On the 31^st Day of October, 1926 a neglected attack of appendicitis brought down to the grave one of the greatest inventive geniuses of all time. --- After a week long struggle for survival, the fifty two year old Enrich Weiss, much more widely known by his stage name, Harry Houdini turned to his brother and quietly whispered, --- “I’m tired of fighting, Dash!” --- And surrendered his spirit shortly thereafter.

Houdini had captivated audiences on three continents with his amazing ability to escape any and every sort of shackles or imprisonment that challenged him. --- This great escape artist had well demonstrated his mastery over every conceivable lock and trap!! --- But friends, on Oct. 31, 1926 this genius of escape techniques met his match as he was confined in a prison from which he could not free himself. --- Not even the “Great Houdini” would be able to elude the grave, and the icy fingers of death!!

This magician is perhaps less well remembered for the campaign of his last years against the spiritualistic mediums of the day, whom he regarded as con artists who deserved exposure. --- But sometime before Houdini’s death he made a pact with his wife, promising to communicate with her from the “other world” if it were at all possible. --- He told her, --- “If anybody can get through, I should be able to”. (half serious and half in skepticism) --- Houdini’s wife, Bessie held her own private séances faithfully until shortly before her own death; --- And in 1943 she gave up on them! --- She had never received what she could accept as a genuine visitation of Harry Houdini’s spirit. --- The gates of sheol had held fast!!

But for this lesson I would like to proclaim unto you dear friends, that Houdini was not the first to make an appointment which was to be fulfilled after death! --- And might I remind you that Jesus Christ had done the same thing almost 2,000 years ago; --- with one tremendous difference; --- There was no “IF” with Jesus; --- No shadow of a doubt in the commitment of Jesus; --- And no sad disappointed mourners dying in doubt where Jesus is concerned!! --- And so let’s read Matthew’s account picking up in (Mt. 28:1-10); --- “Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave. --- And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. --- And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. --- The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men. --- The angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. --- He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. --- Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you.’ --- And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples. --- And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him. --- Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; go and take word to My brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they will see Me.” --- I have a real fascination for those words; ---

1. Just As He Said: (As recorded in Vs. 6 above)

It was the third day after the death of our Lord Jesus, and some of the women (Mary Magdalene, the other Mary, the Mother of the sons of Zebedee, James and John; --- Mark’s account includes Salome. (Mk. 16:1) --- These women came early on this Lord’s day to see the sepulcher and to anoint Jesus’ body with spices. --- But they found the tomb empty and it’s occupant departed! --- An angel of God was there to explain to these devoted, grief stricken women that they were indeed looking in the wrong place!! --- After all, one should not expect to find the living Lord in a graveyard. --- So the best the angel could offer them at the moment, was to show them where Jesus had been.

And what did this angel say? --- “‘Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. --- He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.” (Vs. 5-6) --- Mark’s account says it thusly in (Mk. 16:5-7); --- “Entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting at the right, wearing a white robe; and they were amazed. --- And he said to them, ‘Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified He has risen; He is not here; behold, here is the place where they laid Him. ---But go, tell His disciples and Peter, --- What is it that you would have us to say? --- You, dear ladies are to go tell Peter and the others that He, Jesus the risen Lord; --- ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He told you.” ---
Tell them that they have a very important appointment in Galilee!!

And please hear me when I say, --- The death of Jesus Christ was no failure of the Divine purpose, not at all, --- but rather the fulfillment of that purpose!! --- And the resurrection of our Lord was no desperate Divine expedient made necessary by some kind of previous careless failure on God’s part! There was no picking up the pieces of a shattered plan! --- But we need to be ever aware of this one fact; --- BOTH the death and resurrection of Jesus, the Son of God were essential features of; ---

2. God’s Divine Purpose:

So that He was “delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God.” (Acts 2:23) ---Jesus had predicted His death, burial and resurrection! --- Those predictions had been made not just once, but over and over again. --- At first, to be sure, these predictions were clothed in rather obscure words. --- For instance, way back in Christ’ early ministry, beginning in (Jn. 2:13f); --- Where Jesus had gone into Jerusalem to celebrate Passover, --- And He found in the temple those who were engaged in various money making gimmicks (not too unlike what we see practiced in many churches today, I might add); --- And you think this didn’t draw sparks?? --- Jesus, that meek and humble Jesus took a scourge of cords and drove the whole circus out, saying; --- “ "Take these things away; stop making My Father's house a place of business.” --- Now, let’s watch and see what happens next in (Vs. 18); --- “The Jews then said to Him, ‘What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?” --- They’re saying in effect, --- “Just who do you think you are?” --- But now Jesus really “blows their carnal minds“! (You talk about obscurity?) --- (Vs 19) He answers; --- “‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” --- The Jews said, --- “Now, hold on there, --- Why, don’t you know it took forty six long years to build this temple? --- And you, Jesus think that you’re going to accomplish in three days what it took master craftsmen forty six years to do?? --- Now, we realize that you and your father Joseph might be carpenters, --- but this thing you’re telling us is outright ridiculous!” --- But in (VS. 21), John says, --- “But He was speaking of the temple of His body.”

But then, to His disciples, the predictions were reinforced repeatedly in clear (one would think), unmistakable language. --- In (Mt. 16:21); --- “From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day.” --- Drop on down to (Mt. 17:9) where they were coming down from the mountain of transfiguration, and Jesus commanded them (Peter, James and John) saying, --- “Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.” --- Also in (Mt. 17:22-23); --- “And while they were gathering together in Galilee, Jesus said to them, ‘The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men; --- and they will kill Him, and He will be raised on the third day.’ --- And they were deeply grieved.” --- Skip on over to (Mt. 20:17f), where we read; --- “As Jesus was about to go up to Jerusalem, He took the twelve disciples aside by themselves, and on the way He said to them, --- ‘Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death, --- and will hand Him over to the Gentiles to mock and scourge and crucify Him, and on the third day He will be raised up.”

