It is often said the darkest hour comes just before the dawn, and so it was on this particular morning. The book of Mark (16:1) tells us these women had come there the morning after the Sabbath to anoint the body of Jesus for burial. There had not been enough time to properly take care of this task immediately after his death, for the Sabbath was quickly approaching. As they neared the tomb, we can only imagine the fear they felt as they saw that the huge stone, which had been used to block the entrance to the tomb, had been rolled away, and their beloved Lord was gone. As the angel heralded the news of His resurrection, surely there was a certain amount of doubt and confusion in their hearts, even though Jesus Himself had told them many times He would rise again on the third day. They were there to prepare Him for death, yet God had raised Him to life. Hallelujah!!
But this one point we must clearly understand, His resurrection had no power, except by way of death. Had He not first gone to Calvary, there would have been no resurrection; no power over sin, hell and the grave. Had Jesus not first died, He could not have spoiled the works of the enemy. (Col.2:15) “Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.”
And so it is with us if we are to live in the power of His resurrection. In order for us to be raised to new life in Christ Jesus, we must first die to sin, self and this world, and then be raised again in the likeness of our Lord Jesus Christ. He died spiritually long before He ever died physically, and He lived a life of total obedience to the will of the Father. He set the precedent for us, that we might also take up our cross and follow Him, being energized and empowered by the same Holy Spirit that dwelt in Him. For you see, Jesus was not just raised unto life; He also declared “I AM the Resurrection and the Life.” (John 11:25)
New Testament teachings show us how we too may attain to this life of resurrection power in several different instances. Let’s look at a few of them.
John 12:24 – “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain (fruit).”
Jesus often used natural laws the people were familiar with to teach them spiritual laws and principals as He did here. Many of the people were farmers, and they understood that in order to get more wheat, they had to plant some of what they already had. Each grain that was to be used as seed had to be put to death by burying it in the ground. But when that was done, the seed was given new life, and only then was it able to multiply and bear much fruit or produce more grain. In I Cor. 16:36, Paul confirms this law when he wrote, “Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies.” He is teaching the principle of resurrection.
Matt. 16:24-25, “Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” Jesus declared Himself to be the Resurrection, but He also claimed to be the Life. Paul taught us the greatest lesson on living life in the power of the Resurrection when He wrote to the Church in Galatia, (2:20) “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me.” We need to recognize that Resurrection power is the fullness of Christ living within us. Our goal is “all of Christ and none of me”. John the Baptist has the perfect view when he said, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30)
There is true life and freedom in the name of the Holy One. When we no longer struggle under the bondage of self, sin, and the world, but can say as Christ did in the Garden of Gethsemane, “Nevertheless, not what I will, but what you will.” (Mark 14:36)
One of the most powerful prayers you will ever pray is when you invite the Lord to crucify you inwardly that Christ might fully live in you. It might go something like this…
“Father, I know that sometimes I tend to do things my way when I know it would be so much easier to give them over to you. And often Father, I insist on asking your blessings upon my plans rather than asking you to give me the plans that you have already blessed. There’s still a lot of “self” inside me Father, but this day, I ask you to do whatever is necessary in my life that (your name) would be crucified so that Jesus might live fully in me. I ask it in Jesus name. Amen”
If you prayed that prayer with a sincere heart, don’t be surprised at what may come your way. I won’t tell you it will be easy, but when you have been tested, you will find a new dependency on your Father, and a relationship you never thought possible. You will be able to say from the depths of your heart as you seek His face diligently, “Not my will Father, but Yours.” He is so faithful!
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