The Power of the Resurrection

Consider this, Jesus is about to go to the cross. For 3 years he has been pouring his life into 12 men, preparing them to one day lead the church movement. At the last supper he is sitting with them, watching them eat. He looks across at each one. What a motley bunch of boys they are. You have Peter, the one who just can’t keep his mouth shut, a leader for sure. John, good ole emotional John, one minute nestling himself next to Jesus, but then, he is called a “son of thunder.” Andrew, a measly uneducated fisherman like his brother Peter, and Judas, who well, will not be leading the movement. Then there’s these other two over here. First is Matthew, the tax collector, one the others would call a traitor for working with the Romans. And sitting nearby is Simon the zealot, dedicated to destroying the ruling Romans and freeing Israel of their oppression. And Jesus expects these two to work together? Their hatred toward each other is almost palpable. 

And what do they do now? According to Luke 22:24; they start arguing about who will be the greatest in the kingdom.  At this point if Jesus were a little more like me, he would be praying “Father, look at these guys. Can we just start over and this time try picking a better group? Instead he begins teaching them to love one another.

Do they get the message? Well, look at what happens over the course of the rest of their lives. The church movement is begun under their leadership and ultimately changes the course of world history. So what changed? This indeed is the power of the resurrection. Where once there was a pathetic group of men that struggled to get along; they are completely changed, united toward one purpose. Salvation has come upon them, the Spirit has empowered them. All this is only possible because of the power of the resurrection.

He has risen indeed.