The Greatest God, Part 2

By Charles Wesley

Christ the Lord is risen today
Sons of Men and Angels say
"Raise your joys and triumphs high!
Sing, ye heavens, and earth, reply!"

Love's redeeming work is done,
Fought the fight, the battle won.
Lo! The Sun's eclipse is over
Lo! He sets in blood no more.

Vain the stone, the watch, the seal
Christ has burst the gates of Hell
Death in vain forbids his rise
Christ has opened paradise.

Lives again our glorious king
Where, O Death, is now thy sting?
Once he died our souls to save
Where thy victory, O grave?

Soar we now where Christ has lead
Following our exalted head
Made like him, like him we rise,
Ours the Cross, the grave, the skies!

Hail the Lord of Heaven and Earth!
Praise to Thee by both be given
Thee we greet triumphant now
Hail the Ressurection day, Alleluia!

King of Glory, Son of Bliss
Everlasting life is this
Thee to know, thy power to prove
Thus to sing, and thus to love.


Matthew 28: 1 - 6
"After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for and angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, 'Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.' "

Jesus is risen from the dead! He has defeated Satan and reversed the power of death. Yet the disciples were not rejoicing. John 20: 18 - 19a "Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: "I have seen the Lord!" And she told them that he had said these things to her. On the evening of the first day of the week, the disciples were gathered together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews."

They were not acting like their Savior had just come back to life! They were hiding away in a dark room. They had some of the greatest news ever, and probably should have been out on the streets, on the roads, on rooftops, telling everyone in sight "Guess what! Jesus is alive! He's back from the dead! Listen to me and I'll tell you how you can have everlasting life." But no. And I'll go so far as to say that I think that most of us, me included, act like the disciples all the time. We don't get out there and tell people that JESUS IS LORD. We stay hidden, for fear of rejection, being made fun of, and a variety of other things.

Guys, our God is the Greatest God in the world. Great enough to forgive Judas, who betrayed him. To take a theoretical look into some pop culture, he forgave Anakin, for giving in to fear and hate and murdering his wife. He forgave Sauroman, for giving into his lust for power and joining Sauron in an attempt to seize the One Ring. He forgives us, for all the rotten things we do; we deserve to die a thousand horrible deaths. Every day, we are Judas kissing Jesus' cheek. We are Anakin, screaming "I hate you! Go away from me!" We are Sauroman, joining with Satan. We break His heart every day, yet he loves us enough to say "Just ask, and I will forgive you. Come to me, and I will hold you in my hand, I will wipe away your tears, and I will bring you into Paradise with me."

Listen to the words of the hymn at the top. "Made like HIM, like him we rise. OURS the cross! The Grave! The Skies! Where, O death, is thy sting?" There is nothing our God can't do.

That is why our God is the Greatest God.