“At that time there was a strong earthquake. An angel of the Lord came down from heaven, went to the tomb, and rolled the stone away from the entrance. Then he sat on the stone. He was shining as bright as lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The soldiers guarding the tomb shook with fear because of the angel, and they became like dead men.”
Matthew 28:2-4 NCV
Before the women ever showed up at the tomb, before Peter ran inside, before Jesus appeared to Mary, there was that intimate moment between Father and Son. We can’t miss it. The Bible offers these few verses only, but before any human interaction, there was that second of time when Jesus through the power of God sat up. There was that moment when all time stood still and Jesus rose from His grave bed, folded up the grave clothes, and walked away from death.
“And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.”
Romans 8:11 NIV
It was a moment that contained dynamite power. In fact it shook the earth. It was the moment when the Spirit of God hovered over the dead body of our Savior and breathed life back into His lungs. It had happened once before.
“Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”
Genesis 2:7 NIV
We aren’t privy to the intimacy Father and Son must have shared in that breath giving moment, but before death Jesus had no doubts that moment would occur. He knew His body would never see decay. The promise was given before time began and Jesus held onto it.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV
What kind of power must have surged through Jesus’ body. It was enough power to drive out death. Romans 8:11 says that power lives in us.
Have you tapped into that power today? Do you know Jesus as your Savior? If you do then the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead in living in you also. That’s a fact. We each much plug into that power source because time is ever marching forward. God is longing to have that intimate moment with each of us when He breathes new life into these mortal bodies.