“But now is Christ risen from the dead.” 1Corithians 15:20a
Easter is no doubt the greatest Christian celebration. It is the celebration of victory over sin, satan, death, grave and all evil powers of darkness, evil and all unrighteousness. It is a celebration of light over darkness, truth over falsehood, life over death, joy over sadness, victory over defeat and failure. The triumph of Christ is the triumph of the believers. It is a celebration of Hope.
Purpose of resurrection:
To fulfill the scriptures: 1Cor 15:4; John 10:35, 2:19 – 22; 12:24.
All things about Jesus Christ were predicted: birth, life, ministry, suffering, passion, death, and burial were programmed by God.
Christ’s resurrection was foretold in the Psalms, Ps 16:10; in Prophets, Is 53:10, and by Jesus Christ Himself. John 2:19.
The Scriptures are not to be broken. All things that have been spoken must be fulfilled. John 10:35.
Jesus the way, the truth and the life must fulfill what He has promised.
That He would swallow death in victory must be fulfilled. Isa. 25:8. What God has said, what the scripture pronounced must be fulfilled. His word is yea and amen.
Two angels at the grave confirmed His resurrection. “He is not here, He is risen, remember how He spake to you when He was in Galilee (Luke 24:6,7)
Jesus is life and spirit: John 1:4; 11:25; 4:24; 6:63.
There is the physical life and the spiritual. Jesus is both.
Jesus is the Author, Source, Owner and Sustainer of life. Life has power over death. Where life is active, death is inactive.
Jesus has everlasting life – life that is beyond the grave. Jesus as Life, surrendered Himself to death and has power over His life. John 10:18. Jesus is Spirit. It Is the Body that dies, not the spirit. There is life beyond the grave. Resurrection of all beings is sure.
To guarantee believer’s resurrection: John 14:19, Rom 6: 5-10.
Jesus in his life, death and resurrection represents all believers. Adam and Eve represent the human race in acts of rebellion, sin, fall and death.
Jesus is the resurrection and the life. He promised the hope of resurrection to eternal life for those who believe in Him.
Before Jesus Christ resurrected, He had first died to sin, self, the world and the flesh.
Resurrection to eternal life is conditional upon identification with Christ in His death to self, sin, world, and living with Him in new life of righteousness.
Jesus’ resurrection guarantees all believers’ resurrection saying “Because I live, we shall live also”.
To demonstrate christ’s sonship and power over sin, satan, world, death and grave. Rom 1:4; John5:28, 9; 1 Cor. 15: 25, 26; Rev 1:18.
TO be continued
That Jesus is the Son of God and God attests to His Sonship is a fact established by Scriptures though some oppose the truth.
God had earlier affirmed the Sonship of Jesus at His baptism and on the mount of transfiguration. Matt. 3:7; 17:5.
God proved with power, the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Rom. 1:4.
Jesus one day will call out the dead from the grave to demonstrate His power over the grave and those who are dead will respond to the voice of the Authority to call out.
Jesus would put down all other rule, authority and power to take over the kingdom and will destroy death, grave and satan.
Jesus is He that liveth and was dead and declared “behold I am alive for ever more, Amen and have the keys to hell and death.” Rev1:18.
Jesus holds the final authority over all powers of death. He is Life and the Resurrection.
To prove the reality of the resurrection: Job 14:14, 19:25; Isa 38:10-12, 14, 15, 17; 1 Cor. 15:12.
There are some clouds about the resurrection in some pages of Old Testament. Job asked in the book of Job 14:14 – if a man dies, will he rise again? And Hezekiah feared, wept and was in bitterness hearing about his death.
Jesus foretold his death and resurrection but His disciples did not fully understand what He meant.
The women went to the grave to preserve the dead body.
The empty tomb and the witness of 2 angels confirmed the resurrection.
Jesus made several appearances at different occasions to prove His resurrection.
Jesus ate with the disciples. Judas thrusted his hand to the nail prints on His side. Jesus came bodily and rose bodily.
To strengthen the faith of believers who faced trials, persecution, and opposition because of their faith. 1Cor 15: 17-19; Rom 8: 17, 36; 2 Tim : 21.
Holding the faith in Jesus Christ provokes trial, persecution and opposition within and without.
Truth, faithfulness and righteous living will earn hatred of all those who are opposed to light.
Those who live for Christ in this world are promised eternal reward at the resurrection. There is hope beyond this life.
Suffering with Him in this life gives us hope of glorification with Him. Rom 8:17. We must be ready to die for Him and for His cause before we can live and enjoy the life of light at the resurrection.
There is assurance of life beyond the grave at the resurrection for if we be dead with Him, we shall also live with Him.
Our suffering is for a short time, but the glory that awaits us is eternal. Let us endure more, for the suffering for faith will end soon but the joy thereafter is eternal.
Jesus was raised for our justification. Rom 4:25; Acts 17:31.
All men stand before the law; all men under sin stand guilty and condemned. The wages of sin is death.
Christ came to bear our sins and guilt and died for the same.
Jesus was raised from the dead for our justification.
Jesus’ resurrection made way for peace and access to God.
By the resurrection of Jesus Christ, God made Jesus to us our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption. 1 Cor. 1:30.
Conclusion
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a reality. Believers are to live in the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We are to appropriate the power of resurrection. Believers are to live a life of victory over sin, self, satan, the world, the flesh and their cohorts. Death could not hold Jesus. The power of the resurrection in Jesus should be invoked upon the nation and every landscape created by God and Covid-19 standing as agent of death should take its exit.
Because He lives, you will live. Continue in the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. God bless. Amen.
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