“God raised Jesus from the dead . . to be seen . . by witnesses whom God had already chosen.” Acts 10:40 NIV.
The fact of Jesus’ resurrection is believable to others when the effect of His resurrection is visible in your life.
My thoughts and comments are about “the power of the resurrection.”
Jesus’ resurrection is God’s assurance to you that nothing is hopeless, no circumstance is final, and no distress if unchangeable. I believe: the resurrection of Jesus is the most powerful, sovereign act of God since creation. The Apostle Paul wrote, “. . of first importance: Christ died for our sins . . was buried . . raised on the third day according to the Scriptures and that He appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers . . last of all He appeared to me also.” Read 1 Corinthians 15:3-10 NIV.
Do you think it strange that Jesus did not make public appearances after His resurrection, except selectively? I would assume Jesus would appear to Pontius Pilate, the powerful Roman Governor, or wicked king Herod, or the Jewish High Priest and the Sanhedrin council, or the crowd who adamantly insisted, “Crucify Him, crucify Him; we have no King but Caesar,” choosing Jesus to die, rather than Barabbas.
Peter preached, “We are witnesses . . God raised Jesus from the dead on the third day and caused Him to be seen. He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen.” Acts 10:36-45 NIV.
The disciples saw Jesus’ cruel and public death, watched his lifeless body buried, and the tomb sealed and guarded. Their dreams and hopes died and were buried with Jesus. A few visited an empty tomb to remember what used to be. Others felt too lost to go anywhere or do much of anything yet, sharing their confusion and disappointment while huddled behind locked doors. (John 20). Some headed back home with hopes crushed (Luke 24). Some returned to their former life and pursuits (John 21).
On every occasion, the resurrected Jesus – without natural limitations and with more glory and unlimited power – appeared to them. Immediately everything about their lives changed. Jesus was alive! Their past made sense; their future was secure; their lives now had a grand purpose; they were eye witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection.
The personal reality of the resurrection changed their cowardice to courage, their confusion to conviction. The resurrection, as they now understood it, infused them with courage to live fearlessly, willing to suffer, even sacrifice their lives, for the truth of their irrefutable, personal experience of Jesus, “alive for ever and ever.” Revelation 1:18 NIV. These same men and women – once disheartened, discouraged, and confused – were suddenly world changers, fearless and bold to preach to everyone everywhere. It was said of them, “They saw their boldness and recognized they had been with Jesus . . They that have turned the world upside down have come here also.” Acts 4:13/17:6.
The resurrection was transformative. They were fearless, were courageous, risking their lives, fully persuaded. No ocean was too broad, no country too far, no task too difficult, no sacrifice too costly. They lived in the present reality and power of the Jesus’ resurrection.
Until the resurrection of Jesus makes a difference in your life, you will make no difference in the lives of those around you.
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I have spent much time writing this, but I have a better idea. I want to share a video of my teaching on this topic at the Cathedral of Faith, San Jose, CA.
Click on the “vimeo.com” link below, or copy and paste it into your browser, or go to the EDL website: www.allenrandolph.com, and scroll down the right hand column to beneath the Calendar, and under “Church Websites” click on “The Power of the Resurrection” which will take you to the sermon video. I hope you will enjoy and experience God’s invitation to “know the power outflowing from His resurrection.” Philippians 3:10 AMP.