Easter: The Power of Resurrection
Written by Senior Pastor Ndayiragije Misigaro Joel, March 15, 2023
John 11:25–26: "Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. "The one who believes in me will live, even though they die, and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. "Do you believe this?"
INTRODUCTION
This is why Christians worldwide celebrate Jesus' resurrection yearly, to remember His power and their faith in Him.
Martha answered, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.” In these verses, Jesus demonstrates that He is more than just a moral teacher; He is also a prophet.
Easter is a time to remember what Jesus can do and that death can't take away the hope that is given to believers. A celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. It is a time of hope, renewal, and new beginnings for believers around the world. Jesus' words to Martha, His actions as a prophet, and His reference to (1 Corinthians 15:21) all show that He was more than just a moral teacher.
He was also an example of faith and hope, showing us that death is not the end of our lives. As He was resurrected from the dead, He demonstrated that He has authority over death and that hope will never be lost by conquering death.
His resurrection serves as a reminder of the power that Jesus has, the hope that He has given to believers, and the promise of eternal life that awaits those who have faith in Him.
A. LIFE-GIVER
His resurrection is a reminder that Jesus is the one who gives life. He has power over death and gives those who believe in Him hope by beating death and rising from the dead.
1 Corinthians 15:21: "For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man." Jesus' resurrection is the perfect example of His divine power, and it serves as a reminder of the faith and hopes that He gives to all believers It is through Jesus' resurrection that humanity can be saved from death and receive the eternal life promised to them by God.
This powerful and life-changing event is the reason Christians believe what they do. It gives them hope that even if they go through hard times in this life, they will have eternal life in heaven to look forward to.
Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, God gives us the ultimate way to be forgiven. This gives us access to a world without sin, where peace and love rule. This ultimate sacrifice and victory over death serve as a constant reminder of God's love for us and His power to grant us salvation and eternal life Through Jesus' resurrection, He has provided us with a way to overcome death and be reborn into an eternal life of grace and love that far surpasses what we can experience on earth.
Death came through Adam, but life comes through Jesus In this way, Jesus' death and resurrection become the ultimate demonstration of God's love for us Despite our unworthiness and sin, God still loved us so much that He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us and take away our sins. (John 3:16) Through Jesus, we have been given a second chance at life and the opportunity to find redemption and atone for our sins.
B. KNOWING THE POWER OF CHRIST
Through Jesus, we can experience God’s unconditional love and understanding of His power and grace. Philippians 3:10: "I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death."
Through this verse, we can see the significance of recognizing and embracing the power of Christ to not only bring about our resurrection, but to also bring us closer to God and His ultimate plan for us by having a deeper understanding of God's plan and His unconditional love, we can strengthen our faith in Him and gain strength through Jesus to overcome the trials and tribulations of life As we try to emulate Christ's ultimate sacrifice and internalize his teachings, we become better equipped to spread God’s message of love, peace, and understanding to the world.
As a result, our life on earth becomes more meaningful, and we gain an appreciation for all the blessings God has bestowed upon us.
Through His love, we can gain a sense of hope and peace that is greater than anything else in the world This hope is the foundation of our faith, and it carries us through life’s challenges and inspires us to take on whatever challenges come our way As we live our lives with the hope and peace of God, we become vessels of his grace, radiating love and kindness to those around us As a result, our lives become more meaningful, and we find deeper fulfillment in life. Knowing that we are loved and supported by God is a great comfort.
B. BE OBEDIENT
Philippians 2:8: "And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!" We know that Jesus set the ultimate example of obedience, and it is our duty as Christians to follow in His footsteps In order to be obedient to God, we must continually strive to align our will with His will and follow His commands, no matter how difficult they may be.
It may seem In the Christian faith; this is known as having willing obedience to God's will.
As Christians, it is essential to strive for obedience and to willingly submit to God's authority, no matter the cost This willing obedience to God is an essential component of the Christian faith, and it necessitates a continuous effort to be in accord with His will.
As such, it is essential to note that willing obedience to God's will is an act of faith and trust in Him and His promises that what we are doing is right. Despite the difficulty in maintaining the such trust and the risk of failure, Christians are called to be willing and obedient no matter what the cost, understanding that God's ultimate plan is always best and trusting Him to see it through even in the midst of difficult and seemingly insurmountable circumstances.
C. ALIVE TO GOD
Romans 6:8–11: "The death he died, he died to sin once and for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. "
Consequently, if we are to be alive to God in Christ Jesus, it is necessary that we choose to be dead to sin This scripture provides us with an explicit call to action; if we are to live the life God desires for us, we must make a conscious effort to choose righteousness, renounce our sins, and turn away from the temptations of our old lives.
In order to live the life God desires for us, we must make the deliberate choice to die to our old sins and actively pursue a life of righteousness and holiness, pursuing holiness as an act of obedience to God This is a difficult task, as it requires us to completely change the way we think and behave, but it is possible with the grace of God.
Through His grace and guidance, we can turn away from our old lives and live a life that is pleasing to him and to God's glory.
By fully surrendering ourselves to God, we will have access to the resources and strength we need to overcome our sinful desires and replace them with holy ones.
D. DO NOT BE TERRIFIED
Revelation 1:17b–18a: "Don’t be afraid! I am the first and last. I am the living one. "I died, but look! "I am alive forever and ever!" These are the words of Jesus, who has been a source of hope for countless people throughout the centuries.
This is what Jesus Christ said to show that he believed he died on the cross for everyone's sins and rose from the dead to give everyone who believed in his eternal life and the promise of salvation.
His death and resurrection became a symbol of faith and hope to countless people throughout the ages, providing a message of salvation, grace, and redemption for all who accepted him as their personal savior.
For those who accept the message of salvation that Jesus offers, his life and resurrection become an everlasting hope in the midst of suffering and despair Jesus' message of salvation and redemption transcends time, and his words continue to resonate with people from all walks of life Even today, two thousand years after his death and resurrection, the life of Jesus is still a source of strength and inspiration to countless people.
CONCLUSION
Mark 16:1-4: "When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome 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."
They were astonished and perplexed and wondered what had happened When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
They asked the young man who he was, and the young man replied that he was an angel sent from heaven to announce to them that Jesus had risen from the dead After hearing this, the women were filled with joy and ran to tell the disciples.
So the message of Easter should bring joy and peace to you, and you should engage in telling others about it.
If you are facing the question of "who will turn the stone" in your life? The answer to that question is Jesus, and He can turn the stones of sorrow and suffering in your life into ones of joy and peace Even though the women were filled with joy and excitement at first, it quickly turned to confusion and sorrow when they realized that Jesus was no longer in the tomb As we celebrate Easter, we should remember the hope and joy that Jesus brought to us by conquering death and turning the stone of sorrow into one of joy.
We can be thankful for the promise of eternal life and the ultimate joy that Jesus brought us through His death and resurrection, and we can understand the hope and joy that Jesus brings to our lives.
