…I am the Resurrection. –Jesus

Review
We told the story of the baby antelope and the buffalo congregation coming back with a fight to rescue the antelope. They recover him and back on trail with baby antelope in tow.

We talked about the miracle of recovery that God is reaching for with lost souls, calling prodigal sons and daughters home–back to the sheepfold, how he calls himself (God that is) married to the backslider. Then the recovering of lost material possessions… It was a hope filled message for us to keep building our faith for recompense this year…

End of Review

There were three main Resurrection miracles in the New Testament. The widow’s son, Jairus daughter, and Lazarus. Bible scholars tell us Lazarus lived 30 years after he was resurrected. He died a martyr’s death. It was important to note that the purpose of his miracle was so that the disciples and others might believe. We noticed how others participated in the miracle. When they went out to the tomb while standing there, Jesus called others to move the stone. And then after calling him forth. He instructed them to unwrap the clothes, loose him and let him go.

Now for the Easter story, which tells of Jesus’ death and resurrection, is found in the four Gospel books: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Specifically, the resurrection is recounted in Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, and John 20.

It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.

Luke 23: 44-47

1. Resurrection is a Person: Jesus said, “I am the Resurrection and the Life” Jesus spoke these words to a woman named Martha after the death her brother Lazarus, who was one of Jesus’s dearest friends. He tried to comfort Martha in her grief by assuring her: “Your brother will rise again” (11:23).
2. A Call To Grow Up In Christ. Resurrection Definition: Although resurrection literally means to rise up or stand up, to a believer, resurrection means that their eternity is sealed in Jesus. Resurrection is one of the foundational beliefs of the Christian faith. It is by the grace of God that we have been saved though faith in Jesus and we are sealed by the Holy Spirit.
   1Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith in God, 2instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. Hebrews 6:2
3. Six Main Proofs of Christ Resurrection: 1} Old Testament Prophecy of Christ, 2} The prophecy of his own death and resurrection, 3} the actual death and burial of Jesus, 4} the empty tomb, the belief of the apostles, and 5} the conversion of Paul.
4. Biblical Prophecy Fulfilled: Biblical Prophecy:
   Jesus himself mentioned that he would be dead for three days, and some scholars point to Hosea 6:1-3 as a prophecy of the Messiah’s resurrection after three days. Jonah Analogy: Jesus also used the story of Jonah, who was in the belly of a fish for three days, as an illustration of his own time in the tomb
5. Six Spiritual Symbols & Significance of Resurrection Power: In a general sense, resurrection represents the potential for renewal, transformation, and hope in the face of adversity or loss. It can symbolize the power of love, forgiveness, and the possibility of a new beginning.
6. The Seven I AMs of Jesus
   The “I am” statements found in the Gospel of John are the bread of life (6:35), the light of the world (8:12), the door (10:7), the good shepherd (10:11, 14), the resurrection and the life (11:25), the way the truth and the life (14:6) and the true vine (15:1).
7. Same Power: The “same power that raised Jesus from the dead” is a concept in Christian theology, specifically referenced in Ephesians 1:19-20 and Romans 8:11, which suggests that the same divine power that resurrected Jesus is available to believers, enabling them to live a new life and experience God’s power in their lives:

Next session we talk about the NEWs. Next session we have planned to explore 7 News that we can loose our faith for, if needed or want to. I know not everyone is in the same place in Faith or life in general. New Beginnings, New YOU -reinvent yourself, New Mercy, New Day, New Season and more.

Ephesians 1:19-20: This passage speaks of the “incomparably great power” that God has for those who believe, stating that this power is the same as the power that raised Jesus from the dead and seated him at God’s right hand. Then again, in Romans 8:11: This verse states, “But if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who dwells in you”.

List of Resurrections in the Old Testament

Resurrection of the widow's son in Zarephath (1 Kgs 17:17–22)
Resurrection of the Shunammite's son (2 Kgs 4:18–37)
Resurrection of the man thrown into Elisha's grave (2 Kgs 13:20)
Resurrection of Jairus' daughter (Mark 5:41)
Resurrection of the young man at Nain (Luke 7:14)

In summary, as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus remember what it means to you, resurrection is a person, six main proofs of Christ resurrection, biblical prophecy fulfilled, six spiritual symbols of significance, the seven I AMs, same power that raised Christ from the dead is in you. Happy Easter!

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