He arose: Jesus, The mighty God, The everlasting Father

Once again, we celebrate the most amazing thing in the history of the world: more accurately known as Resurrection Sunday. A man known to be dead and sealed in a tomb arose from the dead! Yes, a dead man came back to life! And as astounding as this is, of even greater significance is who he is!

Who is he! The man called by the names of Jesus, Jesus Christ, The Messiah, The Lamb Of God and The Son Of God, among many others.

Regarding the meaning and significance of a name, the dictionary defines such as: a word by which a person, thing, animal, class or concept is distinctly known or referred to; to identify. Thus, a name identifies/defines exactly what or who the subject is. What or who the name is referring or “pointing” to is shown by the article preceding it. An Indefinite article (a, an) points to any or all of two or more. However, the Definite article (the) points to exactly, specifically, uniquely and only one! Example: The Moon.

In this regard, Jesus, by His acts and words. identified himself as the One who is by name: God! Scripture speaks to this in Isaiah 9:6; “…a child is born, a Son is given… his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father.” Truly, God on earth! So this is how and who He is called and named; who He is and what He is! The perfect Trinity. Fully Man! Fully God!

But He didn’t die and rise again simply because, being God, He could. So, why? Well, let me direct your attention to a love song that could seem to speak to the very heart of God in this regard. “Ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone, only dark clouds when she’s away… this house ain’t like no home anytime she goes away.” Can you feel/sense the pain, anguish, the sense of loss and perhaps, even, a broken heart? In death this certainly speaks to the agony of it all. For it’s not just WHEN, but NOW THAT and SINCE she is gone! (add: to stay). Allow me a personal note. My darling love of my life is “gone”. She “went away” to stay. After several years now, and after crying out for her, my love for her won’t enable me to bring her home. Truly, this house ain’t like no home now that she’s “gone”; “away”. The picture of despair?

Consider: Mankind “died” to God in the Garden of Eden. In a very real sense mankind “went away”—“gone”—to stay! So due to His great love, He was surely and profoundly impacted by the sense of loss and the anguish of it all! Thus it is safe to say that even God’s house “ain’t like no home” since we “went away”! Might it be ventured to say that we (mankind) broke God” heart?

The reason He came? LOVE! Being God, His loss was not necessarily irreparable or unlimited, but to find us, give us life and take us home would cost Him His own life! Yet, He would not be denied, for He said, “I will not give you up, for I am God and not man.”

For me, this means that although my darling is “away” from me, she is home now; and alive! She is alive!

And as for those who are still “away” in the darkness of spiritual death, know that Jesus, The mighty God, The everlasting Father came to where we are. He is waiting for you. Isn’t it time to go home?