CHRIST, IS RISEN

"At the heart of Christian faith is the story of Jesus' death and resurrection." - John Ortberg

It was Ravi Zacharias that said, "Outside of the cross of Jesus Christ, there is no hope in this world. That cross and resurrection at the core of the Gospel is the only hope for humanity. Wherever you go, ask God for wisdom on how to get that Gospel in, even in the toughest situations of life."

It's May Day, 1990. The place, Moscow's Red Square. "Is it straight, Father?" one Orthodox priest asked another, shifting the heavy, eight-foot crucifix on his shoulder. "Yes," said the other. "It is straight." Together the two priests, along with a group of parishioners holding ropes that steadied the beams of the huge cross, walked the parade route. Before them was passed the official might of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics: The usual May Day procession of tanks, missiles, troops, and salutes to the Communist party elite. Behind the tanks surged a giant crowd of protesters, shouting up at Mikhail Gorbachev. "Bread!...Freedom!...Truth!" As the throng passed directly in front of the
Soviet leader standing in his place of honor, the priests hoisted their heavy burden toward the sky. The cross emerged from the crowd. As it did, the figure of Jesus Christ obscured the giant poster faces of Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, and Vladimir Lenin that provided the backdrop for Gorbachev's reviewing stand. "Mikhail Sergeyevich!" one of the priests shouted, his deep voice cleaving the clamour of the protesters and piercing straight toward the angry Soviet leader. "Mikhail Sergeyevich! Christ is risen!"

Beyond the backdrop of your painful experiences: heartache, depression, frustration and gloom. Above the deafening sounds of despair, confusion and discomfort. More superior than every kind of history is the Risen Christ. No matter how caged, oppressed or limited the Devil through circumstances might have made you, Christ is Risen. We overcame the Devil, by the Blood of the Risen Christ. This is your VICTORY!




Let us pray: Father, thank you for power over the grave, in Jesus name.

WISDOM NUGGET: Matthew 28:6
"He is not here: for he is risen, as he said..." - KJV