And now, the scene focuses upon the cross of Calvary (place of the skull), or Golgotha, as we focus our attention to (Mt. 27:39-40), and try to imagine the sinless Son of God hanging on that Roman cross, --- suspended between two thieves and between heaven and earth; --- “And those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads --- and saying, ‘You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.”

Now, let’s go back to (Mt. 26:) for just a moment and notice with particular attention one last astounding statement Jesus makes after He institutes the Lord’s supper in (Vs. 26-29); --- Notice in (Vs. 30-32); --- “After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. --- Then Jesus said to them, ‘You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, ‘I WILL STRIKE DOWN THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP OF THE FLOCK SHALL BE SCATTERED.' --- (Now, watch this!!) ---‘But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” --- Jesus warned that they all would fall away (not just Peter). --- He says, “Every single one of you are going to scatter like sheep without a shepherd; --- for indeed, your Shepherd, the Christ will be struck down and slain!!” --- “But I shall arise and live forever more; --- and when I do, I’m going before you into Galilee!!”

And so, the angel’s words amount to this; --- “Why are you so surprised? --- Jesus told you He would not stay in the grave! --- Did not your Lord, Jesus make an appointment to meet you in Galilee??” 

Matthew’s gospel closes with a record of the keeping of that all important appointment on a mountain in Galilee. --- And many, many centuries later Harry Houdini would make a similar appointment which he was totally unable to keep!! --- Now, Listen, that meeting in Galilee is loaded with significance, and filled with implications with respect to; ---

3. The Reliability Of Christ‘ Word:

What you and I must understand is, that by this one vital appointment Jesus made evident the 

Reliability and trustworthiness of all His words and promises!! --- What He committed Himself to do, He would most certainly do. --- No hem-hawing, No excuses and No procrastination!! --- His disciples could trust in His promises without reservation! ---Every Christian’s prayer and goal should be to follow Jesus’ example of dependability, trustworthiness and reliability!!

Where would the church be today if these disciples of the first century had not by faith kept that appointment with Jesus in Galilee?? --- If the apostles had failed in following Jesus’ example of reliability, what condition would we be in today?? --- Surely, there must be some application we can draw from this, --- some lesson we might gain!!

But back to the point at hand; --- Jesus was determined to keep His appointments, even if He had to destroy death in doing so! --- Not even the gates of sheol could prevent Jesus from keeping His word!! --- Hence, the reliability of His word!!

Now, not only did Jesus have a Divine Purpose; --- Not only did He prove His Reliability in the carrying out of that noble purpose; --- But friends, Jesus Christ assured His faithful followers that they had absolutely no reason to fear, --- they could have all confidence!!

4. No Fear:

Jesus told His apostles that they need not fear when being hauled before governors and kings; --- WHY? --- In (Jn. 14:18-20) Jesus had these comforting words for His apostles; --- “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. --- After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also. --- In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.” --- Then in (Vs. 26-27); --- “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. --- Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” --- So when Jesus ascended, the last message must have throbbed in their hearts, “Have no fear!” --- and “ lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Mt. 28:20)

Afterwards, the apostles were able to courageously confront the Jewish High Court and even Caesar himself, knowing that Jesus was truly with them JUST AS HE SAID!! --- Jesus promised it, and even death itself could not keep Him from honoring His promises, His commitments!!

Now, if Jesus kept His appointment in Galilee (and He certainly did); --- What possible doubt could there be that He would come and destroy Jerusalem as He threatened in (Mt. 24)? --- History bears witness to this destruction in 70 A.D. --- Thus to deny the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D., makes no more sense than to deny that great and terrible day when Jesus will come again to judge and destroy the whole world; --- JUST AS HE SAID HE WILL!! --- In (2 Pet. 3:9-12), the apostle Peter writes; --- “ The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. --- the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. --- Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, --- looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!”

Dear friends, Jesus always has and always will keep His every appointment and every single promise! --- You may well trust your whole life and destiny to Christ Jesus. --- You can rest assured, leaning on His precious promises; --- NO doubt and NO fear!!

Ask yourself this question; --- If Jesus would keep an appointment which required Him to rise from the dead; --- Honestly, is there any promise, any commitment, any word that He will not or can not keep?? --- YES, Jesus can be trusted, --- His words are more solid than the Rock of Gibraltar!!

“for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ.” --- 
                                                                                                                                                    (1 Cor. 10:4)

Jesus’ word is God’s word, and when He said in (Jn. 14:6); --- “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.” --- You had better believe it!!!

* BELIEVE Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, John 8:23-24; 20:30-31; Mark 16:16
* CONFESS your faith in Jesus as the Son of God, Matthew 10:32; Romans 10:9-10
* REPENT of your sins, Luke 13:3, 5; Acts 2:38; 17:30
* BE BAPTIZED in water for the remission of your sins, Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 8:36-38; 22:16; 
   1 Peter 3:21
* LIVE FAITHFULLY by doing the Lord’s will, Luke 17:10; Romans 12:1-2; Galatians 5:7;
   Hebrews 5:8-9

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                                                                                  In The Love and Devotion To Our Father,
                                                                                                        Earl Wilburn 

Questions and comments more than welcomed: ewilburn@austin.rr.com

Please don't delete this from your files, as who knows that while you may not at this time be moved by these scriptures but perhaps in time you might want to refer back to this and come to know better the love of the Lord. --- ew