PASTOR DAVE'S PAGE

Dear Friends of Trinity,

Easter is our greatest hope for life transformation. I Corinthians 15:5, 7 says:
“He (Christ) appeared to Peter…then He appeared to James…and l last of all He appeared to me also…”

To prove the bodily resurrection of Christ, Paul mentioned six occasions when Jesus appeared to people after He arose from the dead. Three times He appeared to a group of people, three times to an individual. Who these three individuals were makes a very interesting study.

First, Christ appeared to Peter, the disciple who denied Him. On the night of Christ’s arrest, three times Peter declared to certain bystanders, “I don’t even know the man!” But he sincerely repented and went out and wept bitterly. So Jesus had a special reason for wanting to see Peter again – to let him know that he was forgiven, and restored to fellowship with his Master.

Then Christ appeared to James, His own brother, who had doubted Him. The Gospel writers tell us that Jesus’ own family did not believe in Him; in fact they claimed He was mad (John 7:5; Mark 3:21). So Jesus wanted to confront James with the greatest proof of His Messiahship – His resurrection – and give him a chance to turn from doubt to faith.

Finally, several years later, Christ appeared to Paul, an enemy who sought to destroy the Church. Christ was demonstrating that even though He had ascended to the Father, He was still the living Savior, working in the lives of men and women.

Christ’s resurrection appearances changed the lives of these three men. They became committed disciples and leaders in the early Church. Peter became the Apostle to the Jews; Paul, The Apostle to the Gentiles; and James, the first Bishop of the Church. All three eventually laid down their lives for the master.

Christ is still appearing to people today and changing their lives. Every Sunday we celebrate Christ’s resurrection, especially Easter Sunday! May God use our Church to share the glorious news of (I Corinthians 15:3 & 4) that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures! Hallelujah! Share the good news!

Sincerely,
Pastor David Ballinger