Day 25

“I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.”  — PHILIPPIANS 3:10

What does it mean to know the power of Christ’s resurrection? In 1 Corinthians 15:26, Paul says, “The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For he has put everything under his feet.” In the context of this chapter, Paul says that when God raised Jesus from the dead, He defeated the last enemy, which is death, and therefore everything else is placed under the feet of Jesus. What that means is that anything which threatens to defeat you and me today has already been defeated by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Paul wants to know increasingly that power of Christ’s resurrection in his own life.

Not only that, but to know the power of Christ’s resurrection equips us to share in His sufferings. Paul is not referring here to the atonement of Christ, to which we make no contribution, but to our ability to suffer in the power of His resurrection. Paul has already said to the Philippians, “It has been granted to you not only to believe in Him, but to suffer for Him” (Philippians 1:29).  The resurrection does not give us a fast track out of suffering, but equips us with resources to suffer. 

Suffering has its virtues as well as its trials. Paul writes in Romans 5:3-5, “…we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit whom he has given us.”  To the fullest measure possible, Paul wanted to know Christ, and his remarkable life as an apostle holds nothing back in that pursuit, including suffering.

Often through trials people experience a deepening union with Christ. Becoming like Him in His death creates a disposition of humility and obedience. In suffering, Jesus humbled Himself, and was obedient, even to death on a cross. It is that spirit of humility and submission which sees us through the most gruelling circumstances with Christ as our sustainer. 

We start from the position of knowing the power of Christ’s resurrection, and therefore are ‘more than conquerors’ of those things which threaten to be overwhelming and defeating. In submitting our troubles to Christ, trusting Him to work out His purpose in them, we discover for ourselves the power of Christ’s resurrection.

PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, there is so much I have yet to discover about Jesus, but this one thing I know. He rose from the dead and has the power to sustain me through any trial or hardship.  I rest in His strength and am overwhelmingly grateful for His resurrected life that lives within me. 

TO REFLECT UPON: Has there been a circumstance lately where I’ve feared defeat?  How does the power of Christ’s resurrection give me hope?