The Power Of The Resurrection

The Power of the Resurrection

By

Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.

Most people accept Jesus’ resurrection although they celebrate it as Easter instead of Resurrection Sunday, but how many fully comprehended the power and impact of His Resurrection?

Sure, turning water to wine, walking on the water feeding 5000 with two fish and five loaves of bread, opening blinded eyes, healing the lame, and raising the dead are awesome miracles but the most important event in Christianity is the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. It is this powerful event that changed the course of human history and is the cornerstone of our faith. Without the resurrection, the death of Jesus would have been in vain, and Christianity would have no foundation. A resurrection less Christianity would be empty, and our faith would be useless. Our message that we preach would have no validity and the cross would carry the significance of coloring book. The resurrection proves that Jesus is the Son of God, conquers death, and brings eternal hope to all believers.

PRAYER

SCRIPTURE: - Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20

The resurrection is documented in all four Gospels, each providing unique details that together form a comprehensive narrative. According to the Gospel of Matthew 28:1-4, “In the end of Sabbath of the week Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the sepulcher. And, behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, rolled back the stone, and sat on it. And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men”. The angel announced to the women, “He is not here; for he is risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He lay” Matthew 28:6. The details in this passage mark the beginning of a new era, a new week, and a new life in Jesus’ resurrection.

In the Gospel of Mark, the women had their minds blown finding the stone rolled away and a young man in a white robe inside the tomb, who tells them, “He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him” Mark 16:6. The main idea here is the King has come but he is not here; everything must change you must seek him, look for him, tell other about him.

The Gospel of Luke adds that two men in dazzling apparel appeared to the women, reminding them of Jesus' prophecy “Remember how he spoke unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and the third day rise again” Luke 24:6-7. Luke’s account shows the grace of God in 5 separate scenarios, 5 is the number of GRACE, 1) the women at the empty tomb 2) the appearance to the two disciples on the way to Emmaus 3) the appearance to the disciples in Jerusalem 4) Jesus’ final instructions, 5) Jesus’ ascension

The Gospel of John provides a more personal account, focusing on Mary Magdalene's encounter with the risen Christ. Initially mistaking Him for the gardener, she recognizes Jesus when He calls her by name John 20:14-16 “And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master”.

The word “resurrection” means to come to life, after death. In John 11, after the death of his friend Lazarus, Jesus told Martha and Mary, “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this” John 11:25-26.

The original Greek used is anastasis, which means rising to life the act of going from sitting or lying down to standing. The word resurrection isn’t a metaphor but a literal term. When the Bible tells us Jesus resurrected, it means exactly that: Jesus was dead, yet He rose to life again.

UNDERSTANDING THE POWER OF THE RESURRECTION

We must understand the resurrection of Jesus is not just a historical event, but it is the very foundation of our Christian faith, it affirms everything that Jesus taught it solidifies everything we stand for, is the basis of all that we believe and hope in. Ultimately it is through His resurrection, gaining victory over sin death and the grave that He secured our victory over sin, death, and the grave.