When Christ died and rose, he unleashed the power of God for salvation to anyone who believes. Let this encourage you as you pray for the salvation of those around you.
Easter Week is all about the Good News of God.
Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada, and the Gospel means just that. Here’s a quote by John Piper – he said, “It’s good news. [And] News is the reporting that something significant has happened. Good news is the announcement that something has happened that will make people happy. The gospel is the best news because what it reports can make people happy forever.” You know, I like the way John Piper puts that because oh, isn’t the Good News great?! And here’s what’s newsworthy: Christ died for our sins, was buried, was raised, and appeared to hundreds of people. And there’s something that accompanies this good news. Paul said it in 1 Corinthians 1:18; he said, “The word of the cross is… the power of God.” Wow. You see, when Christ died and rose, he unleashed the power of God for salvation to any and everyone who believes. And this should encourage you, if you are praying this week for friends or family members who do not know Jesus, who are hardened against his Gospel.
Because if their eyes have been blinded by the god of this age – and, yes, unbelievers are blind to the Good News – I tell you, it requires the power of Almighty God and his strong right arm to overcome that satanic blindness and natural deadness. It takes the same power that raised Christ from the dead, and that’s how much power is needed to wake up people out of their blindness and deadness; God has to say, “Come forth,” as though he were speaking to someone as dead as Lazarus in his tomb. So, we can have confidence when we pray for unsaved friends because 1 Corinthians tells us that “Christ is the power of God.”
And oh, what power was released that day when Jesus died and was resurrected. We’ve got power to resist sin; power to say no to temptation. We’ve got power to recognize Christ as true and good. And we would not – oh, friend, we could not – recognize him as good and kind, as merciful and compassionate; we would not be able to see him as the Savior he is, were there no power released as a blood-bought gift of Christ. And so, when we pray this week for our unsaved friends, we know that power is available to remove the scales from their spiritually blind eyes, as well as to grant them saving faith and a spirit of repentance. All of it, all of it is a gift purchased by Jesus that day on his cross. Power that makes the dead come alive in Christ; power that helps us get rid of sin in our journey to become like Jesus; power to be bold in telling others the Good News; and power to anchor ourselves to the foot of the cross.
So, that’s just one thing that was released that day on Mount Calvary – the power of God. And there are so many other things that are wondrous and awesome, and we Christians should know about them. And that’s why I’m excited to offer you John Piper’s book, “Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die.” It’s yours for the asking at joniradio.org. Dr. Piper and his wife Noël are good friends of our ministry, and he has kindly donated this book for you. And if you want to understand exactly what Christ purchased for you that day on the cross, then go to joniradio.org and ask for “Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die.” Every Christian should have a clear handle on exactly what happened that day, because it involves a lot more than just our salvation. So, ask for your copy today at joniradio.org. And may the power of God be displayed in your life all Easter Week and throughout the year.
© Joni and Friends