Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. (Mark 16:6)
The story of the gospel does not end at the cross. It does not conclude when Jesus gives his last breath. Rather it continues 3 days after when the Lord Jesus is risen from the dead. For both non-believers and believers, the resurrection is a glorious picture of God's victory over Satan.
Christ's ressurection confirms that anyone who receives Jesus as his Lord and Savior also receives the victory over anything that holds him captive. Christ's victory over death gives us power over anything that could bind us both in our physical body and in our soul.
He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them. (2 Corinthians 5:15)
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person.
The old life is gone; a new life has begun! (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Resurrection gives us hope that we can say No to temptations. We can say No when a pornographic link tells us to click on it. We can say No when we are tempted to turn to drugs to drown our sadness. We can stop ourselves when we feel like being intimate with our girlfriend or boyfriend. We can say No when someone offers us extra cash to cheat or mislead others. We can say No when the devil tells us being in a relationship with that person will make us happier.
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| source: reevesrethoric.com |
It gives us the strength to make decisions that bring us life rather than death. It gives us the strength to exercise to loose weight. It gives us strength to get out of bed when we are depressed. It gives us the strength to go out when we feel perpetually sick and weak.
It gives us power to stop ourselves from destructive behaviors. It helps us stop ourselves from terrible spending habits. It gives us power to be real and authentic instead of lying or pretending about who we really are.
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| Source: thenutritionpost.com |
And for believers of Christ like me, who also fail at times, it gives us that hope of restoration.
After His resurrection, Jesus reinstates Peter. Even after Peter denies Christ 3 times, still Jesus gives Peter a second chance. As Jesus asks Peter if he loves the Lord, Peter keeps saying yes. When asked the third time, Peter is hurt. But still replies yes.
Often when someone asks us the same question repeatedly, it makes us evaluate our answer, whether it is the truth or not. And for Peter, he realizes that even though he loves the Lord, it isn't an assurance that his walk with Him is perfect and that he will always be faithful. We are just like Peter, aren't we? Always thoughtlessly claiming that we will love and serve the Lord. But it isn't always the case. Isn't it empowering when God re-assures us that even in our weaknesses, He is there to pick us up. That when we fail to be faithful, when our actions do not show our love for the Lord, God tells us, it's ok, stand up, I'm giving you another chance.
As you watch the video of Kari Jobe's song Forever below, meditate on the message of the song. May God's Spirit speak to you. And may you be reminded that because Jesus is risen, victory is ours, victory is yours.
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