THE KING’S RESURRECTION POWER

“That I may KNOW HIM and the POWER of HIS RESURRECTION” – Philippians 3:11

Authentic Christianity is rooted in the revelation and experiential knowledge of the KING’S RESURRECTION POWER: “that I may KNOW HIM and the POWER of HIS RESURRECTION, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead” (Phi.3: 10-11). Through the sacrificial death and resurrection, Jesus conquered sin forever, giving access for Believers to know and have eternal life. That was Paul’s heart-cry. He reasoned through his past, present, and future with Christ-centred lenses, as he pursued knowing and treasuring Jesus. The unique promise of Christianity is that all believers will someday be raised from the dead.

The Bible has several accounts of people who were raised from death. Elijah raised the Widow of Zarephath’s son (1Kgs.17: 17-24). Elisha raised the Shunnammite’s woman’s son (2Kgs.4:18-37). A dead man came back to life the moment his body touched Elisha’s bones in the tomb – the grave became a channel to new life (2Kgs.13:20-21). Jesus raised the Widow of Nain’s son (Lk.7: 11-17); Jairus’ daughter (Lk.8: 49-56); and Lazarus (Jh.11). When He died on the cross, many saints in Jerusalem rose from their graves (Mt.27: 50-54). Dorcas of Joppa was raised from death in response to Peter’s prayer (Acts 9: 36-42). Sleepy Eutychus who dozed off and fell from a windowsill, came back to life at Paul’s command (Acts 20: 7-12).

The resurrection of Jesus is however unrivalled because: (1) it was part of God’s plan of salvation for humanity; (2) He never died again; and (3) it carries unique Power that places Christianity in a class of its own. Paul spoke of knowing “the POWER of His resurrection” (v.10). Jesus was “declared to be the Son of God with POWER according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead” (Rom.1:4). His Resurrection Power can be known. Knowledge is a vital currency in God’s divine economy. Jeremiah said: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and KNOWS ME…For in these I delight.” Knowing God is His delight! Not knowing Him is tragic: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hos.4:6a).

Eternal life is to know God and Jesus whom the Father has sent (Jh.17:3). This knowledge however transcends knowing ABOUT the Lord and His power; Resurrection Power must be experienced. Paul longed for a resurrection power that could be experienced in his present circumstances in the here and now. This power typically takes place in “the fellowship of His sufferings” (v.10b). We can only know the resurrection power if we’ve identified with His suffering and death. We cannot know this power if we’ve not “conformed to His death” (v.10.b). This “death” implies exalting Christ’s “surpassing worth” above everything else. We must be ‘dead’ to whatever is not of Christ: they are like rubbish or worthless “dung” (vv.7-8).

Resurrection Power is the work of God in the life-to-come reaching into our present and bringing us into union with Him. He who raised Him up will raise us up: “And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise up us by HIS POWER” (1Cor.6:14). Jesus joined heaven and earth: When He resurrected, heaven ‘invaded’ the earth; and when He ascended, a piece of the earth entered heaven.

The Christian life is not just about ceasing to do bad things and struggling to do good things. That is legalism. All our desire should be Christ. Anything in us that is not Christ – including ‘self’ – must be put to death as we trust in Jesus every day. He then credits a righteousness that is not ours, to us. If we all want more of Christ, the risen King will powerfully manifest Himself and His Glory in and through us: “To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col.1:27).