This week has been wonderful for me. I’m thankful to have had the chance to step in and fill in for my mom. We’ve been studying Victory in Christ and I hope you’ve had some great takeaways this week. Today we’re diving into where our strength comes from… who our strength is.
Thank you for listening this week! My sister, Hannah, is stepping in all next week, and I know you’ll love what she has to share.
Show Links:
- Who Is Jesus?
- Have a prayer request? Leave it HERE.
Transcription:
Guest Speaker: Joshua Parkerson
Hi, I’m Joshua Parkerson. Welcome to the Bible for Busy People. This week I’ll be filling in for my mom, Erica, and we’re doing a series called Victory in Christ. In this episode, we’re going to experience the greatest victory in the history of the world, the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Have you ever had a moment in your life when you were overwhelmed with joy? When I overcame ulcerative colitis, I was overwhelmed with joy. I couldn’t be more thankful. But during those times with ulcerative colitis, I knew where my strength came from. It came from the victory Jesus won , His resurrection. Jesus had to die a terrible death for us. For it says in Matthew 27:50-51,
” Then Jesus shouted again, and he released his spirit. At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rock split apart.”
Jesus died on the cross for our sins, and his body was taken to an empty tomb. During the night, two Roman guards were ordered to stand in front of the tomb so that no one would steal it. But Matthew 28: 2-4 says,
“Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone and sat on it. His face shown like lightning, and his clothing was white as snow. The guards shook with fear when they saw him and they fell into a dead faint.” The guards were terrified and the greatest miracle in history happened. Jesus rises from the dead. Mary Magdalene and Mary went to anoint Jesus with spices at dawn on Sunday. They saw the stone rolled away. An angel then told the woman that Jesus was risen from the dead.
Then it says in Matthew 28: 8-10,
“The woman ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened, but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel’s message. And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them,’ Don’t be afraid. Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee and they will see me there.'”
Jesus had overcome death and the woman were filled with joy because Jesus was alive. What a time to be alive! To see Jesus after he rose from the dead. That must have been an extraordinary event.
Later on, Jesus tells his disciples to spread the hope of the gospel and ascends into heaven, and one day we will meet him because Jesus died for us. We could go to heaven and spread the hope of the gospel. The good news right now, you might be going through a trial in your life. For me, my greatest trial was ulcerative colitis. It put my faith to the test, but when I overcame it, I had overwhelming joy. I remember when I was admitted in the hospital years ago, I received a bracelet that said, God is bigger. For me, those moments felt discouraging in the hospital, but the reminder that God was bigger than all my problems helped me overcome colitis because God is bigger, not only than my problems, but yours too.
I understand that life can be tough, but we can have joy through it because Jesus overcame death for us and rose again. He found a way for us to be completely healed one day and be with him for all eternity. You might even be healed in this life, but if God still allows you to go through trials, you can trust him. In this world, we all have to go through stuff. However, God gave us, victory through the cross, through Jesus.
Through Jesus, we can do anything he calls us to do, because we have victory in Christ. For it says in Romans 15:13,
“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Thank you so much for listening to my series, Victory in Christ. I really enjoyed hanging out with you on the Bible for Busy People.
Before I go, I just want to pray for whatever you might be going through right now. Lord Jesus, thank you for this day. Thank you for you giving us, Lord. I just pray for whoever is listening right now that you would just completely heal them and restore them. If not just thy will be done in their lives, Lord, and whoever might be listening to this, thy will be done. Heal them and restore them. If that’s your will, Lord Jesus, thank you for the lives that you have saved. Thank you for the lives that you have made, and Lord Jesus, I just pray that whatever you are allowing in that person’s life, whoever is listening, that you would just use it for your glory and your good, and Lord God, just let them know that you are with them wherever they might be going through and wherever they go. Amen. Thank you so much for listening to the Bible for Busy People and my series Victory in Christ. God bless and have an awesome rest of your day.
Thank you so much for listening to the Bible for Busy People. If you need prayer or you’re ready to go a little deeper in your faith, we’ve posted some resources for you in our show notes. We’d love for you to share this podcast with a friend and leave us a review. It helps us reach even more people with the hope of Jesus. This podcast is part of Purposely, a podcast network designed with practical podcasts to help you find and live in God’s purpose for your life. Find more podcasts that will recharge you at onpurposely.com.
