Alive Again

Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:20, 35-38, 42-44, 54-57

“I can’t wait for Easter Sunday tomorrow,” said Riley as she and her dad and brother swept out the garage. “Easter lilies are so pretty, and I like to hear the story of when Jesus rose from the dead.”

“I like Easter dinner!” Owen said. “Everything is so yummy.” But then he frowned. “This morning I read some verses in my Bible that talked about how we’ll be raised from the dead like Jesus was. But then I thought of the wildfires out west, and how some people couldn’t escape the fire in time and were killed.” Owen hesitated. “It’s one thing to picture Jesus being raised from the dead after only three days, but I just can’t see how bodies that have been burned or have been dead a long time could ever be alive again.”

“It’s hard for us to understand,” said Dad, “but…maybe another example of the resurrection will help. Hand me that jar over there.”

Riley took a jar from one of the shelves. “These are marigold seeds Mom saved from the old flowers last fall.”

“That’s right,” said Dad. “Let’s plant a few. Fill one of those flower pots with this stuff.” He nudged a bag of potting soil toward Owen, who scooped out some dirt and filled a pot. Then Riley dropped a few seeds into the dirt. “Okay. Cover the seeds up with soil,” said Dad. “Bury them.”

Owen smiled, realizing what Dad was trying to show them. “Like bodies are buried, right?”

“Yes,” said Dad. “Now what do you think will happen in the next few days?”

“I know what will happen,” said Riley. “The seeds will start to grow.”

Dad nodded. “God can take those shriveled brown seeds and bring them to life. And He promises to do the same for Christians. Even though our bodies die, death is no match for Jesus, who conquered sin and death on the cross. He will resurrect our bodies, and when He does, they’ll be even better than before. No matter what happens to us on earth, we have the hope of resurrection.”

Several weeks later, a pot full of bright yellow marigolds stood on a patio table. Whenever he walked by them, Owen thought of the dry, shriveled little seeds they had come from and smiled. (A. W. Smith)

How About You?

Do you wonder how dead bodies could possibly live again? Raising them from the dead is no greater problem to God than turning seeds into plants. In other words, it’s no problem to Him at all. Jesus rose from the dead, and He’ll raise believers too. He’ll give His children bodies that are even more wonderful than those they had before. It’s hard for us to understand, but Jesus will do it! He has power over death.

Today’s Key Verse:
1 Corinthians 15:54 Death is swallowed up in victory.(NKJV)

Today’s Key Thought:

God will raise the dead