The Power of His Resurrection
by Sharon W. Betters
Today’s Treasure
Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:16-20
Dear Friends,
It’s Easter! Resurrection Day! For many of us, we will celebrate Easter by joining our church online. We won’t have the traditional big family Easter gathering. We will continue to “shelter in place” until the end of the month at least.
I gave this devotional a final look before I recorded the podcast on the day after the President of the United States extended the “sheltering in place” response to the coronavirus. I held back tears as I realized we wouldn’t see our grands and children for at least another month. But more than that, the continuing impact of the virus on beloved family and friends grew heavier on my heart. Jobs lost, businesses closed, families trying to make food stretch when they don’t have another paycheck coming in, elderly people who live alone, parents realizing just how short their fuses are because they are spending so many hours stuck in a house with their children, domestic abuse victims more isolated than ever. What is God doing? How can His children be His hands and feet, arms and love? I think the women of the resurrection may have struggled in a similar way. Their beloved Jesus dead. Their dreams shattered. Their grief overwhelming.
They followed Jesus – they were His disciples and learned that to follow Him meant suffering. To follow Jesus meant dying to self, but following Jesus also gave them the opportunity to experience His life-giving resurrection power.
They were not selfish followers. They were not like those who followed for a while out of curiosity and wandered away when Jesus did not meet their needs the way they wanted. These women did not view Jesus as a commodity but as their beloved friend and Rabbi and eventually their Messiah. Each of the four Gospels includes their presence at the Cross and their encounter at the tomb. The gospels name Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna, Mary the mother of James, Salome and Mary, the mother of Jesus as the women who supported Jesus’ work and followed Him to the Cross and then the tomb.
Mary Magdalene, a woman, was the first to see Jesus alive. He commissioned her to “go and tell” the disciples that He had risen from the dead. Can you imagine Mary, and the other women’s shock and maybe their inability to get the words out? No wonder the men didn’t believe them! He commissions us to go and tell as well.
As I finish up this last week of the Easter series, I feel a little like John must have felt when he closed the Gospel of John with these words:
Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.
John 21:25
We have only touched the tip of the iceberg of the lives of the women of the resurrection. I hope to expand this series for next Easter and include all of the named women who stood at the Cross and then went to the tomb.
But for now we will finish our time with Mary Magdalene and then take time to enjoy the afterglow of Easter and consider what kind of resurrection power can be ours, not just in salvation but in every day life.
So join the visible church of Jesus Christ today by whatever means you can! Soak up the joy of the resurrection and go and tell that Jesus is alive!
Treasured by Him,
Sharon
LIFE-GIVING ENCOURAGEMENT
As you prepare for worship, Google the Charles Wesley hymn, “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today”, turn up the volume and join the women of the resurrection who gladly told others, “He is risen!”
Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!
Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia!
Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Once He died our souls to save, Alleluia!
Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!
Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids His rise, Alleluia!
Christ hath opened paradise, Alleluia!
Soar we now where Christ hath led, Alleluia!
Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!
Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!
Hail the Lord of earth and heaven, Alleluia!
Praise to Thee by both be given, Alleluia!
Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia!
Hail the Resurrection, thou, Alleluia!
King of glory, Soul of bliss, Alleluia!
Everlasting life is this, Alleluia!
Thee to know, Thy power to prove, Alleluia!
Thus to sing, and thus to love, Alleluia!
PRAYER
Oh, Father, thank you for this day of glorious victory. Thank you that we not only experience resurrection power when You breathe life into our dead souls, but we can experience that same power in our everyday lives. Alleluia! He is risen!
Sharon W. Betters is author of Treasures of Encouragement, Treasures in Darkness and co-author of Treasures of Faith. She is Director of Resource Development and co-founder of MARKINC.org, a non profit organization that offers help and hope to hurting people. Sharon enjoys quality time with her husband, children, fourteen grandchildren, and one great grandchild.
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Contact Sharon with comments or questions at dailytreasure@markinc.org.