Undisputed — Over Death - Wednesday
Today’s Verse
Luke 24:5b-6a
Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! (NIV)
The resurrection of Jesus not only firmly established His identity as the Son of God (Romans 1:3-4), but it also confirmed His sacrifice as having paid the full penalty needed for our sins. Romans 4:25 says, “He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God.” In his message on Sunday, Jon Weece said that the angel’s announcement on Easter, declaring that Jesus is alive, was a joyful statement, it was a powerful statement, and it was also a loving statement. The Father’s love for us is the reason Jesus was sent and willingly went to the cross.
Today and throughout the ages, those desiring to follow Jesus have learned from the interaction Jesus had with a Jewish official named Nicodemus. Nicodemus had the courage to acknowledge that there was something different about Jesus. He admitted to Jesus in John 3, “For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” It was during this interaction that Jesus said those willing to follow Him must be born again. Born again, not as a child from its mother, but born of water and Spirit. When we finally come to the end of ourselves, realizing our need for the Father’s forgiveness, we follow Jesus symbolically through His death, and ultimately, a rebirth. Maybe you were able to witness baptisms at our services on Sunday. What a picture of death, burial, and resurrection! I love the way The Message paraphrases the Apostle Paul in Romans 6, “That’s what baptism into the life of Jesus means. When we are lowered into the water, it is like the burial of Jesus; when we are raised up out of the water, it is like the resurrection of Jesus.” That’s what it means to be born again of water and Spirit.
Being born again underscores our identity as God’s children, dearly loved by Him. 1 John 3:1 says, “See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!”
REFLECTION
It’s easy to believe that God feels about you the way you feel about yourself. He loves you so much more. Take a moment and think about your own baptism and remember what it really means. And if you haven’t been baptized, we’d love to talk with you!
