Luke 24:6-7
He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’
INSIGHT
Resurrection in Hebrew is written as quts which means to arise, awake or bring back to life. In Greek the word resurrection is derived from the root word Anastacia which means raising up, regeneration, renewal and revival. In the Bible we find various references of resurrection including: – 1 King 17:17-24 where Elijah took the dead son of the widow of Zarephath to the upper room and stretched himself out on the body three times and the child resurrected. 2 Kings 4:18-37 where Elisha lay on the dead son of the Shunamite woman’s son and the boy’s body grew warm, sneezed seven times and opened his eyes. 2 Kings 13:20–21 where the body of a dead man fell on Elisha’s bones, came to life and stood up on his feet. Luke 7:11–17 where Jesus raised the son of the widow of Nain. Jesus raised Jairus’ daughter (Luke 8:49–56). Jesus raised Lazarus (John 11:1-44). Jesus died and resurrected on the third day (Mat 28:1-20; Mk 16:1-20; Lk 24:1-49; Jn 20:1-21:25). After Jesus died on the cross many graves were opened, they were raised to life and appeared to many in the city (Mat 27:50-54). Dorcas/Tabitha who lived in the city of Joppa helped the poor, fell sick and died. Peter prayed for her and she lived (Acts 9:36-42). Paul prayed for Eutychus and he came back to life (Acts 20:7–12) etc.
-Jesus’ death and resurrection was all part of God’s plan of salvation for humanity. It the foundation of our Christian faith. Christs’ love compels us, because He died for us all therefore, all died so that we no longer live for ourselves but for Him as we await to inherit eternal life with Him (2 Cor 5:14-15). After His resurrection; Jesus did not leave us orphan but gave us the Holy Spirit to help us for His love for us is everlasting.
PRAYER
You have shown us great love Jesus through Your death and resurrection, we praise Your holy name. You died for our sins Jesus and resurrected our hope in You; be lifted high Lord. Your won victory over death so that we may have life more abundantly; we glorify You Lord. Fill us with Your fruit and gifts Holy Spirit and walk with us in all our going out and coming in. You Who are seated at the right hand of the Father, we glorify You Jesus and praise You now and forever. Amen
1 Peter 1:3
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
INSIGHT
-Jesus’ affirms His everlasting dominion in Revelation 1:18 saying, “I Am He Who lives and was dead, behold I live forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of hades and death”. Jesus reminds us He lives forevermore and calls us to trust in Him Who has everlasting dominion. When Jesus died, He took the keys of hades and death and set us free from eternal condemnation. The metaphor of keys is intended, no doubt, to illustrate the double thought of Jesus possessing both the rightful and dominion over death and hell. Christ has given us new birth in the Spirit for in Him we are a new creation for the old things have passed away and new things have come (2 Cor 5:17). Through His resurrection, we have new hope in His eternal grace which give us new meaning in life.
PRAYER
Thank You Jesus for watering our land with rain, receive thankgiving from our hearts. Lord we humbly ask You to bless this our nation and grant us peace, unity, liberty so that plenty may be found within our boarders. Have mercy on us Lord and all the war torn countries that You may grant them peace. We surrender all to You Jesus, grant us new hope through Your resurrection so that we may always live according to Your divine will. Amen
Acts 20:7-12
On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight. There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting. Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “He’s alive!” Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.
INSIGHT
It was a packed third story room in Troas and the hour was late. Many oil lamps made the quarters warm, and the apostle Paul spoke on and on. Eutychus, whose name means fortunate or lucky was probably a youth, perhaps a servant who had worked all day, and now was sitting on the window ledge, trying to fight off his drowsiness as he listened. Sitting on a windowsill, the young man Eutychus dozed off, falling out of the window to his death. Paul rushed outside and threw himself on the lifeless body. Paul emphasized on faith when he assured the by standers that Eutycus was not dead but asleep. Paul then fell upon him, embracing him much as the prophets Elijah and Elisha had done when raising dead young men to life (1 Kin 17:21; 2 Kin 4:34-35). Immediately, Eutychus came back to life through the power of Christ our resurrected Saviour. Paul went back upstairs, partook of the body of Christ through the bread and they ate it, in memory of Him. Paul not only emphasized on the importance of partaking of the body and blood of Christ, but also establishment of faith through solid food of the Word of God; which yield eternal life.
