Paul prays: “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.” (Philippians 3:10)
The event of Jesus’ resurrection certainly occupied a significant part of the sermons of the Apostle John, Jesus’ favorite disciple. I can vividly imagine him, as an old father, sitting in a circle of young people and answering their questions. Someone may have asked, “What was it like that morning when Christ rose from the dead?” According to the Bible, John may have replied: “Although I am now old, my hair is white and my hands tremble, I can still vividly remember. I was there and cannot forget those times, including the dark night in Gethsemane, our hasty flight, and then the shame of my cowardice. I remember standing at the cross and seeing His agony. Powerless and speechless, I supported His mother. We had hoped for so much, expected so much, and now everything seemed to have shattered.”
“I cannot describe to you in words our pain, our fear, our doubts and questions. It was simply a terrible time. The tomb, the heavy stone, the seal, the soldiers standing guard – all of this showed us that it was finally over. But God had other plans. An earthquake shook the earth, and the angel of God rolled away the heavy stone. When we came to the tomb, it was empty. Death had no claim on the exalted Christ. At the time, we understood so little. We saw it, and yet we could not comprehend it. It was only through the revelation of the Holy Spirit that we came to understand the triumph of the Resurrection. Divine power triumphed, defeating death, hell, and sin, and laying the foundation for a new age. Today I know that the morning of the Resurrection was the beginning of a life of divine power for all who believe in Him.”
The triumph over death and sin
Since the Fall, all people have been under the dominion of death. Sin not only brought death and restrictions to this earth, but was also an expression of separation from God, the source of eternal life. Christ confronted death—not as a defeated victim, but as a victorious Lord. In his Pentecost sermon, Peter said, “God raised [Christ] up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it” (Acts 2:24). Death had no claim on the sinless Son of God. That morning, it became clear that death is not the master, but a defeated enemy.
Hebrews 2:14-15 shows us that through His death and resurrection, Christ took away all the power and authority of death from Satan. For God’s children, who are redeemed through Christ, death has lost its terror. This victory has tremendous implications for every single redeemed person: freedom from judgment and eternal damnation, and salvation from the power of death. This truth brings us deep hope and unshakeable assurance.
Resurrection: divine confirmation of accomplished redemption
John stood close to the cross when he heard Jesus cry out, “It is finished!” But it was only through the Resurrection that it became publicly visible that the work of redemption had been completely accomplished. Paul also points this out in his letter to the Romans, where he declares that Christ “was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification” (Romans 4:25). In addition, Paul shows the Corinthians how important the Resurrection is for our redemption. For
“if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins” (1 Corinthians 15:17 NIV). The Resurrection clearly reveals the triumph of the Son of God in the work of redemption.
For God’s children, this fact means that their guilt is forgiven, their conscience is cleansed, and they have free access to God at all times. No accusation can now separate us from God (Romans 8:33-34). Through the power of His resurrection, we can have deep peace in our hearts and with God, regardless of circumstances. Christ did not remain in the grave. He is now seated at the right hand of God, and everything is subject to Him. He is the exalted Lord, the King of kings.
Christ reigns today. His word is true: “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18). His kingdom is not a political entity. Christ rules over all the invisible, spiritual world. With His resurrection, he laid the foundation for the church, the kingdom of God. No power, no distress or persecution, no affliction or calamity can snatch it from God’s hand. In the risen Lord lies the source of all our confidence, our courage, and our steadfastness in faith.
The effect on us and our everyday lives
The power of the Resurrection not only has historical significance, it also affects our personal lives. Paul wrote: “we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). The effect of conversion on the individual is so radical that Paul speaks of a new creation: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new!” (2 Corinthians 5:17). The old identity has ended, and a new reality has begun. A life of holiness is possible because the reign of sin has been broken.
Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians was that the eyes of their understanding would be enlightened, that they may know the working of God’s mighty power and the hope of His calling (Ephesians 1:15-19). That is also relevant for us today. The overwhelming greatness of God’s power, which became evident in the Resurrection, is also effective in our lives—this should strengthen our courage in faith (Ephesians 1:15-19).
In practical terms, God’s power becomes clear when our own human strength is stretched to its limit, and beyond.
1. In weakness and affliction
Paul underscores God’s divine promise: “My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). It is God’s will that we recognize that we ourselves are helpless, because when we look to Him in suffering, sickness, discouragement, and inner struggles, the power of the Resurrection becomes mighty in us.
2. In temptation and fear
“If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you” (Romans 8:11). This power has freed us from the dominion of sin and gives us victory in temptation, freedom from fear and condemnation. Through His resurrection, we can live victoriously in Christ every day.
3. Preservation and hope
The power of the Resurrection keeps us in the grace of God, for He “is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 24). God has given us eternal hope in Christ, which goes beyond the grave to the final consummation in Christ.
Christ is risen! He lives and the triumphant power of His resurrection is still at work in us today. This power is sufficient to carry us to our eternal home, to preserve us and bring us to the final consummation.
Hermann Vogt
Gifhorn, Germany
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