FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2024
AN EXTRAORDINARY LIFE – Pastor Chris
And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him (Mark 4:41).
Not only did Jesus live an extraordinary life of the miraculous while He was on earth, even His death, burial, and resurrection were extraordinary. It normally takes at least thirteen hours for a crucified man to die. But when Jesus was crucified, He commanded His own death after six hours.
On the Cross, the Bible says He cried with a loud voice to the Father and said, “…into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost” (Luke 23:46). When He said those words, He released His spirit to die.
To confirm if He was really dead, a soldier took a spear and thrust it into His side. To the amazement of the soldiers and the Jews who were watching, blood, mingled with water, gushed out, showing that His heart had ruptured. They were shocked that He had died within that space of time.
His resurrection was also extraordinary. Upon the request of the Jewish leaders, the Romans had sealed the grave where Jesus was buried with a great stone and assigned armed soldiers to watch it. On the third day, an angel, glittering like the sun, came down from heaven. The angel moved the great stone away and sat on it, and Jesus gloriously came out of the grave. Hallelujah! He was later with His disciples for forty days and forty nights.
On the day He was to leave, He didn’t suddenly disappear. While talking with His disciples and giving them instructions, He levitated from the ground, defying the law of gravity. His disciples watched in utter amazement as He kept ascending, until He went all the way into the clouds. This was a most extraordinary moment.
The Bible says one day, and it’s no longer far away, this same Jesus will return again in an extraordinary fashion, and the whole world will see Him. It’s going to be glorious; and we’re all getting ready for the Master’s soon return. He’s called us to an extraordinary life of glory and wants us to make this life of excellence and grace known to others and prepare them for His glorious return.
(Click 👇🏽 to download the Rhapsody Mobile app)
PRAYERLord Jesus, thank you for the extraordinary life of miracles, power and glory that we have in you. Thank you for making me a vessel to spread the message of salvation and prepare the hearts of men for your soon return. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Matthew 27:50-54
Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.
Acts 1:10-11
And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
DAILY SCRIPTURE READING
1-Year Bible Reading Plan: 1 Corinthians 1 & Psalms 104-106
2-Year Bible Reading Plan: Philippians 3:13-21 & Jeremiah 1
