Resurrection Life
Ancient Job asked, “If a man dies will he live again?” Jesus assured a grief stricken woman mourning the death of her only brother,
“I Am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live” (John 11:25). He then raised her brother to life. Christ’s promise is for all mortal, sinful mankind who will believe and receive Him as the Resurrection and the Life. Just as Lazarus was dead and decaying in a cold, dark tomb, so we all are dead in “trespasses and sins”, separated from a holy God. You and I need resurrection.
E. Stanley Jones described it this way, “In Jesus there are no sunsets – they are all sunrises. He is the ‘bright and morning star’ – not the evening star. He heralds the dawn – not the dark. Rufus Mosely, a layman, called upon to conduct a funeral, went to the New Testament to see how Jesus conducted a funeral and found that Jesus did not conduct funerals – He conducted resurrections. This that I have in Jesus does not have the feel of a funeral upon it – it has the feel of a resurrection.”
Jesus is Resurrection. He is the principle, power, and pattern of resurrection. Jesus said, “Because I live, you shall live also” (John 14:19). If you have Jesus you have resurrection. “Christ in you the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). The One who was dead but now alive will resurrect your mind, your body, your spirit, your hopes, and your outlook.
One of the most majestic of God’s creatures is the eagle. When the eagle reaches the old age of 40 it finds a solitary place on a mountain crag. The eagle beats off its calcified beak and a new one grows. It pulls off its old talons and new ones grow. It then pulls out its old tattered feathers and new youthful ones grow. After 150 days (5 months) the old eagle is totally rejuvenated and resurrected to live another 30 years. That is amazing!