The Benefits of the Resurrection of Jesus

The death and resurrection of Jesus are the greatest events in history. This past Sunday, Christians all over the world celebrated the Resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ, from the dead. Pastor Anison presented to us, the true meaning of the Resurrection power of Jesus. Easter is not a 2000 year old story, but a reality. For those that believe it is power of resurrection working in us right now. His Resurrection is vindication of the victory over sin, death, and the devil He finished on the Cross; it’s the Father’s stamp of approval on the salvation work His Son accomplished by living the perfect, sinless life we can’t live and by making the perfect sacrifice for the sin of the world on the Cross.

The most powerful three words before Jesus’ death on the cross, that demonstrated everything pertaining to the salvation and deliverance of mankind was ‘IT IS FINISHED’. Another powerful 3 words spoken after the resurrection, that brings us hope is “HE IS RISEN”.

• Mentioned by all Gospel writers: All the gospel writers, even though they had different introductions, they concluded and emphasized on the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.
Mathew: Started the story of Jesus with the genealogy of Jesus Christ from Abraham and David, giving the credential of a Jewish Messiah from a Jewish viewpoint. He ends with the resurrection of Jesus and the Final commission.
Mark: Starts with the ministry life of Jesus (mission) and ends with resurrection
Luke: begins with the annunciation that the angel gave to Mary and ends with the resurrection and ascension of Jesus.
John: his record starts from the incarnate existence of Christ as God Himself and ends with the resurrection, giving special emphasis on the post resurrection appearances of Christ.

• Resurrection of Jesus is the key foundation to our salvation.The Bible says whoever will believe in their heart that Jesus died and rose again and will confess with their mouth Jesus as Lord, will be saved!

The meaning of Resurrection of Jesus:
1. Jesus becoming the first fruits of those who will be raised from among the dead. (1Cor 15:20)
Paul uses a very powerful analogy from the Old Testament to illustrate the future resurrection of the saints. After the Passover, the people of Israel will present before the priest, a portion of their first produce as they anticipate the greater harvest which is yet to come. Paul while making reference to this practice is emphatic in stating that the believers can be sure of their own resurrection since Jesus has become the first fruit among those who are going to be resurrected.
Jesus’ resurrection in the past guarantees my future resurrection.

2. Resurrection of Jesus produces power:
It is not just an event that happened 2000 years ago, but the power that is still available for the saints of God.

If the standard of God’s power in the Old Testament was the deliverance of the people of Israel through the Red Sea, then the standard of God’s power in the New Testament is the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
It is the exceeding great power: “the exceeding greatness of His power to us all who believe according to the working of His mighty power when He wrought in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and set as His own right hand in heavenly places.”(Eph. 1:19,20) It didn’t put any strain on God to create the world. He just created it by His power. But it put a strain on God to raise Jesus from the dead. The word ‘exceeding greatness’ has an awful lot of energy.

We need to remember,that’s the power that’s working in us.
Even our prayers answered is according to the power of resurrection in us – Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us(Eph. 3:20)

It is the same Spirit !
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 through his Spirit, who lives in you. (Rom. 8:11)
What happened at the tomb of Jesus was so powerful, but a onetime event in History. When the Spirit of God that raised Jesus from the dead moved upon the tomb, it shook the stone. It was not just the Roman imperial seal that was kept to hold him back, but it was every demonic power from hell, every witchcraft, sorcery and every sin of man that was trying to hold Him back from resurrection. But with action of the Holy spirit, the stone just rolled away, and made Jesus raise from the dead, destroying the powers of evil forever. If that happened once in history, The Bible tells us that the same spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is living inside of us. It is a working power, not a theoretical power

What happens when that Spirit that raised Jesus is living inside us:
It is preparing us for the coming of the Lord.
It changes us from inside out, as transformed people whose character will represent Christ. The same power that is able to raise Jesus from the grave is able to raise us from sin and to transform us into His likeness.
It protects us from the powers of evil.
It is the same power that will resurrect us to be with Him forever when Christ returns.
He will quicken our mortal bodies. Quicken means to make alive, fill with life. It is the power that will touch the dead situations in our life, be it a broken relationship, children, financial breakdown- it will produce life.