17 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, 18 so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. 20 God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places.Ephesians 1:17-20
Christus is opgestaan! Hij is waarlijk opgestaan! (Dutch)
Christos Anesti! Alithos Anesti! (Greek)
Cristo e’ Risorto! Veramente e’ Risorto! (Italian)
Christus Resurrectus Est! Vere Resurrectus Est! (Latin)
Christ daaztsáádéé’ náádiidzáá! T’ááníí, daaztsáádéé’ náádidzáá! (Navajo)
Cristo ha resucitado! En verdad, esta resucitado! (Portuguese)
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed
Just imagine, all around the world today Christians are joining in this joyful refrain: “Christ is risen! He is risen indeed.” Not content with just a polite, “Hello, how are you?” today we glory in the reality that Christ lives! And we join the choir of archangels, bright seraphs, cherubim, and angels, who ever praise the Lamb who was slain, but now reigns! Christ is raised! He is raised indeed!
The English poet and priest, Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844-1889) wrote a splendid poem, “The Wreck of the Deutschland,” that concludes with a prayer, “Let him Easter in us.” This is a most wonderful way for us to receive the transforming message of this day. Let Easter settle into us. Let Easter live within us, flowing into every pore.
In today’s text the Apostle Paul is praying that as believers we might let him Easter in us. He is praying that we might begin to know “the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe.” Paul says that the power available to us today is the same power that God put “to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places.”
Look at Jesus’ body in the tomb. Cold, lifeless, shattered because of our sin. See him now, victorious, reigning on high! The supernatural power that broke the bonds of death and raised Jesus is the very power that is in every Christian. Christ’s resurrection is the measure of his power available to us today.
One of the significant things about the power of God within us is that it is only released when we begin to act. Many Christians never live in God’s resurrection power because they keep waiting to first feel powerful. But whenever we reach out to another person in faith, God’s power goes to work. Whenever we dare to take that step in faith, God’s power is unleashed. It’s okay that we don’t feel capable and that we don’t feel powerful, because it isn’t about us. God’s power works in those who believe, as it is “the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe.”
All across Europe from the eleventh to the sixteenth century, Easter Sunday was reckoned as the first day of the New Year. People would often write in their diaries their “New Year’s” resolutions in light of the resurrection power within them.
As today marks the end of our long Lenten journey, it also marks the beginning, the beginning of a new way of living – living each day in the power of Christ’s resurrection. Don’t forget, you are an Easter person! Let him Easter into you!
20 Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 3:20-21
MEDITATION
Soaking in Scripture…
Today’s Andy Moments…
