'That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heaven realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion ...'* ( Ephesians 1:19) In an effort to describe the immensity of the power of the resurrection, Bible authors used adjectives like: *incomparable* ( Ephesians 1:19), *all surpassing* ( 2 Corinthians 4:7), *eternal* ( Romans 1:20) but words aren't sufficient to describe this infinite power ! It has to be seen and not heard, to be able to comprehend it! This unrivalled, unparalleled power was revealed in *Sheol* ( Greek: *Hades* ) on the morn of the resurrection day and the powers of death and Sheol were no match to take on such a raw display of God's absolute power! The psalmist had believed that even Sheol was not beyond the reach of God's power and he was right! For he said, *'If I make my bed in the depths* ( Hebrew : *Sheol* / Greek: *Hades* ) *you are there.'* ( Psalm 139:8) Yes! Jesus descended to Hades and he took away the *keys* ( meaning authority) of death and Hades and *'having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross'* ( Colossians 2:15). The resurrected Christ therefore said to John, *"I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. "* ( Revelation 1:17-18) He unlocked the prison, setting free the saints who were captives of death and took them with him as he ascended. *'When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men. What does he ascended mean except that he also descended to the lower earthly regions? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.'* ( Ephesians 4:8-10) This power will again be displayed the day when the dead in Christ will be raised.*'For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable and we will be changed'* ( 1 Corinthians 15:52) *' if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in us; he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to our mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in us.'* ( Romans 8:11) Let's make sure that the resurrection power is at work within us by believing the gospel and surrendering our lives to Jesus, so that our bodies too will be changed *'in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye'* and we will be *'seated with him in the heavenly realms'* ( Ephesians 2:6). *"To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat with my Father on his throne."* ( Revelation 3:21) Amen.
- Sam Matthews. K