Stand back up with a new perspective
Resurrection Sunday is about not just commemorating the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, but about celebrating the victory that it entails. The victory over death and sin that plagued men throughout history and continues, was won that the cross when Jesus said his last word “It is finished” and gave up his spirit (Jh19:30). To certify the validity of Christ’s resurrection he appeared to his disciples along to five hundred believers at the same time (1Co15:6). In fact, according to scriptures when Jesus came back to life he brought with him the ancients who had died (Mt27:50-52). The work was not finished at the cross or even after the resurrection, because now the hardest battle is to make people believe or have faith. Resurrection is about coming back and picking up where you left of or standing back up. And so, the battle begins again, but now with a different perspective and view.
Acts 8:1-3
On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. 2 Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. 3 But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.
The church began with a powerful movement. Luke relates that God was adding new members each day to the church as they broke bread and had services in the houses (Acts2:46-47). But, this had to stop, they wanted to stay in the four walls of Jerusalem and have church. A persecution like no other came to the church, and believers began to be slaughter and fed to the lions. Even the great men of faith like Stephen were being stoned and killed; The church was being kill. Pastors and preachers were being burned alive, both figuratively and physically. Something happens to the church when it is being killed is that it does not die, but it grows. And so, those who were being scattered they went on preaching the gospel and God was healing and cleansing the people (Act8:4). Because with resurrection one has to die first and be restored, the same miracles and signs follow them just with a different determination(Act8:6-8). When one has to die and be restored a greater reach is reached, as in baptism. Baptism is considered death to this world and resurrection to life (Ro6:3-5).
And, a certain man from Ethiopia was coming from Jerusalem from worship who was the servant of the queen; a man of high value. This man was reading the book of Isaiah, but was troubled trying to figure out who was it speaking about. And, Philip was moved by the Spirit to speak the gospel from where the man was troubled. This nation of Ethiopia was one of the first entire nations that accepted Christ from the beginning of the church. The scripture that this Ethiopian man was reading is found in Isaiah 53:7-8, where it speaks that the Christ would be taken away and killed. This nation who was dead in her sins came back to life and was resurrected.
30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
1 Corinthian 15:6
6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.
Matthew 27:50-52
50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. 51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.
Acts 2:46-47
46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Acts 8:4
4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.
Acts 8:6-8
6 When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. 7 For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city.
Romans 6:3-5
3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.