Ephesians 1:20
“which is brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at the right hand in heavenly places.”
Christ's resurrection from the dead is quite amazing. Right up there with Him dying and paying for the sins of all. He did something we couldn't do. This was divine. We were destined to pay for our sins for all eternity. God threw a giant interruption into the works. The devil tricked Eve and Adam knowingly followed. Death was absolute and was the rule of things. The billions that lived up to Jesus couldn't defeat death.
The guards at the tomb had no idea of what they were to witness. The shabby best that Rome could muster was nothing compared to the All Mighty. Jesus bested death and dove into Hades to share the good news with the resting saints. He came to the surface that third day with keys in hand. The earth shook as an angel rolled the stone away. Those mortals were witnessing a power none of us had seen. An awesome physical miracle. The angel demonstrated amazing power. The scriptures say the the guards were still like dead men.
God demonstrates His power daily. While maneuvering the circumstances of life to match everyone is certainly a miracle, it's usually done in a hidden way. The scripture teaches believing is seeing, not the other way around. Pharaoh saw plenty and wasn't converted. In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, it says "If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead", Luke 16:31. That is shocking and informs us that seeing isn't believing.
The power of God to move hearts rarely is through the spectacular. God is knocking on the hearts of all and seeks to persuade them to open. What moves one might not do so for another. Along with an action God brings much narrative. The individual is usually unaware of the whole production that God, His angels and followers go through to reach them.
Christianity is the only faith that contains a resurrection. Most contain good works and an angry god. Christianity is also the only one in which God does the saving. The others have their supplicants doing things for their god. Philippians 2:6-8 says, "who, as He already existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross." Simply amazing. God does all the work.
Jesus is an example of what will happen to believers. We will also rise from the dead and be with Him and others in eternity. He defeated death for all of us. It's tough to imagine this as it's not part of our daily experience. Thank You, Lord.
We are in lent and heading into the Easter season. Lord, let us see Your resurrection in a new light.
Lord, thank You for the resurrection. So much hope, so much power and accomplishment. Thank You!