Jesus lived a great life. So did a lot of other great religious leaders.
Jesus died a martyr’s death. So did many others who laid down their lives.
Jesus rose boldly and bodily from the grave. No one has ever done that!
And that’s the great message we have to proclaim. In the 1st Century, the distinctive message of the early church was the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. That was the message that got people’s attention. And interesting that no one disputed the fact. His resurrection was an undisputed fact proven by repeated appearances to His contemporaries. The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is one of the best documented facts in history.
In the 21st Century, the resurrection is still our distinctive message. You can point to the tombs of most every religious leader in history. But Jesus tomb is empty. No bones about it!
What does the resurrection of Jesus mean to you today? Romans 8:11 teaches that “The Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you.” Can you believe it? While we marvel at God’s power in raising His Son from the dead, you need to know that same power lives in you. So if you think discouragement, defeat, fear, weakness, you need to realize that the same power that raised Jesus now resided in you to empower you to live the Jesus life.
The resurrection is more than a well-documented historical fact. The resurrection power resides inside you today! So let the power of the resurrection empower your message. Let it strengthen your ministry. Let it impassion your person.
The Lord is risen indeed! The power of the risen Lord lives in you indeed!
