SIH’s Think On These Things: The Resurrection of Christ

The next miracle in our series is The Resurrection of Christ …This miracle is recorded for us in Matt 28:1-10; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-12; John 20:1-18.

The account of Christ’s resurrection of Himself stands out from all the other miracles we have studied in a few different ways…

1. This is the first miracle that Christ performs for Himself. 
2. This is the first miracle whose process is never described in the historical accounts.  We only read of the actions of the disciples in relation to the miracle.  The historical account gives us no description of the workings of Christ to give life to Himself.
3. This miracle is attributed to all three persons of the Godhead
1. God the Father (Roms 10:9, 1 Thess 1:9-10 and MANY others)
2. God the Son (John 2:19, John 10:17-18)
3. God the Spirit (Rom 8:11, 1 Peter 3:18 – maybe?)
4. (Note: How do we explain the fact that all three persons of the Godhead are attributed with the resurrection of Jesus?  Much of this is beyond my understanding, but it all boils down to the Trinity.  Since we KNOW that the True and Only God has chosen to exist in three persons (1 John 5:7, Matt 28:19, Eph 1:3-15, Etc) it is no contradiction.  That is all we really need to understand for this devotion.)

For our devotional let’s look at the two verses where the resurrection of Christ is attributed to Himself…

Joh 2:19-21  “Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body.”

Joh 10:17-18  “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.”

Based upon these two references what can we learn about our Great Lord and Savior?

1. He clearly understood, long before His death, that He would die and would then receive His physical life again. Showing us His sacrificial love on our behalf. (John 2)
2. His resurrection would be a display of His Father’s love for Him. (John 10)
3. He laid down His physical life willingly…. It was not taken from Him.  Even in this, we see HE IS SOVEREIGN and in control of His own death. (John 10)
4. He had been given the “power” (authority) to control His own physical life. Both to give it and to take it again. (John 10)
5. This authority He possessed had been given to Him through a “command” (authoritative decree) coming from God the Father. (John 10)

What a wonderful Lord that we serve…. It is through the resurrection of Himself that we see His love, sovereignty, and authority that He possessed.  He exercised each of these attributes for our benefit at His expense.  Not only that but we also see His relationship to the Father.  It was one of obedience, love, submission and exaltation.  All of which speaks of His intimate, perfect communion shared with the Father.  He was His Son and God Himself!

Let’s take time this day to praise our Lord for His greatness and all that He sacrificed so that we could be called the children of God! 

May the Lord bless each one of us as we “Think On These Things”.