Because He Died, We Truly Live

04/02/22 – 04/13/22

Victory in the Resurrection

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  04/06/22

Remember the resurrected Jesus! The apostle Paul encouraged Timothy, a young, struggling pastor, with this life-giving battle cry. Writing from a Roman prison, Paul knew that his time on earth was coming to an end. In fact, most historians believe 2 Timothy is the last epistle Paul wrote before he died.

The great apostle used his final words to his young protégé not to complain about his situation, but to rejoice in the opportunity God had granted him to faithfully serve and suffer for Christ. Why? Because Paul understood the power of Jesus’ resurrection. He lived in the hope of the glory of Christ.

Without the resurrection, Jesus would have been merely a good teacher or a guru who died for a good cause. But when He rose from the dead, He declared victory over sin and death once and for all. No other world religion can make this claim.

This Resurrection Sunday, I implore you as Paul did—remember the resurrected Jesus, not just once a year, but every moment of every day. This battle cry will give you strength when you have none. It will give you victory when you feel defeated. It will give you comfort in the middle of sorrow. It will heal your painful memories; it will fill you with hope for the future; it will lift you up when you have fallen. So I implore you—remember the resurrected Jesus!

How can you make the resurrection of Jesus your battle cry of victory?

Prayer: Father, thank You for the Good News of the Gospel. Let this be my battle cry when my circumstances threaten to overwhelm me. I remember the resurrection—I am safe in Your hands. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained” (2 Timothy 2:8-9).