We Have Hope!

KEY VERSE: “If we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.” —I Thessalonians 4:14

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Matthew 18:1-10; I Thessalonians 4:13-18

THE RESURRECTION OF Jesus had an electrifying effect upon his disciples. After the Sabbath—at dawn on the first day of the week—Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James, and Salome, went to the tomb where Jesus had laid after his crucifixion to do what they could not two days before. They had wanted to anoint his body with spices which they had prepared.

Their concern was how they would be able to roll away the stone that barred the entrance into the tomb. Just before they arrived, there was an earthquake, and an angel of the Lord had come and rolled away the stone. This created great fear in the guards stationed before the tomb and caused them to flee. The women arrived to find the stone rolled away and an empty tomb! This perplexed them; but then the angel appeared and asked them, “Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen.”—Luke 24:5,6

After the women were told to give the news to the disciples, Jesus appeared to them and also to the disciples. During the period of the next forty days, Jesus was to make other appearances so that all of those who saw him could be eyewitnesses of his having been resurrected. (See I Corinthians 15:3-8.) Their despondency was turned to joy, and the hope that they had of seeing Israel’s kingdom established was alive again.

They had hoped Jesus would have “redeemed Israel” (Luke 24:21), but his death squelched that hope. Little did they realize that his death had far greater meaning, and would lead to a much more wonderful hope than the redemption of Israel from Gentile rulers. The death of our Lord was to guarantee that every man, woman, and child was to come back from the dead and have an opportunity to obey God’s righteous laws in his kingdom.

At first the Early Church was comprised of Israelites who were concerned that God was first selecting a people for his name, those who would be associate rulers in God’s kingdom with his Son, Jesus. When God could not find enough candidates for this great honor in Israel, he went to the Gentiles and searched among them.

The church in Thessalonica was composed of both Jews and Gentiles—though mainly Gentiles. In the persecution that they endured, some had suffered death. Paul’s words of encouragement given to them under these circumstances brought to mind their hope in Christ. He reminded them that Jesus, by dying and rising again, provided assurance that all who have died—‘fallen asleep’ in Jesus, that is—who have been consecrated followers of Jesus, will be raised from the dead.

They were looking forward with anticipation to that time when, at his Second Advent, Jesus would raise first those of his faithful followers who had ‘fallen asleep’ in death. He would also bring together in their resurrection bodies all the faithful who would be living during the time of our Lord’s presence. (Again, in I Thessalonians 4:15, the word coming should be translated “presence.”) We, indeed, do have a blessed hope, and it is to be realized soon!

How appropriate is the Apostle Paul’s encouraging closing comment: “Wherefore, comfort one another with these words.”—I Thess. 4:18

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