RESURRECTED LIFE EVERY DAY!

He is risen! Let’s celebrate Jesus’ resurrection every day, not just on Easter.

ETERNAL PERSPECTIVES              by Sally Bair

Jesus is the Resurrection and Life

Perhaps you’ve seen on TV how animals or people have come back from the brink of death by CPR. The technique has saved countless victims of near-drownings, choking or heart attacks.

Elijah and Elisha, as well as Peter, brought people back to life through the power of God’s Holy Spirit. And one of Jesus’s greatest miracles involved resurrecting Lazarus from death. After hearing that Mary and Martha’s brother had died, Jesus went to them—but not until two days had passed. By the time Jesus arrived, Lazarus had lain in his tomb four days. The family and friends grieved. In fact, Mary and Martha both said, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” (John 11:21 and 32)

Even Jesus shed tears of compassion—not for being powerless, because He wasn’t, but for their painful grief. He approached the tomb from which the stench of death had already come and called to dead Lazarus to rise up and come out of the tomb. Once released from his grave clothes, Lazarus faced the crowd of people, alive and wholly healed.

Before Jesus brought Lazarus to life, He proclaimed, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.” (John 11:25-26) Such an amazing statement! He had already said that whoever believed in Him would not perish but have eternal life.

The resurrection of Lazarus teaches us that though we Christians experience physical death, we will enjoy life thereafter with Jesus. Belief in Him involves more than just going to church. It means having confidence in Him and His Word that we will live with Him forever.

God’s CPR is better than man’s. It offers us more than mere resuscitation. It offers us peace with God on earth and eternal life with Him in heaven. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

His gift of new life is always available. All we need do is ask. It means living eternally with Him both now and forever. No other religion offers Christ’s gift of the forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

Lord, thank You for Your resurrection power. As people revive from CPR, the breath of Your Spirit revives us to newness of life in Jesus. We acceptYour gift and have confidence, believing in Your resurrection power. In Jesus’ name, amen.