Resurrection Power

Resurrection Power
3-30-08

Christ’s crucifixion is the event that becomes the topic of every Easter sermon, followed by the glorious resurrection. Many agree with the scriptures that speak about Jesus suffering humiliation and shame, and a sense of abandonment by His Father in heaven. It has been pointed out that His disciples must have felt confused, for they were expecting Jesus to become an earthly ruler and surely were caught by surprise when He was arrested and later crucified. He even seemed to willingly go along with all the wrong accusations. This could easily have appeared as a victory for the enemy. We all know that, after His terrible crucifixion, Jesus descended into hell.

The question we might ask ourselves is, “What would I feel like, dying under those circumstances? Going to hell afterwards . . . would I feel I deserved it?” Looking at the circumstances in Jesus’ life . . . humiliation, shame, abandonment by God, loss of rulership and an apparent failure to bring prophecy to pass, triumph of evil . . . how would I feel in hell if I ended up there after this happened in my life?

We do not think of Jesus as being afraid or confused. The scriptures tell us that he lived a holy life, blameless before God. Did this knowledge help Jesus when He was on the cross? From His own words we know He felt abandoned by the Father He loved. Yet, on the cross Jesus exercised His authority to forgive the thief, appointing him to a better eternity. I believe Jesus always knew Who He was; God’s Son.

God asks us also to be crucified. He asks us to forgive. Our life becomes more of a parallel to Christ’s as we walk with Him. But do we know who we are in Him? As we stand forgiving others, do we stand as being also forgiven? Christ’s blood covers our confessed sins every time we pray, and we daily become blameless in Him.

We have an enemy who mocks us on our crosses, and draws us into thoughts of abandonment and defeat, shame and unbelief. Yet the resurrection power of Christ begins as we descend into hell, for in setting the captives free is the beginning of our greatest victory. It is like Paul and Silas, singing praises in jail -> giving the gifts of salvation to many. Paul and Silas knew they were sons of the Father through Jesus, even though circumstances suggested shame and defeat.

It is hard for us to suffer shame and feel abandoned . . . to suffer loss and be in a living hell is worse. It is hard to remember God has a purpose in all this. But if we will hold on to who we are, and who He is . . . if we will not let our enemy rob us of these 2 things . . . we will walk in His resurrection power and do great exploits. Jesus’ exploit was leading captivity captive, making a spectacle of satan, and giving gifts to men. He did not forget that God had a purpose for Him to accomplish. And it was accomplished after visiting hell.

Just like Jesus, our lives will parallel Him in rising from our hell in resurrection power. He leads us to triumph. (See 2 Cor 2:14-15). Let us remember who we are in Him, and that God’s power will be manifested in our lives to accomplish His purposes . . . even if circumstances seem to show us in defeat. Amen.