The resurrection of Jesus is one of the most important incidents in the universe. For Jesus, resurrection was inevitable. The person who died on the cross will never be a savior. If Christ did not rise from the dead the ridicule of the Jews would have been proved. “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.” (Luke 23: 35). Jesus raised from the dead the daughter of Jairus, son of the widow of Nain and Lazarus. But none of these were resurrection but just reliving. They like other people succumbed to death again. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep (I Cor. 15: 20). The risen Jesus appeared to different people at different places (1 Cor. 15: 4-8). “After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke to them about the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3). It is said that Jesus later appeared to many including Sadhu Sunder Singh who is considered as the Indian apostle. The risen Christ strengthened those he gave visions to and prepared them for His ministry. They were not fearful anymore and bore the testimony of Christ.

1. The Empowerment that Jacob received (Genesis 28: 10 – 22)
The angel of God appeared to Jacob at Peniel and blessed him (Genesis 32: 22 -32). Jacob thus became Israel. Likewise God gave a vision to Jacob at Bethel when he was running for fear of his brother. He saw a stairway resting on earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels ascending and descending on it. Strengthened by this vision, Jacob journeyed further. That journey was the journey of a huge nation – the journey of the Israelites. Even now the strength that the risen Christ gives us enables us to journey as one people.

2. The Empowerment that Eutychus received (Acts 20: 7 – 12)
Paul raised Eutychus who died. That became a reason for revival all over Troas. Eutychus who was sinking into a deep sleep listening to Paul’s message at Troas fell to the ground and died. Paul went down, threw himself on the young man, put his arms around him and brought him back to life. The power that the risen Christ gives us is the one that raises the fallen and brings to life the dead. Christ strengthens and raises us in situations wherein we are weakened by many challenges that life poses. That is the empowerment that Jesus gives.

3. The Empowerment that Mary received (John 20: 11 – 18)
The empowerment that God gave Mary was to tell His brothers about the resurrection (John 20: 17). Like how the father sent him he sent his disciples. The power that the risen Christ gives is to forgive sins and to be witnesses to Him (Acts 1:8). We should experience everyday this empowerment by the risen Lord.