My Redeemer Lives

This morning, during the Resurrection Sunday service, the song Redeemer by Nicolle Mullen was sang during the special presentation, and I was inspired to write an article not about the song itself, but about the fact that my Redeemer lives!

This is a photo of the Garden Tomb in Israel during my trip there last 2010. This is one of the traditional places that people believe could be the actual garden tomb where the Lord Jesus was laid. 

At the entrance of the tomb, there is a door that says, 'He is not here- for He is risen.' I took this picture way back 2005, during my very first trip to Israel. I have been to Israel three times, but no matter how many times I visit that tomb, it will always be empty, because He has already risen! The tomb is just there to show us that He died, and He rose again so that we, through His death, can have eternal life.

Just as the sunrise signals a new day has begun, the resurrection of Jesus brings transformation to our lives. Think about this: if Jesus did not rise from the dead, what would have happened to Peter? Remember him? He was one of the disciples of Jesus, and he was an impulsive man, talking without thinking first, most of the time. When Jesus was predicting His death, he very boldly said that he would go with Jesus even to the point of death! But Jesus said, before the rooster crowed that night, Peter would have denied knowing Jesus three times already.

Imagine the guilt, the remorse, the shame that Peter must have felt when he heard the rooster crow. Jesus' words must have rang in his ears so loud, he would not have been able to hear anything else. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, He would not have been able to restore Peter, and Peter would not have been able to lead the other disciples. But since Jesus rose, He did restore Peter, and we can see the story in the book of John chapter 21. Just as Peter denied Jesus three times, Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him, and Peter answered three times as well.

After being restored by Jesus, we see that Peter's life was transformed. He became a 'rock',  and on the day of the Pentecost, he preached in Jerusalem, and thousands of people were saved on that day alone! He became a 'rock', just like his name Peter means, and he became a respected leader among the believers.

If Peter was transformed, so could each and every single one of us. Peter is just one example I used from the bible. But each of us can be changed and transformed, and we, like Peter, can do things for God. Maybe not as grand, we may not become as famous, but nevertheless, we can give God glory by the little things we do in His name.

My Redeemer lives, and because of that, I can boldly say, in Him I have the hope of eternal life. My Redeemer lives, and because of that I can sing and declare His praises. I can testify about the good things He has done in  my life. He has always provided for my needs. He has always carried me through the darkest moments of my life. He has always guided me in every decision I had to make, and so far He has never let me down.

It can be the same for you too. All you have to do is ask Him to come into your life. Ask Him to forgive you of your sins, and ask Him to be Lord of your life. Ask Him to transform you, just as He did Peter, and ask Him to change your perspective. And after you have done the asking, believe. Believe that He is able to do what you asked Him to do. And you will see His life flowing through you. Happy Resurrection Sunday!