Resurrection Sunday

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, (Romans 1:1-4 ESV)

We know that all who believe in Christ have hope for redemption and salvation by Him. However, what if there was no resurrection? Then our hope in Him would be limited to this life and we would be in a worse condition than the rest of humanity. The Apostle Paul tells us, among other things, that the Resurrection of Jesus Christ declared Him the Son of God in power. The Gospel is concerned with two facts about Jesus Christ our Lord. The first is that He was really man. The second that, although man, He was more than man. Jesus was truly a man by the fact of His birth and the Son of God by the fact of His resurrection.

The resurrection was not only miraculous; it was a lesson. The resurrection teaches us that Jesus was much more than the prophets or apostles. He was the Only-Begotten Son of God, who had shared God’s throne and His Nature from all eternity.

Paul points out that this single event declared Christ to be the Son of God by His Resurrection from the dead. Why should our Lord’s resurrection have the particular effect of declaring Him the Son of God? The resurrection of our Lord verified the truth of His claims and teachings. Had Jesus lived, taught, and decayed in His tomb, He would have been regarded by history as a great moral teacher who in the end was simply a man. However, the resurrection proclaims to the entire world that He Who was crucified, dead, and buried, is the Son of God.

When the lifeless soul hears the voice of the Son of God, his eyes open to behold His mercy and love. His tongue bursts forth in prayer and praise to Him who is the Redeemer and Lord. His sinfulness is exchanged for purity, light, and eternal life. In the Church of our day when a man is turned from the fatality of sin to a life of godly righteousness, we must give all praise to God and pray that more sinners will do the same.

The power of the resurrection of Jesus is as supreme now as it was in the days of the apostles and disciples. The Holy Spirit is just as ready to quicken us who are dead in trespasses and sins – as anyone in the Book of Acts. Jesus Christ will abide in us. At the resurrection of the last day, Jesus will confess us before his Father and we shall receive that wonderful invitation: “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” (Matthew 25:34 ESV)

Jesus rose from the tomb to prove to us that we could have everlasting life with Him. I give thanks to God for His grace and mercy on this Resurrection Sunday and pray that you will come to know the greatness of His power towards you.