more. He couldn't accept any less,
but he couldn't ask for any more complete satisfaction. It's what
the Bible calls justification. He was delivered for our offenses
and was raised again for our justification. Now, if I'm justified,
here's what that means. It means I don't have any sin. Exactly what that means. It means
I've never sinned. It means I've always been perfect
before God. It means I stand in perfect righteousness before
God, just like the publican in the temple. God, be merciful
to me, thee sinner. I tell you, that man went down
to his house justified. And listen, justification doesn't
know anything of degrees. You can't be sort of justified.
You can't be 99% justified. He was delivered for our offenses
and raised again for our justification. Why must he be raised from the
dead? Because God is satisfied, was
eternally satisfied with what he did and everybody he did it
for. And that's why God is satisfied
with me. You know, I see so many things lacking in me. So many
things, oh, so many things, but God doesn't. And if God doesn't,
that's because there's perfection. He has made us accepted in the
beloved. And however righteous Christ
is, that's how righteous everybody he died for is. Turn with me
to Romans chapter three. The last verse of 20, the last
sentence or phrase of verse 22, for there's no difference. I
love that statement with regard to all men, there's no difference. You take the most moral, righteous
person that you've ever seen. And you take the most perverted,
wicked person you've ever known. And how much difference is there?
with those people before God? None. You believe that? There is no difference. You take the most moral, the
one who everyone admires, and you take the most perverted,
twisted, wicked person, and before God, there's no difference. You say, well, how could that
be fair? Well, if that is my reaction, it's because I really
don't understand what sin is. I just don't have a clue with
regard to sin. Because if I know anything about
myself, I know there's no difference between me and that wicked person
that I've just described. I know that's me. I know that
somebody says, there go I, but for the grace of God, no, there
go I. There go I. I'm no different. I might not
have had the same opportunities. I might have been prevented in
some ways to where I couldn't reach their depths, but I'm lower.
And if you say, how could that be fair? That good person, that
good person's not a good person. That good person's evil. He's
evil. He hates God. If he could, he
would kill God. That's where that person's at.
That person has no love for God. There's no difference. All, look
at verse 23. All have sinned and come short
of the glory of God. Being justified freely. That means without a cause. There
wasn't anything you did to earn or achieve this justification.
Being justified freely by his grace. through the redemption
that is in Christ Jesus, whom God has set forth to be a propitiation. Now that word propitiation, big
word, we don't hear it much. It means a sin removing sacrifice. That's what the cross of the
Lord Jesus Christ did. It removed sin. Now he couldn't
have removed sin if he didn't bear that sin. And he bore that
sin in his own body on the tree and he removed it. He made it
to where it's not to be. Whom God has set forth to be
a propitiation of sin, removing sacrifice through faith in his
blood to declare what? His righteousness. Not his mercy, not his grace,
but his righteousness. You see, when God saves the sinner,
it's a declaration of the righteousness of God. He's made it to where
when I enter heaven, it's because God's righteousness demands it.
He needs to be in here. He's perfect. He's without sin.
He's justified. And when I enter heaven, I will
be rewarded as one who has lived perfectly righteous, and the
very righteousness of God demands my salvation. To declare his
righteousness for the remission of sins that are passed, for
the passing over of sins, and putting them away through the
forbearance of the patience of God. To declare, I say at this
time, his righteousness, that he might be just, and the justifier
of him which believeth in Jesus. Now the resurrection of Christ
was an utter necessity because sin was paid for, put away by
what he did, and now the very righteousness and justice of
God demands the salvation of everybody that Christ died for.
Angels were good preachers, weren't they? He must be delivered into the
hands of sinful men. must be crucified. He must be
raised from the dead. What a message by these angels. But I would like to look at something
Mark tells us that Luke doesn't tell us anything about. So turn
to Mark chapter 16. This is in this same message
of the angels to these women in Mark chapter 16. Luke, for
whatever reason, doesn't mention it, but it is so important. Verse 4, and when they looked,
they saw the stone was rolled away for it was very great. And
entering into the sepulcher, they saw a young man sitting
on the right side, clothed in a long white garment, and they
were affrighted. Now, somebody says, well, why
did it say two angels in Luke and only one angel is mentioned
here? If he speaks of that one angel,
that's not a denial of the other, is it? The Lord has placed it
just like that, so people will trip over that. See, there's
contradictions in the Bible. No, there's not. That's not a
contradiction. For him to say one angel, that
doesn't mean the other angel wasn't there. The Lord purposely
says things like that. You know, he's going to give,
men are always trying to find fault with his word, and he's
going to give men enough to hang themselves if that's what they
want to do. So this is not a contradiction. Mark is just telling us of one.
It doesn't mean the other was not there, but he did that. Okay,
let's go on reading. Verse six. And he saith unto
them, be not affrighted. Don't be afraid. You see Jesus
of Nazareth, which was crucified, he's risen he's not here behold
the place where they laid him but go your way tell his disciples and Peter now one thing that I'm sure of
Peter did not believe himself to be a disciple he had Remember the words of
the Lord, who so denieth me before men? Him will I deny before my
Father, which is in heaven. He thought I denied him before
men, and it's over for me. I'm no longer a disciple. I will
not be saved. Can you imagine the despair he
must have felt? Went out and wept bitterly. But
Peter didn't deny the Lord. He denied his association with
it. He said, I know not the man.
He was afraid, he was a coward. He trembled in fear before a
little maid. And the Lord says to the angels
to tell these people, you go tell the disciples and you make
sure Peter knows. This is for Peter too. I've been
raised from the dead. And Peter found out that, yes,
he was a disciple. Remember when the Lord said,
Peter, I pray for you that your faith fail not? Now, Peter failed. There's no question about that.
Peter failed. But at no time did Peter quit believing that
Jesus Christ was the Son of God. That's what faith is, it has
nothing to do, I said this Wednesday night, let me say it again, faith
has nothing to do with what you believe about yourself. It has
wholly to do with what you believe concerning Him. If you would
have asked Peter, or you say, probably not, or you elect, I
doubt it. Christ died for you? Probably not. Do you believe
that Christ is the Son of God? Yes, I do. That is saving faith. And you know, when the Lord came
to Peter again after his resurrection, I think it's interesting there
in John chapter 21, he said, I go fishing. And I think he
was saying at that time, I've had it with this disciple business.
I'm going back to being a fisherman. And Some of the people followed
him. That's the time where the Lord made the fish, and Peter
saw him, and John said, it's the Lord, and Peter jumped in
the water. But the Lord said to him three times, Peter, do
you love me? Now the Lord knew Peter loved
him. Before he ever asked that question,
he was letting Peter know. that Peter loved him. Lord, you
know all things. You know that I love your person. Go tell the disciples and make
sure Peter knows I've risen from the dead for
you. Let's pray. Lord, we ask in Christ's name
that you would take your word and open our hearts and open
our minds and open our understanding by your spirit and teach us what
it means to trust thy blessed son as our personal righteousness
before you and enable us to live in the joy of knowing that he
is our righteousness before God. Oh Lord, bless us in this coming
week. Enable us to look to you and
glorify you in all things we do. In Christ's name we pray.
Amen.