The blessings of the resurrection of Jesus Christ

The scripture says; “then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord”( John 20:20).  The resurrection of Jesus is the pillar of the Christian faith. It is the climax, the peak and crux of all. If there was no resurrection there would have been no foundation for our faith. The Christian faith is not just a religion; it is a relationship. A relationship with Jesus, the Crucified, is the only acceptable relationship with God and Heaven. Personal encounter with the Lord Jesus has no substitute.

The Blessings Of The Resurrection of Jesus include:

PEACE  (John 20:19, 21, 26).

Peace means absence of conflict, a state of calmness, quiet. Peace is cordiality in relationship, peace of mind and conscience. Peace is goodwill, mutual fellowship and harmony.

This first word of Jesus repeated thrice is very crucial. The disciples left him alone at the time of his trial, but women saw him last at the cross. Jesus, after the resurrection spoke peace to them and not words of accusation, allegation and condemnation. Jesus is the Prince of peace who brought peace to the world. His words are of peace, His ways of peace. He is our peace. In Him we have peace. His peace should be in us, rule and direct our lives. Peace with man and man. Peace with God. The Church is to preach peace, keep peace, maintain peace and live peaceably with all men. Do we live a life of peace with one another? 1). Peace for the way they left him alone; 2). Peace because of fear of the news which kept them shut up in closed door; and 3). Peace because they were disillusioned, confused and hopeless.

JOY (Matt. 28:8; John 20:20, 25)

Joy is more than gladness or happiness. Joy comes deep down in the heart. Joy can be shown in cheerfulness and brightness of faces. The reason for joy is the resurrection of the Lord and personal encounter with Him. The apostles of old had joy because the great need was met. They had joy seeing him again and because he cannot die again.

Salvation brings joy and hope. Personal encounter with the Lord, the risen Lord is the source of a great joy. The coming of Christ to the world brought joy. His death brought sadness and downcast, discouragement and defeat to them.

The joy of the Lord is not physical. It is spiritual. It is joy rooted in meeting with Lord of Joy.

Joy of the Lord comes about and is rooted in seeing Him. “We have seen the Lord”. Many are in the church who do not see Him.

HOLY SPIRIT IMPARTED: (John 20:22.

He breathed on them. “Receive ye the Holy Spirit”.

At creation, God breathed the breath of life into man and man became a living soul. At the resurrection, Jesus Christ breathed on the 10 apostles to receive the Holy Spirit.

As God the Father gave life, so Jesus gave life – the Holy Spirit to the disciples. Christ’s breath is part of Him. It is His life. No one lives a spiritual life and operates on spiritual life without the Holy Spirit.

The power of God comes through the power of the Holy Spirit. Re-equipment for life and service is not possible without the impartation through the Spirit. The baptism into the Spirit is of a necessity.

It is in the Spirit we can communicate the spiritual to the spiritual, the spirit speaks with the spirit. It is the Spirit that quickens and draws on heavenward. The apostles received the Spirit after the resurrection but received power at Pentecost (Acts 1:8).

FELLOWSHIP WITH THE RISEN LORD (John 20: 24, 26; 21:1, LK. 24:13, 27-31)

After the resurrection, Jesus personally revealed Himself to the disciples as evidence of His resurrection. Christ’s appearance to the women led by Mary Magdalene at the grave. The women were sent to the Apostles and to Peter in particular (Mk. 16:7).

Jesus made appearance to the 10 apostles with Thomas absent. Jesus made a later appearance the following week to the eleven which included Thomas who trust in his hand to the prints of the nail.

Jesus appeared to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. They walked with Him, talked with Him and even ate with Him. Jesus ate with the disciples after the great catch at the Sea of Galilee (John 21:13, 14). Peter was commissioned – feed my lambs before feed my sheep (John 21:15, 1 6, 17).

Each believer has the opportunity to realign his fellowship and relationship with Him. The resurrection of the believer on the daily basis is a necessity. We must live in the fellowship of His resurrection.

OPENING OF UNDERSTANDING OF THE SCRIPTURES (Lk.24:45, 32)

The resurrection appearance of Jesus gave opportunity for the continuation of His teaching ministry to the two disciples on the way to Emmaus. The teaching was with burning passion as Christ opened the scriptures to them. Their heart was burning while Christ was teaching, they confessed.

They brought the news to the eleven apostles in Jerusalem. Jesus opened their understanding of the Holy Scriptures. No understanding of the Holy Scriptures without opening of understanding of Him who is the Word and the Teacher from Heaven.

THE GREAT COMMISSION: (Matt. 28:18-20; Mk. 16:15-18; Lk 24:47-48;  John 20:21-23)

After the resurrection and before the ascension to heaven, Jesus gave the mandate to go to the world and preach the Gospel to them. For the reason, He breathed upon them to receive the Holy Ghost.

They were to receive the power first before going out. Jesus had earlier promised that believers would do the work He did and greater work would be done (John 14:12).

The apostles and the church were commissioned to continue the work of evangelism in the new era of the Holy Spirit. The power and authority and promise that backed up the commission came from Jesus after resurrection.

THE CHANGED LIVES PRODUCED THROUGH THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST (Acts 2; 4:7, 11, 14, 41; 3:9).

The resurrection of Jesus had far reaching effects on the life of the church and individuals brought to the church.

Peter who denied Jesus Christ thrice before Pilate was able to face the Sanhedrin to accuse them of the murder of Jesus. The historic sermon was preached and 3,000 souls were converted on a single day.

There was also the healing of the lame at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple (Acts 3:6); Thomas, one of the apostles was convinced of the resurrection. The conversion of Paul after Christ has ascended to heaven was a crucial event that had great impact on the New Testament Church.

The resurrection gave life, courage and stimulus to the preaching of the Gospel in face of trials and persecutions that the teaching of the Gospel provoked. The conversion of James, the Lord’s brother who became the Chairman of the Council in Jerusalem came about after the resurrection. The resurrection produced the catalyst to the growth and expansion of the Church.

CONCLUSION AND APPLICATION

The resurrection of Jesus has brought enormous blessings to the Church. The resurrection is the power of the church. The resurrection is the strength of the faith. Believers have a Saviour that has conquered sin, satan, death, grave;  a Saviour who lives forever beyond the grave; a Saviour who has all power in heaven and earth; a victor over sickness and death. No sickness, endemic, epidemic nor pandemic can confront Him. No wonder Paul prayed “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection”. May we know Him in the reality of the power of His resurrection. God bless.

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