Devotional
for the Week 21 May 2007
The
Reason For Our Hope
Sermon Text: Matthew
27:52 – 28:10
After
His crucifixion, Jesus’ body was taken down and placed inside
a big tombstone. A big stone was rolled at the entrance of the
tomb and the tomb was sealed. They posted guards around the entrance
that held Jesus body. On Easter morning the women came to collect
Jesus’ body for embalming. They found the tomb empty. They
met an angel who exclaimed “He is not here; he has
risen, just as he said’.
What
implications does Jesus’ resurrection have on us?
1.
The resurrection of Christ authenticates Jesus claim that He is
our Saviour.
The wages of sin is death. If Jesus Christ was not raised from
the dead, then this signals that there is no forgiveness from
the Father. Can you imagine what it would mean not to know any
forgiveness in a world such as ours?
2.
The resurrection of Christ provides power for new beginnings.
God
can take our life and no matter where we are or where we have
been, He can give us a new beginning. God wants to take your past
mistakes, your past failures, even your past sins and give you
a new beginning.
The
resurrection of Jesus also gives us the power we need to live
the way God wants us to live. Just as Christ conquered sin and
its consequences, we can turn to Him for help when we are tempted
to sin.
3.
The resurrection of Christ offers hope for the future.
The
Bible says that if there was no resurrection, then there is no
hope for life after death. If that is true, life has no purpose
and no meaning and our faith is futile. However, Christ’s
resurrection is clear proof that He has conquered death and by
faith in Him as our saviour, death can have no hold on us.
Conclusion
We
know from where we came and to whom it is we will be going. We
now experience God’s forgiveness in Christ as our daily
assurance and sustenance. We now live in hope by His promise of
a final kingdom, where God will be all in all, and where evil,
pain, sorrow and sighing will be done away forever.
Prayer
Response
Dear Jesus, thank you for loving us so much that you took my sins
upon yourself, suffered and died on the cross in my place. I thank
you that my faith is not futile because of your resurrection and
that you have given me a new lease of life. I pray that I will
live a life worthy of your calling. Amen.
Devotional based on a message by Rev Vincent Goh