Neville Turley

“For we know that Christ has been raised from death and will never die again — death will no longer rule over him.  And so, because he died, sin has no power over him; and now he lives his life in fellowship with God.” Romans 6:9-10 (GNB)

The Scribes and Pharisees were waging a war of words against Jesus and they would soon turn physical. They hated and feared him.

They denounced his miraculous powers as satanic. When his hungry disciples plucked and ate corn from the fields on the Sabbath, they accused the Lord of breaking the Sabbath Law. They were furious when he healed a man with a paralyzed hand on the Sabbath at the synagogue service in Capernaum. On being told that he had raised Lazarus from the dead they believed that Jesus must be in league with the devil to undermine their authority. “So the Pharisees and the chief priests met with the Council and said, “What shall we do? Look at all the miracles this man is performing! If we let him go on in this way, everyone will believe in him, and the Roman authorities will take action and destroy our Temple and our nation!” (John 11:47-48)

The Jewish authorities began plotting to kill him.

It was against that background that the Pharisees to trap Jesus demanded he show them a miracle.  Jesus refused. “The only miracle you will be given is the miracle of Jonah”, Jesus told them. (Matthew 12:39)

Then he prophesied that in the same way that Jonah had been buried in the belly of the fish so would he, the Son of Man, be entombed in the earth for three days and nights. But then something far greater would happen!

Jonah was alive when he was swallowed and remained alive throughout his ordeal. Jesus died on the cross. Once Pilate had confirmation of his death, he released Jesus’ lifeless body to Joseph of Arimathea who had the body prepared for burial and entombed.

Jesus' prophecy that something far greater would happen was fulfilled on the third day of his death. For that morning Jesus was raised from the grave. Death was conquered!

He lives, and because he lives, we too can live in the power of the risen Christ, both now, and for all eternity.  What an awesome God we serve.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, Lord of life, we bow before you in praise and worship. May the Holy Spirit guide us to lead lives acceptable to you through Jesus your Son. Amen