The Gift of the Resurrection
By: Kristen L. McNulty
Reprint rights available on request. Email the author at kristenmcnulty@hotmail.com.
If you were searching for good news, a cemetery usually wouldn’t be a place you’d be drawn to. Looking around at one grave after another, you’d feel sadness for the lives lost and compassion for the loved ones that were left behind. But when it comes to the most marvellous piece of news in all of history, it wasn’t found at a carnival or at Walt Disney World, it was found in a tomb in ancient Israel, just over 2,000 years ago. When the tomb of Jesus was discovered empty only three days after His death, all of humanity was given the greatest piece of news ever: the tomb was empty! Jesus is alive!
As Tony Bazen once wrote,
"The cradle and the cross are of little value without the resurrection. But the cradle plus the cross, plus the resurrection, equals salvation." Tony Bazen
Escaping The Grave
Jesus’ death on Good Friday forever wipes out the sin of everyone who believes and the resurrection of Easter Sunday delivers eternal life for all those who know Christ. Jesus conquered the power of death and escaped the grave. But don’t just take my word on it. Here’s what Jesus himself said to Martha, as recorded in John chapter eleven:
"Jesus told her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?'" John 11:25-26
The implications of the resurrection are life-changing and eternal life-giving. The resurrection means death is no longer to be feared and the loss of those we love who are in-Christ are merely temporary separations. Romans chapter 6 teaches us, starting at verse 9:
"We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus." Romans 6:9-11
Have You Received The Gift?
What a truly incredible gift we have been given! So have you received it yet? It’s not complicated to do so. You don’t have to complete religious tasks from a list or follow some rules or complete a ritual of some sort. Jesus himself told us exactly what is involved, let me repeat those two verses from John 11:
"Jesus told her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?'" John 11:25-26
The question Jesus asked Martha here is the same question I’m asking you: do you believe this? Do you believe Jesus is the resurrection and the life? Do you believe he died for your sins and mine on the cross and then was raised from the dead three days later? If the answer to the question is yes, then you too can live eternally even after breathing your last breath here on earth. Elsewhere in the Bible we are told if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead you will be saved (Romans 10:9). That’s it. It’s not complicated but it is life altering and eternity changing.
Do You Believe?
None of us know how long we will be given on this earth, so please don’t put off the answer to the question "do you believe?" any longer. Think right now and if the answer is yes, let’s pray together to proclaim that belief.
Lord Jesus, I believe you died on the cross for my sins and were raised from the dead three days later. Please forgive me of my sins, fill me with your Holy Spirit and help me to live my life for you instead of me. In Jesus’ name I pray amen.
If you just prayed that prayer with me, please reach out by emailing madradioshow@hotmail.com. I'd love to send you some free resources and answer any questions you might have about what you heard here today.
Return To The Impact Devotional Archive
