Jesus!

Read this featured blog post by Pastor Tony Rea

Jesus!

BY PASTOR TONY REA | APRIL 5, 2021

I’d like to begin today’s post with a riddle. Are you ready?


What is greater than God and more evil than Satan? The poor have it; the rich need it; and if you eat it, you will die.


Do you have your answer? I certainly don’t want to add insult to injury; however, according to my sources, when presented with this riddle, 80 percent of all kindergarten students gave the correct response, while only 17 percent of Stanford University seniors got it right.


The answer is (drumroll please…) Nothing!


If you paid attention to the very first part of the question (what is greater than God), you should have been able to solve the riddle. 


NOTHING is greater than God!  

Nothing is more evil than Satan…

The poor have nothing…

The rich need nothing…

And of course, if you eat nothing, you will die. 


And I bring it up today, because it’s the Easter season. Yesterday we celebrated the resurrection of Jesus, the absolutely most glorious day in human history. On Easter, Jesus overcame death, hell, and the grave; and in so doing, proved beyond a shadow of a doubt there is no-one and nothing greater than our God!


Psalm 145:3

Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;

His greatness no one can fathom (or comprehend).


While we’re on the subject of greatness… 


A little over two thousand years ago, there was a Man born contrary to the laws of nature. This Man lived in poverty and was reared in obscurity. He possessed no wealth or worldly influence, His relatives were inconspicuous, His family unknown. 


In infancy He startled a king, in childhood He puzzled the experts, in manhood He ruled the course of nature, and He alone could hush the seas to sleep with just a word. 


He never wrote a book, and yet all the libraries of the world could not hold the books that have been written about Him. He never wrote a song, yet He furnished the theme for more songs than all the songwriters combined. He never practiced psychiatry, yet He mended more minds and repaired more broken hearts than all the doctors far and near. He healed the multitudes without medicine, and He did not require a charge or a fee for His services. 


Once each week all over the world, wheels of commerce cease their turning; and the multitudes work their way to churches, worshiping assemblies (and now living rooms) to pay homage and respect Him.


The names of past, proud statesmen have come and gone. Renown scientists, philosophers, inventors, and theologians have come and gone. The names of earthly kings and queens have coming gone; but the name of this one Man abounds more and more. 


Even though time has spread 2000 years between the people of this generation and the tragic scene of His death and crucifixion, He still lives! Herod could not destroy Him; the grave could not hold Him; death could not encompass Him.


He stands forth upon the highest pinnacle of heavenly glory; proclaimed by God, announced by angels, adored by saints, honored by creation, and feared by demons… as the one, living, personal, and incomparable King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ. (Author unknown)


Philippians 2:9-11 (NKJV) says (and you know I love to quote it): “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” 


I trust over the Easter weekend, as you attended Good Friday and/or Easter Sunday services, you had a chance to reflect upon the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. 


As a part of your reflection, were you able to acknowledge His great love and sacrifice, knowing He did it all for YOU! 


Were you able to express your sincere appreciation with a grateful heart understanding in a very personal way, Jesus laid His life down and took it back again, for you? (see John 10:18)


Easter was for you. 


Thank you, Lord Jesus!