Resurrected Faith

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Editors Note: Disciples Today is publishing this brief Quiet Time series for those who would like a guide to walking through "Passion Week" in the footsteps of Jesus. Please see the other days of the week for further study: Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday.

To deepen your study, consider these options:

Sunday -- Resurrected Faith

Mark 16:1-8; Matthew 28:1-8; Luke 24:1-12; John 20:1-13  
 
In the gospels, Jesus broke up every funeral he attended � including his own.  At the others he raised the widow�s son or his dear friend Lazarus.  This time he came out of the tomb himself.  That�s what he does.
The outcome was totally in the hands of God.  Jesus was dead. The apostles were in hiding.  Undoubtedly some of the disciples were feeling foolish for ever being radical supporters for him.  Maybe they were regretfully counting the money and devotion they had given him.
What was the difference between Jesus and his followers?  The last words heard from Jesus speak volumes to us now: �Father into your hands I commit my Spirit� and �It is finished.�   His words and his life expressed complete trust and obedient faith. If his whole life had been a carefully scripted plan, without faith, his last words might have been delivered with a confident smile and a witty retort, �I�ll be back.�  No, like us, he lived his life tempted to quit, doubt and compromise.  Yet he lived and died obedient in total faith that God kept his promises.  (Hebrews 11:1, 6)
 
During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Hebrews 5:6-8
 
Was It Worth It?
Before the resurrection, Jesus� ministry was apparently a failure.  Only a handful of his closest followers stayed by him, and they didn�t fully understand him.  One of them betrayed him and, in remorse, committed suicide.  One of his closest friends under pressure denied he had ever met him.  Probably hundreds claimed that, though they had followed him, they saw through him all along.  In the end, the majority of the crowd, including religious leaders, rejected him as a messenger of God and demanded his heinous death.  His days were full of weary fatigue with no place to lay his head, no loving wife, no precious children, no wealth, none of the earthly comforts we expect. Was it worth leaving heaven and giving his whole life to something that demanded everything of him and seemingly gave nothing back?  All those questions were suddenly answered when he burst from the tomb and changed the course of the world. 
 
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Hebrews 12:1-3
 
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.  1 Peter 1:2-4
 
Jesus won the victory over death enabling him to return to His father in Heaven. Amazingly, his resurrection provided us with inexpressible benefits and grace when we accept Him as our Lord and Savior with whole-hearted love, faith and obedience.  If just one person joined him in his resurrection over sin and death, it was worth it.  That is why he came.  That is what he does.
 
Resurrection for Me
Because of his resurrection, we have hope of a spiritual resurrection through repentant death to our sinful nature, burial of our old sinful life in baptism and resurrection to a new life in Him.  (Romans 6, 8)  Here are just a few of the many benefits of his resurrection:

The Resurrection Power in My Life
And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. Romans 8:11
 
Am I living with the resurrection power in my life?  The Bible says that I have the same power of the Holy Spirit working in my life, as Jesus had when he was raised from the dead.  How am I relying on and using that power today?  Is that power helping me face the hardships in my life with the same joy Jesus had when faced rejection and death?  Am I using confident, resurrection power to fight my spiritual battles and overcome the strongholds of sin in my life? (2 Corinthians 10:3-7)

Faithful Perseverance for a Heavenly Resurrection
Jesus� resurrection gives us hope and power to live in this sinful world.  His resurrection also opened the door for us to enter Heaven if we do not give up.
 
Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it.  For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith. �Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. Hebrews 4:1-2, 13-15
 
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.  I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.  And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, �Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them.  They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.  He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.  �He who overcomes will inherit all this and I will be his God and he will be my son.�  Revelation 21:1- 7
 
He Will Help You get There!
 
I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:3-6
 
Application
The study of the most important week in the world is nearly over but the most important decisions of our lives may still lay before us. 
I am free to choose. When I really see Jesus walking out of that tomb, how can I choose anything but Him?  And how in the world can I keep quiet about Him?
 
Where, O death, is your victory?  Where, O death, is your sting?  The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God!  He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm.  Let nothing move you.  Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.    1 Corinthians 15:55 - 58

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