#GOFAMINTDailyDevotion Sun. 1/4/2018
LESSON 5 1/4/2018
ESTABLISHED THROUGH CHRIST’S RESURRECTION
Suggested Hymns: G.H.B. 176, 177
Devotional Reading: Matt. 28:1-10
Topic For The Adults: Jesus’ Death And Resurrection Makes the Difference
Topic For Youths: Jesus’ Death And Resurrection, The Only Hope of Mankind
Topic For Intermediates: Our Hope Is Anchored on Jesus’ Death And Resurrection
Lesson Scriptures: 1 Cor. 15:12-22; Ps. 16:10; Matt. 16:21; Matt 28:6; Mk. 16:6; Matt. 27:66; Lk. 24:39-40; Acts 2:23; 3:14
MEMORY VERSES: And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. (1 Cor. 15:17-19) NKJV
DAILY DEVOTIONAL READING
Sun. 1/4/2018
Empowered Through Jesus’ Resurrection
Jn. 20:19-23
Jesus did not appear to His disciple only to verify His resurrection, He also imparted them with power as He promised them before His trial and crucifixion. He promised that they would receive the Holy Spirit which shall regenerate them and be with them forever. Aside from the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the apostles who constituted the member of first century Christ glorious church was given a delegated divine authority. They were given the power to bind and loose (Matt. 16:19). In addition, they were given power to forgive sins (verse 23). The manifestation of the power of the Holy Spirit since the day of the Pentecost till date is proof that Christ has risen and that the church has been empowered indeed. You are part of the glorious church that is empowered if you live your life right. Therefore exercise the power, you have been sent to demonstrate.
Point of Emphasis: You will experience peace within you, if you go as Jesus has sent you (v. 21)
Prayer Point: Lord God Almighty, I receive power to live as Your ambassador here on Earth in Jesus’ name.
BACKGROUND
One of the most controversial issues in the world today is the topic of Jesus’ resurrection because people decide to make it so. Yes! Many believe He died but what about what happened on the third day? They Heard him say He would destroy and rebuild the temple within three days but they never took Him serious. This argument did not start today but from the day He triumphantly rose from the dead. The soldiers were asked to lie that He was stolen. Among the early believers, Jesus’ resurrection was a hot topic for debate. And even today, many still debate and doubt the fact that Jesus rose. What is the significance of Jesus’ death and resurrection to mankind? Why is the devil trying to conceal this truth from man?
NOTES ON THE TEXT
PART 1: RESURRECTION PROPHECIES (PS. 16:10; MATT. 16:21)
Just as the birth of the Lord Jesus did not happen by accident, so His death and resurrection did not happen by chance or accident; both were all planned by God and foretold by the prophets of old. Right from the fall of man, God had promised to restore man to Himself and every prophet sent earlier prophesied so. Many prophets spoke concerning the purpose of Jesus’ coming to the world (Deut. 18:15-17; Num. 24:17; Ps. 22:1-21; Ps. 69; Isa. 52:13 – 53:12). Many things were written about Him – how and where He would be born, how He would be moved to Egypt, a Nazarene etc. The angel who spoke to Joseph and Mary also spoke of what He was going to achieve by coming to the world (Matt 1:20, 21; Luke 1:28-35). His coming, death and resurrection was not only foretold by the prophets of old, Jesus Himself foretold His death and resurrection. He said it countless times to as many who cared to listen to Him. These prophecies show that God always have great plans for His people (Jer. 29:11). This is why all things work together for good for those who love God (Rom 8:28). The devil thought he was truncating the plan of God for His people, he didn’t know he was being used in fulfilling it (1 Cor. 2:6-8)). The same way the devil is working tooth and nail today to destroy God’s people daily not knowing he is helping in fulfilling God’s purpose for their lives.
PART 2: EVIDENCE OF CHRIST’S RESURRECTION (MATT 28:6; MK. 16:6; MATT. 27:66; LK. 24:39-40)
History recorded that Jesus died. Everyone agreed to this fact. Only few disagreed to it. But many rejected the fact that Jesus resurrected on the third day. The devil is fighting this truth and trying to obscure it from everyone. There are various evidence in the scriptures that reveal that Jesus resurrected. 1. The empty tomb (Jn. 20:1-10). Those who went to the tomb did not find Jesus’ body. He had resurrected before they got there. This is a very strong proof that Jesus resurrected bodily. It wasn’t His ghost that was seen later but Jesus Himself. Neither the women nor the disciples could have stolen Him as they were all afraid and had to hide themselves (Jn. 20:19, 20).
They couldn’t have overpowered the soldiers in order to steal Jesus’ body. 2. The clothes used to wrap His body was in the tomb (Jn. 20:3-7). 3. Angelic testimony (Matt. 28:5-7; Lk. 24:4-7). 4. He appeared to many of His disciples on different occasions for 40 days (Jn. 21:1; Matt 28:9, 10; Lk. 24:13-30; 1 Cor. 15:6). 5. He ate with the disciples (Jn. 21:1-15; Luke 24:40-43). Knowing that ghosts do not eat, Jesus requested to eat food and He ate with His disciples on different occasions. 6. He showed His disciples His hands and feet and also allowed them touch Him (Lk. 24:40). He needed to clear their doubt. He kept coming to them until everyone including Thomas was fully convinced of this fact. 7. Apart from these physical evidence, there were visible impact in the lives of the disciples of Jesus. The disciples found new courage to witness for Jesus to the extent that they were not afraid to die for Him and of course they all voluntarily surrendered their lives. Many lives were touched and changed including that of Saul who later became Paul.
PART 3: SIGNIFICANCE OF JESUS’ DEATH AND RESURRECTION (1 COR. 15:12-22)
Why are there argument about the resurrection of Jesus? What is the mystery behind His resurrection that the devil is vigorously fighting? There are so many benefits we can derive from His death and resurrection, some of them are; 1. His death was the penalty (for sin) for all who believe in Him (Jn. 1:29; Rom 4:23-25; 6:23; 1 Cor. 5:7). We do not need any other sacrifice apart from what Jesus did. 2. His death and resurrection provide the only way out of sin. 3. His resurrection guarantees us victory. Victory over sin, death, the devil and the world as a result of what Jesus did (Col 2:13-15) 4. It gives us hope for eternity (1 Cor. 15:18-21). 5. It establishes our faith in God (1 Cor. 15:14, 17) (1 Cor. 15: 17). 6. It proved He is who He claimed to be (Jn. 19:7). 7. When He died, we died with Him and His resurrection granted us new life in Him (Col 3:3; Gal 2:20; Col 2:13). There would have been no hope for anyone if Jesus did not pay the ultimate price on the cross. His death and resurrection made us qualified for heaven. Satan is now in trouble. As the scriptures say; if the devil knew, he wouldn’t have crucified the Son of glory (1 Cor. 2:8).
CONCLUSION
If there is anything believers should be grateful to God for, it is that God, allowed His Son to died on the cross and resurrected. This is why we have unrestricted access to the Father, we can live for Him here on earth, we can glorify Him and we have hope of living with Him forever. Anyone who has not accepted Jesus needs to do so as soon as possible because delay can be very dangerous.
QUESTIONS
- Mention some of the prophecies concerning the death and resurrection of Jesus.
- What are the evidence that proved that Jesus rose bodily from the grave?
- Do you agree that without the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we have no hope? Explain
- How significant is the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ to mankind?
- Explain what it takes to receive Jesus as one’s Lord and Saviour.
