The Bible recorded that Jesus rose from the grave on the third day after His death. Christ secured victory for us by His death and resurrection. The earliest evidence that Jesus rose is that His tomb was empty. Remember, the angel took Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to Jesus’ “empty tomb” — “Come see where his body was lying,” (Matthew 28:6).Why Christ resurrection is victory for believers is because the chief priests and religious leaders never believed He would rise from the death. As far as they were concerned, that was His end. 1Corinthians 15:14 says: “And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.”
By His death and resurrection, we are redeemed from sin, curses and satanic bondages. The fall of man brought curse upon man. God cursed man and said, cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life,” (Genesis 3:17). Galatians 3:13 says: “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree.”
Jesus made a public show of the Devil and demonic powers when He arose from the dead. Colossians 2:15: “Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.” Resurrection is the display of the victorious power of God. The chief Priests, elders, the crowd and Roman soldiers mocked Jesus and said to him: “You, who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:40).But when He came out from the grave, all mouth closed. Victory showed up. The angel said to Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James who went to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus, but met an empty tomb and they were afraid and bowed down their faces. “Why seek ye the living among the dead? (Luke 24:5). This is a supernatural change of position. Jesus rose from the dead and became the first fruit of those who are dead. 1Corinthians 15:20: “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept.”
It announces that Satan has been defeated and under our feet. The angel rolled away the stone and sat on it (Matthew 28:2). It was a sign of defeat and victory. Resurrection is a display of the exceeding greatness of His power as Paul wrote in Ephesians 1:18-21. What is the exceeding greatness of His power? It is the highest level of power. When Jesus arose, God displayed the exceeding greatness of His power: When Jesus resurrected, every saint that died at that time and before Christ came out of their grave.
The Bible recorded that the earth shook, rocks split apart and tombs opened, many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead and they left cemetery, went into the Holy City of Jerusalem and were seen by many people (Matthew 27:50-52). One man’s resurrection brought all men out of the grave by the exceeding greatness of His power. You are coming out of every grave you are into.
• Today’s nugget: Resurrection is announcement of victory.
Prayer: By power of resurrection I arise. Prayer lines: 08033299824.E-mail: [email protected]. Rev. Abel UkachiAmadi, General Superintendent, Assemblies of God Nigeria.
