All people are included

Jesus has risen! We can well understand the excitement of the assembled disciples of Jesus and the believers. He is risen! Death could not hold him; the grave had to release him. More than 2000 years later, we still greet each other with these enthusiastic words on Easter morning. "Jesus is risen indeed!" Jesus' resurrection started a movement that continues to this day - it began with a few dozen Jewish men and women sharing the good news among themselves and has since grown to include millions of people from every tribe and nation who share the same message - He is risen!

I believe one of the most amazing truths about the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus is that it applies to everyone - to all people of all nations.

There is no longer any division between Jews, Greeks or Gentiles. All are included in His plan and the life of God: «For all of you who were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Here is neither Jew nor Greek, here is neither slave nor free, here is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3,27-28).

Unfortunately, not all people accept the good news and live in that truth, but that doesn't change the reality of the resurrection. Jesus rose for all people!

The disciples of Jesus did not recognize this at first. God had to perform a series of miracles for Peter to understand that Jesus was not just the Savior of the Jews, but the Savior of all, including Gentiles. In the book of Acts we read that Peter was praying when God gave him a vision telling him that the gospel was also for the Gentiles. Later we find Peter in the house of a Gentile, Cornelius. Peter began speaking by saying, "You know that according to Jewish law I am forbidden to associate with a member of a foreign race or to enter a non-Jewish house like this. But God showed me not to think anyone unclean" (Acts 10,28 New Life Bible).

It seems that this message is just as applicable today when we consider so many things that divide us such as culture, gender, politics, race and religion. It seems we have missed one of the most important points of the resurrection. Peter explains further: “Now I know that it is true: God makes no distinctions between people. In every nation he accepts those who respect him and do what is just. You have heard God's message to the people of Israel: of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all" (Acts 10,34-36 New Life Bible).

Peter reminds his listeners that Jesus, by birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension, is Lord to Gentiles as well as Jews.

Dear reader, Jesus rose to dwell in you and to work in you. What permission do you give and grant him? Are you giving Jesus the right to rule your mind, your feelings, your thoughts, your will, all your possessions, your time, all your activities, and your whole being? Your fellow human beings will be able to recognize Jesus' resurrection by your behavior and manners.

from Greg Williams