RESURRECTION SUNDAY

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Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection was necessary for washing away our sins, and providing the opportunity for us to be justified before God. In addition, Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection was also beneficial for us to have an intimate and personal relationship with Him.

We now have a tripartite relationship with Jesus: Jesus is our Savior, Jesus is our Lord and Jesus is our friend:

As Savior, Jesus came to this world to seek and save the lost (“<em>for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.</em>” Luke 19:10), and provide an opportunity, through receiving Him as Savior, to live with Him eternally (“<em>For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.</em>” John 3:16). We accomplish this when we confess and believe in Jesus (“<em>that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved… For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved</em>” Romans 10:9, 13).

As Lord, we yield our lives over to Jesus that He may take full control of our lives. We understand that since He is Lord of our lives, He has the right to dictate what happens in our lives (“<em>And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS</em>.” Revelation 19:16). Therefore, we bow before Him; we worship and praise Him and we surrender ourselves to Him – body, soul and spirit. (“<em><sup>9 </sup>Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, <sup>10 </sup>that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, <sup>11 </sup>and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.</em>” Philippians 2:9-11). The more we surrender to Him, the more authority He has in our lives, the more He reigns as Lord in our lives.

As friend, Jesus desires to transition our relationship from that of a servant to that of friendship. Why is this an important transition? Because friends will be there for friends. Since Jesus is our friend, we know that He will be there for us. In John 15:13-15, Jesus says, “<em>Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. <sup>14 </sup>You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. <sup>15 </sup>No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.</em>” Clearly, there is a difference between a servant and a friend. The word ‘servant’ is the Greek word <em>Doulos</em> which means a bond servant, slave – there is no personal and intimate relationship. The word ‘friend’ is the Greek word <em>Philos</em> which means a friend, or companion – there is a deep relationship that is implied and anticipated. Our relationship with God, through the sacrificial gift of Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit provides a transition to deeper and deeper intimacy with Him.

This Resurrection Sunday, may we understand who Jesus is, believe who Jesus is and do <strong>Conscious and Intentional Ministry: This is why I am here.</strong>