What significance does "brought back from the dead" hold for our faith today? The Heart of the Verse “Now may the God of peace, who by the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep…” (Hebrews 13:20) The God Who Raises the Dead • The resurrection is not merely an event; it reveals God’s nature. He is “the God of peace,” yet He is also the God who shatters the power of death (Romans 8:11). • By acting in history—physically raising Jesus—God shows His absolute authority over every enemy that threatens us, including the grave itself (1 Corinthians 15:26). The Resurrection Validates the Covenant • “By the blood of the eternal covenant” ties Jesus’ death and resurrection together. If Jesus stayed in the tomb, the covenant would have no living Mediator; because He lives, the covenant stands forever (Hebrews 7:22–25). • Romans 4:25: “He was delivered over to death for our trespasses and was raised to life for our justification.” – His resurrection is God’s public declaration that the payment for sin was accepted. – Our justification is settled; we no longer work for peace with God—we live from it. Our Living Shepherd Today • Hebrews calls Him “the great Shepherd of the sheep.” A shepherd must be alive to guide, feed, and protect. • John 10:11: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” • Because He was “brought back,” His shepherding is present tense: – He intercedes for us (Romans 8:34). – He directs our steps (Psalm 23:1–3). – He disciplines and restores (Hebrews 12:5–11). The Guarantee of Our Own Resurrection • 1 Corinthians 15:20: “Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” – Firstfruits guarantee the full harvest; His empty tomb previews ours. • 1 Thessalonians 4:14: “We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.” • Fear of death loses its grip; hope becomes concrete, not wishful. Resurrection Power for Daily Living • Ephesians 1:19–20 says the power that raised Jesus now works in us. – Addiction, bitterness, and despair meet a power proven stronger than death. • Romans 6:4: “Just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life.” – Every act of obedience is a small resurrection moment, the old self dying, the new self living. Hope That Shapes Our Witness • 1 Peter 1:3: “He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” • A living hope is contagious: – It steadies us in suffering (2 Corinthians 4:14). – It explains our joy and gentleness to a watching world (1 Peter 3:15). • Our faith is not nostalgia for a distant martyr; it is confidence in a living Lord who stepped out of His grave and promises to bring us out of ours. Living Out the Truth • Speak the resurrection: let it shape your conversations, songs, and prayers of thanksgiving. • Rest in the covenant: guilt and striving dissolve under the assurance that the Mediator lives. • Follow the Shepherd: trust His voice in Scripture, confident He leads from the other side of death. • Walk in resurrection power: confront sin, pursue holiness, serve boldly—empowered by the same Spirit who “brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus.” |
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