Photo © D. Paul Graham, “Power of the Cross”, Lisbon, circa 2017

“Monday 5 Things”™ ….. You Said …..

The bible is an amazing book. Perhaps even more amazing are the over 3,000 promises that have been made about and by Jesus Christ that are found in the bible. On this Easter Monday morning, M5T considers some of those promises that Jesus made.

1. Foretold

Christ prophesied his victory over death because of His resurrection. In Mark 9:31, Christ said to his disciples, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him and after three days he will rise.” On this Easter Monday, Christians around the world can claim – He is risen indeed.

2. Significance

Without the resurrection, Christianity would have no basis. It is victory over death. In John 11:25-26, Christ was speaking with Lazarus’ sister Martha, he said “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”. A challenge that has eternal implications for us all.

3. Ask, seek, and knock

In Matthew 7:7, Jesus says “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knockand the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” An incredible image of prayer, acceptance, and understanding.

4. Patience

2 Peter 3:9 says “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” Nothing is more poignant than the criminal on the cross who, just before he dies, realizes who Christ is. Despite the horrid life the criminal had lived, when he recognized Christ for who he truly was, Christ said to him “Truly I tell you, today you will be withme in paradise.”

5. Fullness and Eternity

1 Peter 2:9 says that we “are a chosen people, aroyal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” All this because of the profundity of believing in Christ, his death on the cross, and the truth of his resurrection that 1 John 2:25 sums up with “and this is what he promised us—eternal life.”

Here’s to a week of claiming that “death has been swallowed up in the victory of the resurrection” by celebrating that Christ is no longer in the tomb. As Matthew said, “he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.” Happy Easter to you all

2024 D. Paul Graham, all rights reserved.

For over 12 years, D. Paul Graham has published “Monday 5 Things” ™, also known to readers as M5T.

You can reach Paul by email at dpg@imagegraham.com