"Do Not Be Alarmed"

"But he said to them, 'Do not be alarmed.  You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified.  He is risen!  He is not here.  See the place where they placed Him.'"  (Mark 16:6)

I just finished Mark this morning.  The Bible tells us that Jesus was first placed in a, "feeding trough," then, "placed in a tomb."  These are places of poverty and death.

Yet the Scripture says of us who follow Jesus, "as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things."  This Corinthian passage tells us something of Jesus Christ, the King and Savior of mankind, as well His Church throughout the centuries.  Most have known the, "feeding trough," and many, "placed in a tomb."

Because of Jesus' journey from, "feeding trough," to, "a tomb," however, some day the world will hear the same declaration concerning you and me, "[They are] risen!  [They are] not here."  No matter what you may be going through this Christmas season never forget for a moment that the Eternal Reality concerning you and me in Jesus Christ, "He is risen!  He is not here."

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You that You, "became flesh and dwelt among us," and in us------- and still do.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2