#thecross — Lent — Founded on the Bible

Mark 16:6 NLT

The angel said, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body.”

How does Jesus’ resurrection affect us? Let's deconstruct this thought for today’s reflection.

Have other people been raised from the dead before Jesus? Absolutely, YES!
1 Kings 17- Elijah raised the son of the widow from Zarephath from the dead
2 Kings 4- Elisha raised the son of the Shunammite woman from the dead
2 Kings 13- A soldier was raised from the dead when his body landed on Elisha’s bones
Luke 7- Jesus raised the son of the widow of Nain from the dead
Luke 8- Jesus raised the daughter of Jairus from the dead
John 11- Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead (1)

What is the difference between these resurrections and Jesus’ resurrection?
First of all, these people were resurrected into the same human body they had before, which would die again. Jesus was raised from the dead with a glorified body, without blood, that will live for eternity.

Second, it proves that God is greater than death and Satan.
Romans 6:9 NLT, “We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him.”

Third, it proves that God’s power exudes life and not destruction.
John 1:4 NLT, “The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.”

Fourth, it proves that we are more than just a physical body.
John 3:6 NLT, “Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.”

Paul wrote to the Philippians 3:10, “I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead.”

Knowing Jesus is the prerequisite to accessing resurrection power

Knowing Jesus means to understand His character, study His Words, be conscious of His presence, listen to and display His wisdom, and to follow His example. Spending time with Jesus, conversing with Him all through your day, and walking out His will is ‘knowing’ Him. Resurrection power comes by relationship with Him because everything Jesus touches is impacted by His light and power.

What is the evidence of resurrection power?
It illuminates spiritual understanding.
It regenerates a dead spirit into a new spirit filled with God.
It removes sin.
It breaks the curse of sin.
It heals broken hearts.
It heals emotional wounds.
It heals sick bodies.
It delivers from demons.
It delivers from addictions.
It preserves from dangerous situations.
It produces boldness in sharing the Gospel with others.
It gives favor with others.
It empowers to prosper.
It raises a dead body back to life.
It will give us a resurrected body to live with God forever.

Thank God! Do you want to know Jesus and the power of His resurrection? He is as near as your next breath (Salvation).

To our readers, we here at Founded pray over ourselves and you Philippians 3:10, May we know Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One, and experience in our lives this mighty resurrection power that raised Him from the dead. To God be the glory, forever and ever! In Jesus Name, Amen.

References:
https://bible.org/illustration/accounts-people-raised-dead

Mark 15:33-34

At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. Then at three o’clock Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”

Mark 15:39

Then Jesus uttered another loud cry and breathed his last.

Recorded here are Jesus last words and last thoughts before His death. Let’s deconstruct this passage for today’s reflection.

'Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani', is the first verse of Psalm 22 written by King David 1,000 years earlier. The Holy Spirit revealed to David a vision of the crucifixion as perceived through the eyes of Jesus. It would stand to reason that the Holy Spirit brought to Jesus’ recall Psalm 22 which is why He spoke those words in His last moments on the cross.

Here is a brief synopsis of Psalm 22:

Verses 1-5
Traumatized and in insufferable agony, Jesus voiced His emotions to His Father and asked why He was being forsaken. But, Jesus reviewed His Father’s history of perfect faithfulness to His people.

Verses 6-11
Jesus tells the Father how the crowd perceived He was forsaken by God. He reflected on how the Father took care of Him from the moment of conception until this point in His life.

Verses 12-18
Jesus portrayed His enemies as powerful and violent bulls; and as lions that used their jaws to strangle and devour their prey. He further described the depth of His agonizing emotions, the condition of His tortured body, and the dehumanizing treatment from His enemies.

Verses 19-31
For every negative circumstance and emotion, Jesus countered with previous experiences of deliverance and truth. With confident faith Jesus eagerly expected to be saved from these evil circumstances. Jesus’ soul erupted with love, praise, and adoration for all that God had done and would continue to do. With prophetic eyes, He gazed into the future and recognized the glorious harvest of souls that would result from His crucifixion and resurrection.

Psalm 22: 22-31 NLT

“Praise the Lord, all you who fear him! Honor him, all you descendants of Jacob! Show him reverence, all you descendants of Israel! For he has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy. He has not turned his back on them, but has listened to their cries for help. I will praise you in the great assembly. I will fulfill my vows in the presence of those who worship you. The poor will eat and be satisfied. All who seek the Lord will praise him. Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy. The whole earth will acknowledge the Lord and return to him. All the families of the nations will bow down before him. For royal power belongs to the Lord. He rules all the nations. Let the rich of the earth feast and worship. Bow before him, all who are mortal, all whose lives will end as dust. Our children will also serve him. Future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord. His righteous acts will be told to those not yet born. They will hear about everything he has done.”

To everyone there, it appeared that Jesus was murdered under the most profane circumstances possible, and His religious movement would die with Him. However, the unseen reality was that Jesus victoriously won this spiritual battle by resisting hatred and offense, loving His Father, and keeping the faith. With those words from Psalm 22 ringing in His mind and heart, Jesus willed His death and released His spirit into the hands of His Father.

Let’s pray:
Father, What an amazing example Jesus modeled for me in His darkest hour! Whatever battle I find myself in, no matter how hopeless it seems, I will follow the steps that Jesus took. I will counter negative circumstances with previous positive experiences. I will ask the Holy Spirit to bring to my recall the scripture I need for that situation and worship You. I will resist hatred and offense, love You, and keep the faith. I give You my life. You may do with me as You will. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Lent Part 14- Risen

Lent Part 12- Crucified