Pastor Russell Shewmaker and his wife, Nancy, live in Gravette, Arkansas. Prior to that they lived in Jonesboro, Arkansas, where Pastor Shewmaker served Pilgrim Lutheran. Pastor and Nancy have three adult sons, three wonderful daughters-in-law, and three amazing grandchildren.
Jesus made a lot of promises to us. Among them are the following:
Come unto me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28)
For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake and the Gospel will save it (Mark 8:35).
Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom (Luke 12:32)
For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16).
The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10).
I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die (John 11:25, 26).
These are great promises. But what if Jesus has not been raised from the dead? Paul gives us the answer in 1 Corinthians 15, “And if Christ has not been raised from the dead, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.” Just a little later he says, “If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied” (1 Corinthians 15: 14, 19).
If Christ has not been raised, then it’s all been for nothing, so much hot air and so much empty hope. But Paul goes on to say, “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:20-22). Why do we believe and think it so? It is because of the testimony of the eye witnesses. Paul recounts those witness in the first eight verses of 1 Corinthians 15.
You see, if the tomb would had been full, still occupied, then the promises would have been empty. But since the tomb is empty, the promises are full! This is the testimony that has come down to us almost 2000 years later. His apostles had run away and been hiding out at His arrest and crucifixion. Now after the resurrection they are boldly proclaiming Jesus to be alive. They refused to stop, would not back down even when threatened.
This message is for you. Yes, the promises are full. Look at John 3:16 again. This time with some blanks (you could do the same with all the promises above).
For God so loved the ____________ that He gave His only Son, that [as] ___________ believes in Him, _______________ should not perish, but have eternal life.
Put your name in the blank. The promises, you see, are fully for you!
Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Allelulia!
Pastor Shewmaker