The Same Power

The same power that rose Jesus from the grave
The same power that commands the dead to wake
Lives in us, lives in us. —Jeremy Camp

We sing this chorus in church, but do we really grasp its truth? We sing of the power of God that rose Jesus from the grave, but do we really understand its message? If He is Lord of our lives, the same power that lived in Jesus lives in us.

In the upper room the night before His crucifixion, Jesus comforts the disciples over His coming departure. He tells them that they should not be troubled. He is leaving to make a place for them in heaven. He is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, but by accepting Him.

“If you really know me,” Jesus declares, “you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him” (John 14:7, NIV). Philip, like many of us, can’t grasp what Jesus imparts, and demands, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us” (John 14:8, NIV).

Can you imagine Jesus’ sadness that Philip hasn’t realized what has been right before him? “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’” (John 14:9, NIV)?

“Believe me,” Jesus says, “when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son” (John 14:11-13, NIV).

We are so like Philip and just don’t get it. He is with us, but we don’t see. He is the evidence, but we don’t believe. Do we believe that He truly rose? Do we believe that by dying for us and taking our sins to the cross we are forgiven? Or do we live defeated lives not living in the same power that rose Jesus from the grave? Why do we not live the miracle of our faith? Why are we not on fire with His message of grace and forgiveness and love and power?

Today is Good Friday. In three days we celebrate His Resurrection. Do you grasp this? The same power that rose Jesus from the grave now gives you life. Rise up, Philip, and believe. “You may ask me for anything in my name,” Jesus imparts, “and I will do it” (John 14:4, NIV).

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21, NIV).

© 2018 Lynn Lacher

www.lynnlacher.com