DEVOTIONAL CORNER

Jesus' resurrection ensured several great things:

• First, Christ's resurrection: Fulfilled all the prophecies of His first coming.

Psalm 16:10-11 foretells the resurrection of Jesus' body from the dead: "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 path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand."

Jesus resurrection gives us the assurance that all of the prophecies will also come to pass. We can rest assured that God's will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

• Second, Christ's resurrection: Released all the promises of who we are in Christ.

In Christ we are conquerors and not the conquered.

In Christ we can live a victorious Christian life.

In Christ we are the head and not the tail.

• Third, Christ's resurrection: Is our guarantee of access to God.

We can now enjoy direct access to the very throne room of God because we have a better mediator. In the Old Testament the believer had to go through a priest who was a sinful man. Today we have Jesus as our mediator who is in the very 'Holy of Holies' to make intercession on our behalf.

• Forth, Christ's resurrection: Is our guarantee that heaven is our home.

Prior to Jesus' resurrection no one had ever gone into heaven because mankind's sins had not been atoned for. But after his resurrection Jesus ascended into heaven taking a place called Paradise with him. Paradise contained all of the departed spirits of the righteous Old Testament saints who had died in faith looking forward to the coming of the Messiah.

Paradise included Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, David and all of the Old Testament saints, even including the thief on the cross, right into the presence of his Father in heaven.

Both Psalm 68:18 and Ephesians 4:7 tell us: "When he (Jesus) ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men."

What a sight that must have been: multitudes and multitudes of redeemed spirits of saints ascending into heaven with the risen Lord. They were Jesus' very own special prized possession purchased with his own precious blood. It is inconceivable for us to imagine the scene; the very gates of heaven must have reverberated from shouts of victory from all of heavens angels as Jesus led Paradise into Heaven.

No wonder Jesus could say to the Jews in John 8:56: "Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad."

For 4,000 years the Jews had waited for the arrival of the Messiah. They had anticipated God's promise by faith, not seeing the promise during their life time, but by faith they believed that God would fulfill His promise made through His covenants. No wonder David was "glad" that his own soul, in Psalm 16:8-11, would not be left in "Sheol", the place of the departed spirits.

• Fifth, Christ's resurrection: Destroyed the devil who had the power of death.

Hebrews 2:14 tells us: "Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death- that is the devil."

Jesus' resurrection disarmed Satan's power over death. The price of our sin has been paid and we are freed from the curse of death.

• Sixth, Christ's resurrection: Destroyed the fear of death.

The greatest fear for every person is the fear of death. For a Christian to die is to be present with God. When a Christian dies it is a home coming, a promotion, a time for rejoicing and celebration. No matter what happens in life, our destiny is in God's hands and he gives us His peace to face every storm that life may throw at us.

• Finally, seventh, Christ's resurrection: Is our guarantee of a future glorious new body.

Phil 3:20-21 tells us that our new bodies will be just like the body of Jesus because: "He will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body."

In Luke's account we can find the clearest details concerning the resurrected body of Jesus. First of all Jesus walked and talked with the two on the way to Emmaus. Then he showed his disciples his hands and feet, and then he ate with them to prove that his body was real.

Our new resurrection bodies will be totally animated and controlled by the Spirit. Presently, our natural body governs where our spirit goes. In the resurrection the reverse will be true. Our bodies will be directed by the spirit. The spirit will take the body wherever it will because a spiritual body is not subject to physical laws.

In 1 Corinthians 15:41-44 Paul writes: "The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor. So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body."

When Jesus was on earth, he could get weary; he got hungry; he wept; but in his resurrection body he is never weary; he never hungers; he does not weep; he has an incorruptible body. And in the resurrection we shall never know any sorrow and pain.

To those who are facing health issues in your body today, this is of great comfort. Knowing that one day we shall all have the same glorious body that Christ had. No more sickness, no more pain.

Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:49 writes "As we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly." The garment of light which Adam lost when he sinned will shine once again. Once again we will bear the likeness of God and we will be with Jesus in heaven where he has prepared a place for us. There will be no questions asked. The glass that we see through dimly here on earth will be made clear.

1 Corinthians 13:2 tells us: "Now we know in part; but then shall I know as also I am known." We will know each other just as we have known each other here on earth. That means we will fully recognize each other. We shall see our loved ones once again.

One day the trump of God is going to sound, then we which are alive shall also be changed . . . in the twinkling of an eye, and be caught up in the air to be with the Lord, because when we see him we shall be just like him.

On behalf of the Sunday Line Team we want to wish you God's richest blessings for the Easter Season.

Pastor Roman & Pat Kozak