The Power of His Resurrection

THE POWER OF

of
HIS RESURRECTION

Rom.1: Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,

² (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)
³ Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;
⁴ And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

Rom.6: ⁴ Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

⁵ For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

Phil.3: ¹⁰ That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

I Pet.1: ³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

⁴ To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

Rev.20: ⁶ Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power…

Let me say from the outside that the Incarnation, the cross, and the resurrection are inseparable. They actually make up what we call “the gospel”. The cross is usually amplified in our spiritual minds, and well it should be. However if Christ was not God in the flesh then His death was just another human death including many tens of thousands on a Roman cross. So the divinity of Jesus must be clearly understood and upon that truth there can be no compromise or even an open discussion. All who even question the deity of Christ are either searchers still seeking the truth or the vilest of heretics.

But the resurrection is also indispensible if we are to understand the Incarnation and the cross, for if Christ did not resurrect from the dead then we are serving a dead Savior. And Paul even suggests that given that scenario we would be the most miserable of all men. So often we under emphasize the resurrection of Jesus. Jesus died upon that cross. He was dead. I cannot begin to fully unpack that mystery that God did actually die. God is life and even the word death seems to be completely incongruous with His eternal nature. And yet Jesus died. Some attempt to seem oh so intellectual and exhibit doctrinal prowess by explaining which part of Jesus died or the process of divine death or other things which the Scriptures do not explain and therefore we should not either. Is it not enough to make our very beings tremble when we say “Jesus died”?

But on the third day Jesus resurrected from the dead. That is no metaphor. That is an eternal truth and theological fact. Now before we go any further let me expose some heretics who take the gospel narrative of the resurrection and translate it to us as some kind of a fresh start or a turning over of a new leaf. Rob Bell and others take that kind of license and by doing so they dilute the power of the resurrection and expose themselves as heretics. The resurrection of Jesus Christ came through the power of Almighty God and it authenticated, substantiated, and openly proved who Jesus was, what He did on the cross, and that every word He spoke was the Word of God.

This was not just some noble Jew who was martyred because he was a trouble maker. He was not just a wise man who has some interesting and arresting communication skills. This wasn’t even some Jew who had some divine power and healed people. But how can I reveal who He was through the limitations of human words? God the Word was born to a virgin, lived a sinless life, and then finished what He came to accomplish. Jesus did not start at Bethlehem. He was God the Son, God the Word, from eternity past to eternity future. Even while being in the grave dead for three days He was still alive. Go ahead and run that through that pea shooter we call our “intellect”.

Jesus was dead and resurrected and showed Himself alive to many hundreds of people. The resurrection is still that which makes many stumble. They will admit that Jesus died upon that cross and they can define it in many ways that suit them. But if you deny the bodily resurrection then you deny Christ. Plain and simple.

But the power in that resurrection can and does change a person’s life from the inside out. I am not one to micro manage doctrinal words or to slice things so thin it elicits arguments over the finer points. But please understand what I am going to say. The glorious resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ was not just so people could get a new start or alter their lives in some way. That does happen but it is residual. The resurrection and the power revealed by that event was to make a show openly that Christ has triumphed over sin, hell, and the forces of darkness as well as to broadcast throughout eternity that Jesus is and always was the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords! And who can stand against Him from whose face the earth and the heavens fled? And when you read the Book of the Revelation and get some glimpse of the eternal place we call heaven, you may have missed something very revealing.

It always seemed that Jesus while upon this earth was subordinate to the Father. Even the term “Son” seems to indicate a subordinate status. However that is untrue albeit a very great mystery. But when you read the Revelation we find very much more about Jesus the Son than we do the Father or the Spirit. Again and again Jesus is seen in all His regal glory and He is worshiped by the throngs of the redeemed. Can you see what has happened? The Son willingly humbled Himself and was born in the likeness of sinful flesh, and He suffered and died, and all the while He submitted Himself to His Father. And now, throughout eternity, it is the Father and the Spirit who step back while the Son, the Lamb, the Lion, the Redeemer, the King, the Lord, and the Word is openly and without end glorified in front of all creation!

The resurrection has always been that which establishes a true believer from a fraud. Death and life are great mysteries, but to understand that someone could die and then return to life here on earth is astounding and boggles the mind. But to understand further that someone could die and after three days could return to life again shakes the intellect. But then to understand those two things but also being asked to understand that this “someone” was the Creator of all there is and all there ever will be is a feat of faith which can only be realized with divine power. The resurrection lifted up the Son of God and proclaimed Him to be the Eternal Lord of Glory.

Many students of the Word believe that the last few verses of Psalm 24 describe the victorious entrance of Christ as He ascended into heaven and was recognized and glorified by all its inhabitants. I kinda agree with that interpretation, and so with that backdrop please allow you spirit to soar into that wondrous event as the Resurrected King returns to sit on His majestic throne!

Ps.24: ⁷ Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.

⁸ Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.
⁹ Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
¹⁰ Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.

So let the world receive this glorious news! The Eternal Son of God has risen from the dead! There is a God and He is alive! Spread the glad tidings that Jesus has risen from the grave and He lives forevermore! Up from the grave He arose in a mighty triumph o'er His foes! There is no one so called season where this news is celebrated, no, we who know and follow Him must celebrate that breathtaking truth every single day! He who suffered and died and was mocked and derided and was buried in a tomb for three days has resurrected and has shown Himself openly for all to see! And it is the Risen Christ who we adore and praise and worship!

 HALLELUIAH TO THE LAMB WHO WAS SLAIN AND NOW LIVES!!!!