Resting in the Risen Christ - Your Nightly Prayer - April 5th
Resting in the Risen Jesus
Your Nightly Prayer
By Lynette Kittle
TONIGHT'S SCRIPTURE
“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me will live, even though they die.”- John 11:25
SOMETHING TO PONDER
On Easter Sunday, we celebrate and rejoice at the resurrection of Jesus from death to life, understanding that His rising isn’t just a miracle for Him, but for us. Because He rose from the grave, we, too, will rise from the grave. Often, we can miss the eternal hope it brings to our lives by being so focused on His rising that we forget to celebrate what it means to us and our futures. As a spectacular, dramatic scene from a supernatural movie, Matthew 27:50-53 describes Jesus’ death, the crucifixion, and the resurrection of believers who had died before Him.
“And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, He gave up His spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.”
Jesus rose from the grave, freed us from sin and death, and lives forevermore. He was raised to life in a glorified body. 1 Corinthians 15:20 calls Jesus the first fruit: “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.” In biblical days, believers set aside the first fruits of their harvest to God as an offering, dedicating the entire harvest to come. With Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, a harvest of living souls will also be raised from death to life, because He is the promise of our glorified bodies to come. The Apostle Paul describes what is to come for us.
“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body” (Philippians 3:20-21).
As 1 Corinthians 15:54 explains, “When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’” Although others were raised from the dead on earth before Jesus, Colossians 1:18 refers to Him as the beginning and firstborn among the dead because those raised from the dead before Him died again, but Jesus lives forevermore, never to die again.
“And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy.”
Again, in Revelation 1:5, the Apostle John greets the seven churches, “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood.” Jesus is the firstborn from the dead, the Son of God, who rose from the grave victorious, overcoming and destroying death, breaking its power, and conquering death to never face it again. As Romans 6:9 explains, “For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, He cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over Him.”
YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER
Dear Father,
Tonight I celebrate that Jesus is risen from the grave, to live forevermore, victorious over sin and death, giving me a hope that never fades and a reason to rest in His joy, peace, and love. Because He rose again, I will rise, too, and live with You forever. Let my heart be filled with gratitude tonight and every night, knowing that death has been forever defeated so that even when I die, I will be alive in Christ. In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON
1. Are you fearful of death? If so, read and re-read God’s word, assuring us that as believers in Jesus Christ, He is victorious over death, and it is defeated in our lives.
2. How does knowing Christ defeated death affect your daily life? Does it give you more confidence to live every day for Him?
3. In what ways can you share this great hope with friends and family this week and the coming year? Consider one-on-one talks, hosting a group Bible study, writing heartfelt cards and letters to share this hope with those who haven’t heard.
Reflect on tonight’s prayer and share how God met you there. Join the Your Nightly Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/olegkalina
Lynette Kittle is married with four daughters. She enjoys writing about faith, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her writing has been published by Focus on the Family, Decision, Today’s Christian Woman, kirkcameron.com, Ungrind.org, StartMarriageRight.com, and more. She has a M.A. in Communication from Regent University and serves as associate producer for Soul Check TV.
