Today we continue down The Road to the Resurrection. Yesterday I talked about the importance of the resurrection of Jesus. Today I will talk about the power of the resurrection and how it applies to our lives. Let’s take a look at what happened after Jesus’ death. The Bible says:
“When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Solome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.”
(Mark 16:1-6 NIV)
Our text today deals with the empty tomb. Ladies who had been impacted by the life of Jesus wanted to honor Him by honoring His body. They traveled to the tomb early on a Sunday morning. The tomb was guarded and sealed. They had no idea how they were going to get to the body, but they went anyay, by faith. When they got there they found something that has been preached every since: AN EMPTY TOMB!
It has been over 2,000 years since Jesus conquered death and although many have tried, no one has ever been able to discount the validity of His resurrection. One of my former mentors, Dr. Charlie Parmer, said the following about this:
“The most telling affirmation of the validity of Jesus’ literal Resurrection was and is the dramatic change it produced in the lives of His followers. From the weak, wavering, faltering, denying group of fishermen, tax collectors, etc. – the twelve plus the others became the most zealous, faithful, dynamic group who ever lived. They literally became burning evangels for the cause of Christ; and they totally turned the world upside down for Him over the next 71 plus years. Their doubts and skepticisms became the basis for an aggressive boldness that could not be silenced (Acts 5:42). They were condemned, threatened, imprisoned, beaten, and commanded to be silent; but they just got right back out on the streets and just started preaching Jesus again – alive by Promise, dead by Purpose, Resurrected by (God’s) Power, and reigning for our good Measure and Pleasure!”
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. Over 500 people saw Jesus after the resurrection and before His ascension up to heaven. These people were so impacted by seeing a living Savior with their own eyes that they were willing to die before they denied it. The passion they lived with for Jesus helped change the world. This should serve as evidence to you of Jesus’ physical resurrection from the dead. May the reality of Jesus resurrection cause you to burn with passion and purpose. May you have the boldness to suffer with Him before you ever deny Him!
2. Jesus conquered death once and for all. Once you are in Christ death has no power over you. In Christ you die and that is all the dying you are going to do. So go ahead on get on that plane, go on that cruise, and enjoy life. You have nothing to fear. Death, for you, has lost its sting because of Jesus!
3. Jesus endured horrendous torture and an excruciatingly painful death and He came out the other side of the ordeal as a resurrected Savior. Remember that the next time you feel the pressure to give up, cave in or quit. The power of the resurrection is made available to you. There is nothing you can’t do by the grace of God.
4. Jesus already overcame satan, hell and the grave for us. We don’t have to overcome, because He already overcame. All we have to do now is maintain the victory He already obtained for us.
5. Since Jesus already obtained the victory for us, victory becomes our starting point and not just our destination. We are not striving FOR victory. We get to start FROM a position of victory. We go from victory to victory, from faith to faith, from level to level, and from experience to experience, knowing that Jesus already paid it all for us. What was made available to Him is made available to us. There’s nothing we can’t do, no obstacle we cannot overcome, and no fight we can’t win, because Jesus already WON for us!
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I thank You for sending Jesus to die in my place. Jesus died, but He did not stay dead. With His resurrection, Jesus conquered satan, hell and the grave. Jesus took the sting out of death and He robbed the grave of its victory. I am no longer afraid of dying. My salvation is secure in You. I will live forever. And the life that I now live, I live with access to the power of the resurrection. Jesus already obtained victory over the kingdom of darkness and I get to walk in the victory He already provided. So victory is not just my destination. Victory is my starting point. I live from faith to faith, and I do it by faith. I go from victory to victory, and I do so because of the victory Jesus already secured for me. I overcome because Jesus already overcame! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
