Words of Grace

By Rev. Mahlon Nevel

The Apostle Peter, writing in his first epistle, describes the hope we have in God through His abundant mercy.

Our hope is a living hope because of “the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1:3).

A living Christ gives us a living hope. When Jesus broke the news to his disciples that he would be leaving them, they were sad. They didn’t understand what was about to happen.

After the crucifixion the world would see him no more. But his disciples would see him again. “Because I live,” he promised them, “you shall live also” (John 14:19).

Bill and Gloria Gaither wrote the following based on what Jesus said to the disciples:

“Because He lives I can face tomorrow; Because he lives, all fear is gone. Because I know He holds the future, And life is worth the living just because He lives.”

Missionary Harold Wildish tells of an incident in his experience of preaching the gospel to a group of primitive South American Indians in Brazil. When he had finished telling the wonderful story of the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus, he overheard some of the conversations of natives.

Most had been greatly moved by the story of the cross, but one of them remarked, “yes, it’s wonderful, but how can a dead man save us and give us hope?” He was answered by one who had followed the teaching carefully to the end:

“Yes, but didn’t you hear? He rose again from the dead, He is alive! He’s risen!”