Dwayne Wedderburn | The power of His resurrection

The power of the gospel of Jesus Christ was miraculously impactful in the world while he was alive and continues today. He focused daily on his mission to save the souls of men from the penalties of sin. He laid down his life on Calvary's cross, he poured himself out as an offering for sin. He was taken from the cross and buried in a new tomb. At his death, his disciples were engulfed in hopelessness and despair. They wondered why three full years of total self-denial to follow Jesus was brought to an unexpected, sorrowful and shameful end. With much to ponder, they reflected on all the time spent with him hoping that he was not really dead.
The devil and all his agents and all the enemies of Jesus thought they defeated him when he gave up the ghost, but victoriously on the third day as the writer penned "Up from the grave he arose, with a mighty triumph o'er his foes; he arose the victor o'er the dark domain and he lives forever with his saints to reign! He arose, he arose hallelujah Christ arose."

He was victorious in death
While his body was dead, Jesus entered into hell in spirit and defeated Satan and took away the keys of death and hell from Him. He led all the souls that Satan held bound with death to freedom. The gates and the foundations of hell were shaken. The fulfilment of God's pronouncement of Jesus crushing Satan's head with his heels was complete in his death. He defeated death and destroyed its prison bars and reentered life. Little was left for the angels to do. On the third day of his death, one angel gladly rolled away the stone of his grave. Jesus was victorious in death. Great joy filled the heart of his disciples at the news of his resurrection.

Assurance of resurrection
Jesus Christ is now alive eternally and because he lives we can live also. Jesus Christ arose from the dead purchasing an eternal hope for the redeemed to live and reign with him. The man that has accepted Jesus has free access to God through him. We have the privilege to pray to him with confidence knowing that he always will hear us because of the finished work of his son. After God raised him from the dead, he gave the great commission to win souls for his kingdom to his disciples and we are partakers in His great commission in this present time.
He ascended on high, occupying his seat of authority at the right hand of God as high priest, constantly making intersection for his people. He has ascended to the exalted position far above all principalities and powers. Satan and all his demons, all thrones, all dominion, all power that exists are under his feet. He is crowned in glory and robed in righteousness and splendour. We as his people are seated in heavenly places in him, giving us authority over principalities and powers and all the dark forces of Satan.
The righteous have no need to fear death. The assurance of resurrection to all people that died knowing Christ fuels the hope of all believers. We are confident that death is not the end, but a vehicle to transport our souls to glory. We rejoice in the fact that one day the trumpet of the Lord shall sound and the dead in Christ will rise first. We rejoice in the power of his resurrection which serves as a witness to us that the dead in Christ will also rise from the dead on that final day when he will return for his saints.
As we reflect this Easter on the work of salvation, let us rejoice in the provision that he has made for his saints that death will lose its sting. All his saints that are dead will be quickened at his appearance and caught up to meet him in the air.

- Dwayne Wedderburn is an apostle at World Harvest Mission Church
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