Devotion

Why is it so special to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus? Certainly it is very special for someone to die and then return to life. But Jesus was not the only person to come back from the dead. Lazarus rose from the dead (John 11:44), as did the widow’s son from Nain (Luke 7:15), the 12 year old daughter of Jairus (Mark 5: 42), the widow’s son at Zarephath (1 Kings 17:22), and Eutychus who fell from a third story window (Acts 20:10). Matthew 27:52 even tells us that when Jesus died, “The tombs broke open and the bodies of many were raised to life.” So is there anything special about the resurrection of Jesus? Is His resurrection that much different than the others?

Indeed it is! The resurrection of Jesus is tremendously different from any other resurrection story in the Bible. One of the most important differences is that all those other people died a second time! Those others were victims the grave eventually reclaimed—not so with Jesus. In His death He conquered death. Not only did He rise, but even more importantly—He still lives.

He still lives for me and for you. And because He lives He can bless us each and every day with a multitude of heavenly gifts. Because He lives He can comfort us in times of sorrow, He can strengthen us in times of weakness. He can forgiveness us in times of sin.

“He lives to silence all my fears; He lives to wipe away my tears;

He lives to calm my troubled heart: He lives all blessings to impart.

(Lutheran Worship 264 stanza 4). Amen

He can do all these things and so much more, because He who died for us now lives and reigns for all eternity.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, I thank you that you died for me and through your death you conquered death. But I also thank you that you live for me each and every day and I can always turn to you for comfort, strength and forgiveness. Amen.

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Updated: Wednesday June 02, 2010