Resurrection Power

An objection some people bring up regarding the gospel is comparing Jesus to other religious figures such as Buddha and Mohammed. My usual response is quoting what Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” 

I also like to point out what happens when Christians obey the Great Commission. Jesus said in Mark 16:17-18, “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” I’ve yet to see someone healed in the name of Allah or Buddah.

Another commandment Jesus gave His disciples was to “raise the dead.” (Matthew 10:8) While I personally haven’t seen a dead body come back to life, I know of other ministers God used to restore life to individuals who briefly died. Romans 4:17 says that God “…gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did.”

The resurrection of Jesus Himself is a key tenet of the Christian faith. Look at 1 Corinthians 15…

16 For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. 

17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! 

18 Then also those who have fallen asleep [died] in Christ have perished. 

19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.

During Bible times, there was a religious sect called the Sadducees who denied the resurrection of the dead and the supernatural. As I’ve heard other ministers proclaim, that’s why the Sadducees were “sad…you see.”  

When Martha was grieving over the death of her brother Lazarus, Jesus told her in John 11:25-26, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” Lazarus was soon raised from the dead.

In the next chapter, Jesus said in John 12:24, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.” Maybe the Lord gave you promises that haven’t been fulfilled yet and has even allowed some of them to “die.” But in His timing, God can bring those dead dreams back to life.

Romans 8:11 says, “…the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you.” Resurrection power is available for every area of your life. So if you know the Lord, then you can proclaim the words of an old Snap song, “I’ve got the power!”

“For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will.” - John 5:21

Pass Me the Peeps

Some Christians prefer to call Easter “Resurrection Sunday.” One reason is the word Easter supposedly derived from the name of a goddess associated with spring. Because of this, a few Christians consider Easter a pagan holiday and distance themselves from it.

Nevertheless, modern dictionaries define Easter as a Christian festival. It’s also worth noting the word Easter is found in the King James Bible; “And when he [Herod] had apprehended him [Peter], he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.” (Acts 12:4)

I believe one can get too religious about certain holidays. Psalm 118:24 says, “This is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Easter is an excellent time to tell sinners about what the Savior did for them so they have the opportunity to receive eternal life.  

One time in Charleston, South Carolina, I took part in an Easter Party Outreach held in a neighborhood park. We reached out to the community with the love of Jesus by giving away food, Easter baskets, and most importantly the gospel. In and around a prayer tent, I got to lead seven people to the Lord plus encouraged a backslider to “slide back” to God. More people received salvation at the end when a local pastor delivered a short sermon and then conducted a group prayer.

As a kid, I received candy from “the Easter Bunny.” When I later found out the Easter Bunny, Santa Claus, and the Tooth Fairy were fictional characters, I questioned God’s existence for many years. Parents shouldn’t deceive their children like that. Easter is not about some rabbit delivering candy but a risen Savior who delivered us from eternal damnation. 1 Corinthians 15:17 says, “And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!”  

Let’s tell the world what Easter is truly about...and if offered to me, I will still enjoy some Easter candy. Pass me the Peeps!

“So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.” 

- Colossians 2:16-17