Let’s Talk About It Some More
I mean. Let’s talk about what the resurrection of our Lord really means to us. I can’t let it go. The resurrection of our Lord changes everything. He proved NOTHING is impossible with God. He proved that what He said would be.
Jesus said to Martha after her brother, Lazarus died and was buried: “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.” (John 11:25)
How’s that for a demonstration of what a resurrection looks like? That was a “practice run” for the ultimate resurrection of our Lord and Savior.
Yes. Jesus was born in a pretty shabby birth room – a stable. It didn’t matter where – but it mattered WHAT! The Son of God came to this earth as an example of the lives that we can live on this earth.
Jesus had bouts of weakness and weariness like us. Yes. He encountered pushbacks on so many levels. The religious leaders were diabolically opposed to this mere man from Galilee. They scoffed: “Who does He think He is?”
Everything the disciples witnessed (the healings, the restorations, the exorcisms, the resurrections, the thousands being fed with a few loaves and fishes, the storms becoming peace, the children wanting to be near Him, the water turned to wine and so much more) could never be forgotten.
For a moment, let’s look again at what we can glean from this love story! Romans 8:11 says “And if the Spirit of Him Who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He Who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of His Spirit who lives in you!!”
WHAT? The same Spirit? You mean that I can be a conqueror like Jesus. You mean I can pray with someone, being a vessel of the Holy Spirit, and see them experience Jesus’ resurrection life, healing, and wholeness, too?
Just look at how the lives of the disciples were changed and empowered. God can use us in ways we might not even imagine. For example, I witnessed (from our apartment window), our dear friend, Lee Rosenlund, praying for a distraught, hurting woman. She was raising her hand in surrender, and Lee was praying for her. Lee was operating as the hands and feet of Jesus.
It’s easy, given our busyness and distractions, to miss the Holy Spirit’s action in our daily lives. Or perhaps we don’t expect Him to work through us. But if we keep our “antenna” pointed in His direction we will hear Him. My antenna was pointed when a friend hugged me, and I hugged her back and prayed for her.
Remember the denier of Jesus before the cross and resurrection? Look at Him AFTER. The weak-kneed disciple, Peter, now filled with the Holy Spirit, stepped out in faith to help a beggar, by declaring, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” “Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong.’” (Acts 3:6)
Peter had to open his mouth, raise his voice, and begin talking. Peter got out of his comfort zone to preach a sermon that brought in over 3,000 people to the Lord.
By the same power of the Holy Spirit, we can step out in faith and persevere to do what we can, when we can. Remember, the risen Christ lives in you AND me!