PRAYER
You are resurrected Saviour Jesus, we praise You and glorify Your holy name. Jesus You are good and Your mercies endures forever. Thank You for the gift of life and giving us the Holy Spirit to comfort us always. Forgive us our sins Lord and cleanse us from unrighteousness. Reveal unto us Your goodness, mercy and love in our homes, families, relationships, churches, work places, government and the whole nation Jesus. Protect us all Lord with our children and cover us with Your precious blood. Reveal Yourself faithful through Your gifts and fruit in us Holy Spirit, as Your have called each one of us. Remember us in our various shortcomings Lord that we may see Your glory everyday. Help us to increase in productivity even as You shower us with rain. We praise You and bless Your holy name Lord. Amen
Romans 6:5-6
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.
INSIGHT
-Through His resurrection, Christ broke the power of sin and death so that we may no longer be slaves to sin but slaves of righteousness. Our old self having been crucified with Christ and clothed with the righteousness of God, we have been called to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. Sometimes we forget that we are His children when we commit willful sin, but Jesus died and resurrected for us so that we may be united with Him, dead to sin and alive in righteousness. As Gods’ sons and daughters; we are no longer Adams, slaves to sin but set free because of His eternal grace.
PRAYER
We welcome You into our lives Holy Spirit, set us free from sinful addictions and any form of slavery. May Your love that fulfills the law and the prophets redeem us from all cancerous transgression. Renew our minds and cleanse us by Your precious blood Jesus that makes us as white as snow. Remember us merciful Father and all the youth that You may always welcome us into Your kingdom like You received the prodigal son with love. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God; and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us now and forever more. Amen
John 11:25-26
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
INSIGHT
-After raising Lazarus from the dead, Jesus spoke to Martha and assured her that He is the resurrection and the life. This is one of the greatest assurance that we have as Christians, that Jesus is the resurrection and the life and since we are in Him even if we die we shall live; and if we do not die we shall live with Him forever.
SUMMARY
A number of resurrection instances can be sighted from Biblical references which occurred to establish our faith in the risen Lord. Christ Himself is the resurrection and the life and calls us to believe in Him so that we may have eternal life. After His death, Jesus took the keys of hades and death rooting us in His eternal inheritance according to the promise given to us through Abraham. Jesus build His church on Peter’s confession of Him as the Christ, the Son of the living God, and that the gates of Hades will never prevail against it (Matt. 16:16-18). We as the body of Christ (church) hold fast the same confession in unity with Him Who gives us strength to overcome all evil. Through His resurrection, our faith is established and our hopes resuscitated for His love for us is everlasting. Christ also left us the Holy Spirit our Helper to dwell in our hearts and strengthen us in our journey of salvation.
PRAYER
Jesus our risen Saviour, we thank You for Your merciful love upon us. Dying on the cross for our sins and redeeming us from all evil, we praise Your holy name. Fight for us Jesus in our various infirmities for the battle belongs to You. Through Your resurrection Lord, renew our hearts and minds, and shepherd us in the way we should go. Grant that we may be inwardly renewed, dying to self through Your grace in order that You may forever reign in us Holy Spirit. May our lives serve as signs of the transforming power of Your love. Use us Lord as Your children to transform the societies, nation and world that we live in. Be with all parents and children as they prepare for the next term. Remember also Lord all those who are undertaking their exams that they may be of good success. Be with us all who are working that You may bless the work of our hands and answer our hearts desires. Direct all our national and church leaders that they may faithfully serve Your people in their stewardship role. Increase our faith and grant us Your unending grace merciful Lord. Amen