Resurrection power of our living Lord

After Sabbath, on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. An Angel of the Lord was sitting on the tombstone and said “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said”(Matt 26: 1-6). The resurrection of our dear Lord, who was crucified on our behalf, for our sins, as a perfect sacrifice, vindicates his death and gives us an assurance that we need not be afraid of death. Paul reminds what Hosea prophesied “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”. We can be sure that all He said will happen as He rose again from the dead just as He had predicted. Jesus said “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die” John 11:25. The truth of His resurrection gives us an assurance that we will live even after our death.

When the Israelites grumbled against the leadership of Moses and Aaron, the Lord asked to get twelve staffs from each of the leaders of the ancestral tribes. He said that the staff belonging to the man I choose will sprout (Num 17:1-3). Aaron’s staff and the other 11 staffs too were deadwood. It was impossible for the staff to sprout even while floating on water. The next day morning, Aaron’s staff, that represented the tribe of Levi, had not only sprouted but also, blossomed, and produced almonds. Not only was the requirement of sprouting fulfilled, but God also ensured that a lot more than what was needed was achieved.Prophets Elisha and Elijah could see people rise from death back to life. Jonah, Daniel, and his friends witnessed similar miracles in their own lives. In the same way, we may be facing a dead-end, gloomy situation in our life, but the resurrection power of our Lord, instantaneously, can change the whole scenario into a blooming, blissful, and fruitful one. Not just the minimum requirements, but our loving and living God is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine.

Jesus raised the son of the widow from Nain, the daughter of Jairus, a synagogue leader, and Lazarus from the dead. The disciples realized that Jesus not only had the power to turn water into wine but also had the power over life and believed in Him. However, on the day of Jesus’ resurrection, when they saw His empty tomb, they realized that Jesus Christ has overcome death and that He has no end – He is eternal. Luke mentions in the book of Acts that there many convincing proofs that Jesus had risen from the dead.

This truth of the resurrection caused a great transformation in people. The apostle Peter, who was afraid to acknowledge Christ before slave girls – not once or twice, but thrice, got such boldness and courage that he could preach Christ crucified before many and more than 3000 people believed and committed their life to Christ. The passion of Saul to persecute the Church and desire to decimate Christianity from the face of the earth was redirected to preach the faith he once tried to destroy. The vision of the risen Lord on the road to Damascus ignited his vision to preach the gospel where it was not preached. He travelled more than 16000 KM in his missionary journeys and founded many Churches and wrote almost half of the New Testament. Paul encourages us to stand firm and to always give ourselves fully to the work of the Lord as a conclusion to what he taught the Corinthian Church on resurrection (1 Cor 15: 58).

This truth of the resurrection caused a great transformation in people.The apostle Peter, who was afraid to acknowledge Christ before slave girls – not once or twice, but thrice, got such boldness and courage that he could preach Christ crucified before many and more than 3000 people believed and committed their life to Christ. The passion of Saul to persecute the Church and desire to decimate Christianity from the face of the earth was redirected to preach the faith he once tried to destroy. The vision of the risen Lord on the road to Damascus ignited his vision to preach the gospel where it was not preached. He travelled more than 16000 KM in his missionary journeys and founded many Churches and wrote almost half of the New Testament. Paul encourages us to stand firm and to always give ourselves fully to the work of the Lord as a conclusion to what he taught the Corinthian Church on resurrection (1 Cor 15: 58).

The power of resurrection enabled Peter to raise Dorcas (Tabitha) and Paul to raise Eutychus to life. The incomparably great power and mighty strength which God used to raise Jesus Christ from the dead is the same power that is at work in us who believe (Eph. 1:19-20). This same resurrection power of our Lord is at work in us. We can face tomorrow boldly as we serve a Lord who is alive and has overcome death. Death is no more a dead end, but another bend into eternity as this power will transform our weak and lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious bodyLet us be empowered by the resurrection power of our Living Lord!!

The author Emmanuel Shubhkar Pilli is Chairperson, UESI Training dept. and board member