Ultimate Power

As I ponder Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, I love to consider just how He did it. An angel didn’t come to John in a dream and tell him to get up and pray for Jesus to be raised from the dead. God didn’t speak to Peter and command him to strike the stone at the door of the tomb three times. God didn’t tell the disciples to rally together and march in front of the tomb until God gave the victory. And no one stood before the tomb and shouted, “Jesus, come forth!” The simple, beautiful, powerful, completely unique fact is… Jesus rose from the grave by His own power. The display was all God. Jesus is all-sufficient, all-powerful, and just talking about how marvelous He is, makes me want to shout!

No one had, has, or ever will have power over death, hell, and the grave, but Jesus Christ! He is alive! He is alive! He is alive! And, thank God, I am a partaker in the precious gift of salvation, which He freely offers all of man. Because of Jesus’ blood spilt on the cross and His resurrection from death, I have been made alive, too! Forever.

Following Jesus’ ascension into heaven and the Holy Spirit coming at Pentecost, Peter stood up with the other disciples, raised his voice, and spoke to the “God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven” who were present. Here is a part of the powerful sermon… (Acts 2:22-33, 36):

Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and fore-knowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.

David said about him: “I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fell me with joy i your presence.”

Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried,a nd his tomb is here to this day. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendents on his throne. Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that He was not abandoned to the grave, nor did His body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear [refering to the believers being filled with the Holy Spirit and speaking in other languages by the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4)]. ….

Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.