The Resurrection: A Witnessing Power !

The Resurrection:
A Witnessing Power!

Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed!

Today we can with grateful hearts exclaim that !

Let me adapt a lesson from John Wright’s book, Golden Grain, to share with you on what practically the resurrection means to all of us.

The resurrection of Jesus was God’s seal and act of approval signifying that His death was sufficient. God the Father was pleased, and satisfied with His victorious life and death. In raising Him from the dead, God gave testimony that all was satisfactory.

In 1 Cor 15:51, Paul, in speaking of the resurrection says, “Behold, I show you a mystery...” He did not try to define or explain it. It is a mystery that is meant to be shown.

In Acts 1:8, the Lord does not use the word “witness” to just mean someone who gives a testimony. He is saying “witness” is a person who, with the power of the Holy Spirit, is willing to let his life be slain in order that the life of the Christ may be lived through him. He becomes a witness, a testimony of the power of God. That is when the individual life becomes a witness, a testimony. The word “witness” here means “martyr”; one who is willing to let his very life go for the sake of the Truth.

The power of His resurrection possessed the disciples, and the power of the resurrection is always a witnessing power. The resurrection is a witness. The power that God uses in raising Jesus from the dead is resurrection power unto a witness. When does He say, “I will pour the Holy Spirit upon you”? After the resurrection, for now there is resurrection quality in the power that is to come upon them. They are now ministering in resurrection power.

The Lord’s Supper provides another indication of this. It is a type of regeneration and resurrection. The emblems of bread and wine decompose and ferment, speaking of death. Then comes a higher form of life both in the bread and wine. The process is the same in both. In the bread we have the yeast, the leaven, which speaks of sin. This is no longer active as it decomposes, and is changed. In the wine there is also fermentation - death, showing that its old form is changed.

The Lord’s Spirit is given for a very special purpose. Jesus now makes that clear: “Ye shall receive power … and ye shall be witnesses unto me.” The power would be given specifically for being witnesses. Power here means supernatural power of the quality revealed in Jesus’ own life. Why do we need that kind of power? Look at His own awesome promise in John 14:12 – 14. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.”

He clearly tells us that He will continue to do what He did in His ministry. That means love without limits; primary concern for people; communication of truth; healing of minds, emotions and bodies; and foot-washing practical service.

May this Easter be truly a blessed one for you.