Every Sunday I ask my daughters what they learned in church. Last week, they informed me that Jesus has a friend who died and he said “come out” and he was alive again. I asked if Jesus’ friend’s name was Lazarus, and dear daughter #2 replied, “Dad, how did you know?”
The concept of death and resurrection has really captured their imaginations – one night when they were taking a bath a huge procession of plastic tub toys that had died was brought back to life: “Oh Baby Whale! I’m so glad that God made you alive again!”
A few months ago I was challenged by a professor to read the book of Acts in one sitting. One of the things I noticed was the prominence of the resurrection in the preaching of Peter and Paul.
"Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him." (Acts 2:22-24 NIV)
We have the same hope.
The body that was broken because of God’s wrath and the blood that was shed to pay for our sin was brought back to life “because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.”
Amazing. Difficult to fathom. I can only echo Stuart Townend:
Why should I gain from His reward,
I cannot give an answer;
But this I know with all my heart—
His wounds have paid my ransom.
“How Deep The Father's Love For Us”
by Stuart Townend
copyright 1995 Thankyou Music
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