Scripture: Colossians 3:1-4
3:1 So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
3:2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth,
3:3 for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
3:4 When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.
This being Easter, I wish I could preach on four different texts, but I don't think anyone would sit still for a sermon that long. But in addition to today's text in Colossians, I would recommend to you Acts 10:34-43, where Peter speaks to living in the name of Jesus Christ, being commanded " to preach to the people and to testify that He is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name." And also both John 20:1-18 and Matthew 28:1-10, for these are both beautiful accounts of the disciples', and Mary's, discovery that Jesus, who before their very eyes died the death all human beings will know, is now alive again, risen to new life, and at this point time, only the angels of God understand it and are not either dismayed or frightened by what they see.
Gloria N. Harris, in her book, "Angel Chasers," writes "In particular, angels are curious about our salvation. The Apostle Paul, speaking on salvation said in 1st Peter 1:12, 'Even angels long to look into these things.'"
Seems odd, though, doesn't it? For the one witness even as Jesus was rising from the dead, throwing off the wrappings and folding and laying aside the napkin, was an angel. It was an angel who rolled aside the stone and sat on it, nearly scaring the life out of the Roman soldiers guarding that tomb. And it was an angel who sat in the empty tomb, waiting to give the news to Mary that the Lord of Glory was not there, He was risen. So what would angels be curious about?
Their curiosity stems from the fact that the angels of God have never sinned. Christ did not die for them. They "know" about salvation through Jesus Christ, but they don't know what it feels like to have your sins forgiven, to receive the new birth.
Explains Gloria N. Harris, "They are curious about such things and want to study, examine and analyze to understand how we can endure such things and continue in the hope and peace only God can give."
What I've always found interesting is that the Greek word translated "look into" actually describes someone stooping over to look, so that you get a picture of the angels peeking over the clouds to see how we deal with this salvation business, about which they are so curious. And in the history of mankind, it is a monumental event. It is in Acts 10:42 and 43 that Peter put the imprimatur of God's planning and the wisdom of the prophets of old on what has just taken place.
And all the while you and I, for whom God's great plan of salvation was designed and intended, we often take it for granted, while many of those in mankind throw it aside completely.
For those of us who fear God and believe in His Son as Savior, there is a paradox here in that Jesus Christ, the infinite, died that the finite, might live. And believing in Him as Savior then, with our sins forgiven, we are called to die to all sin that we might live in Him.
So the question arises, then, are we to die for Christ, as He died for us? Or are we to live for Him.?
After all, following His death, resurrection and His return to Heaven to sit at the right hand of God the Father, a very real persecution ensured involving Jesus' disciples, and continues to this day.
Among the disciples, only John, the beloved disciples, escaped being martyred. In the years following the death of Jesus, holding to faith in Him became a torturous experience for the disciples and for many Christians. Stephen was stoned to death in Jerusalem, 35 AD. Philip was crucified in Phrygia, 54 AD. Barnabas, burnt to death in Cyprus, 64 AD. Peter, crucified in Rome, 69 AD. Paul, beheaded in Rome, 66 AD. Matthew beheaded in Ethiopia, 60 AD. Mark dragged to death, Alexandria, 64 AD. James, clubbed to death in Jerusalem, 66 AD. Thomas, speared to death in Calamina, 70 AD. Andrew, crucified in Achaia, 70 AD. Only John, brother of James, son of Zebedee, died a peaceful death in Ephesus during 100 AD, after having been exiled to the island of Patmos by Roman Emperor Domitian, then released, living until the reign of Emperor Trajan.
But take note, the Bible is not a manual for how to die a good death for Jesus Christ, or how to be a good martyr for Almighty God. However, the God-inspired Word handed down to us through antiquity is, almost line by line, a manual for how to live for God, how to live this life so as to be filled with the Holy Spirit and walk in the steps of Jesus Christ.
Colossians 3:1-4 tell us that since we "have been raised with Christ," we are to "seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God." We are told "set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth," because in Christ, we have already died, "and your life is hidden with Christ in God."
It should be no wonder to us that we read in 1st Peter 2:9, " But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light," nor that we are admonished in 2nd Corinthians 6:17, " "Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you."
Christ came among us teaching, healing, encouraging, loving, and died on a cruel cross that we might live the life He lives before the Father. And living, that we might die to sin and be alive in Him, wearing His righteousness before the Father, "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession...."
The nine words of Song of Solomon 6:3 make it clear for all the world to know that I am His, and He is mine. An eternal union, and all because of Easter morning, an empty tomb, and a risen Son of Almighty God. Thank You, Father. Amen.
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