In Luke chapter 21, Jesus spoke:
34 “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.
35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.
36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
37 And in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet.
38 Then early in the morning all the people came to Him in the temple to hear Him.
Jesus warned us to “take heed” or be on guard because His return will come when the world least expects it. The ways of the world are constantly pulling on man’s ego to comply with its ways and traditions or Jesus would not have warned us. Instead, He urged us to expect the unexpected. Until then, we are to occupy until His return.
Today marks the anniversary of His resurrection and is truly a day of celebration. Mary Magdalene was the first to receive the revelation of Jesus’ resurrection. In Luke chapter 21, it is written by THE SPIRIT:
9 Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons.
10 She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept.
11 And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.
In essence, Mary Magdalene was the first apostle of the New Testament for she was sent to give the disciples the message of Jesus’ resurrection. Interestingly enough, they did not believe her even though they had witnessed Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead as well as many others. Jesus knew Mary’s heart and her willingness to believe for she knew first hand of His power when He cast the seven demons out of her.
This is not a day of tradition but one of remembrance that Jesus Christ is alive and well, sitting at FATHER’S right hand. We should be celebrating this day with praise and thanksgiving by expressing our gratitude toward FATHER for bringing forth HIS Divine Intent of Love and restoring us to HIM through HIS Son. Psalm 148 says it all:
1 Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens; Praise Him in the heights!
2 Praise Him, all His angels; Praise Him, all His hosts!
3 Praise Him, sun and moon; Praise Him, all stars of light!
4 Praise Him, highest heavens, And the waters that are above the heavens!
5 Let them praise the name of the LORD, For He commanded and they were created.
6 He has also established them forever and ever; He has made a decree which will not pass away.
7 Praise the LORD from the earth, Sea monsters and all deeps;
8 Fire and hail, snow and clouds; Stormy wind, fulfilling His word;
9 Mountains and all hills; Fruit trees and all cedars;
10 Beasts and all cattle; Creeping things and winged fowl;
11 Kings of the earth and all peoples; Princes and all judges of the earth;
12 Both young men and virgins; Old men and children.
13 Let them praise the name of the LORD, For His name alone is exalted;
His glory is above earth and heaven.
14 And He has lifted up a horn for His people, Praise for all His godly ones; Even for the sons of Israel, a people near to Him. Praise the LORD!