RESURRECTION HOPE
The Power to Live Again
Philippians 3:10-11
Their world was beginning to fall apart. Their leader spoke of betrayal and death. They hoped this was just another of the teacher’s stories He would so often use to teach them important lessons about the Kingdom of God; surely He would make everything plain to them soon. Still they each promised to remain faithful and defend their master—even to the death.
Thursday evening they enjoyed a private dinner with the teacher. It would have been a great celebration except that He again spoke of being betrayed. As the bread was broken their master spoke of His body and when the cup of wine was shared He said it was His blood. If only He would speak clearly; they wanted to understand, but this time no one was willing to ask Him to explain Himself. Surely He would explain this mysterious teaching to them soon.
After dinner they went to the local park where their master liked to pray. It was a beautiful garden. They felt secure knowing believing that if their master’s life were truly in danger He would have remained safely secluded indoors.
The night was so dark. They were anxious for morning to come; perhaps then the teacher would tell them the meaning of His strange teaching.
Suddenly torches were seen coming their way. They saw their friend Judas leading the way and with him were the local militia fully armed. Judas greeted their master, and the officer in charge of the guard order the teacher bound and placed under arrest. How could this be happening? Fearful for their own lives many ran away.
Through the night the case against the master was conducted by some of the local officials. In the morning He was taken to stand trial before the governor. To their horror a death sentence was eventually handed down; their master was led away to be executed. By midday that Friday they sky was unexpectedly dark and the Master soon breathed His last breath.
One of the teacher’s followers tells what happened next.
When the sun rose Saturday morning the teacher lay dead in a cold dark tomb. The hearts of His followers were just as dark and cold as the grave. Fear and sorrow mixed with their tears. They couldn’t believe what had happened, but they saw it all with their own eyes. They couldn’t deny the truth; Jesus was dead.
Sometimes we find ourselves in the same kind of situation. The sun may be shinning, but our lives are dark! We are imprisoned by shame and guilt, grief, fear, depression. . . The bars that hold us captive are numerous.
SUNDAY’S COMING!
What day describes your life? Are you living in a perpetual “Thursday” struggling to make it while your world seems to be falling apart? Is your life another “Friday” watching your hopes and dreams slowly die? Have you awakened again to a cold dark lifeless “Saturday”?
Can your life—your ambition, hopes and dreams—your love and relationships—can your life be renewed?
Sunday’s Coming!
Whatever may be taking place in your life from day to day, we should live with hope because Sunday’s coming! The resurrection power that brought Jesus back to life can and will make a difference in our lives today; Sunday’s coming!
• Philippians 3:10-11 (NIV)
[10] I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, [11] and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Most of us would say, “I want to know Christ.” Many of us would likewise say, “I want to experience the power of His resurrection.” But how many of us would say, “I want to share in the suffering of Jesus?—the death of Jesus?
If you want to know Christ—if you want to experience the power of His resurrection, it only comes by way of suffering and death! The power of the resurrection cannot precede death. RESURRECTION POWER COMES AFTER SUFFERING AND DEATH.
• Galatians 2:20 (NIV)
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Because I have died with Christ and no longer live for myself CHRIST LIVES IN ME—resurrection power!
• Romans 8:11 (MsgB)
It stands to reason, doesn’t it, that if the alive-and-present God who raised Jesus from the dead moves into your life, he’ll do the same thing in you that he did in Jesus, bringing you alive to himself? When God lives and breathes in you (and he does, as surely as he did in Jesus), you are delivered from that dead life. With his Spirit living in you, your body will be as alive as Christ’s!
• Ephesians 1:19-20 (NLT)
[19] I pray that you will begin to understand the incredible greatness of his power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power [20] that raised Christ from the dead.
