Blessed Assurance... Jesus is Mine By: Gia Washington
Just the other day, my son had asked to check the mail. His eyes eagerly waited in anticipation for my response. You see, we have been in quarantine. The governor had implemented his stay home order and my son would do anything, even if it was a miniscule task of checking the mail, to get out of the house. I smirked and nodded my head in approval as he happily skipped off to the mailbox to enjoy the sunlight and fresh air. Upon his return, I smiled as I took the letter out of his hand feeling complete joy knowing that he had gotten a little relief from being cooped up in the house. As I began to glance down at the white envelope, imagine my surprise to notice the large company stamp on the left hand side of the envelope. I hurriedly spliced the envelope thinking why would my job be writing me? Oh no, is this bad? Am I being called back to work? As thoughts began to scamper through my mind, I quickly sat and began to read. This letter is to inform you that during these trying times of covid-19 you have reasonable assurance that you will be paid and will return to work when this crisis has passed. Umph, I thought. What a comforting idea to send a letter to your employees during this season. Especially, during a time when all over the news you can see millions lining up to apply for unemployment. My shoulders settled back into place, as I returned the letter back into the envelope, feeling reassured that my family and I would be ok.
I hadn’t thought about that letter much since that moment. The only thought I held in the back of my mind, were the words reasonable assurance until the day that I was asked to scribe a piece on the resurrection. As I began to revisit the text on the resurrection I found myself thinking in times like these, the world needs to be reassured. Times where the news looks bleak, people are questioning if it's ok to leave the house, and many are worried about survival! We all need some assurance! What better way to be reassured than through the resurrection. After all, the word of God is life, right?
Even though throughout this crisis many scholars have pointed us to the passover, I would like to pass you by the atoning sacrifice of the cross, and deposit you at the promise of the resurrection. The story of the resurrection not only demonstrates the ultimate symbolance of power; but should also signify assurance in your life… through joy/hope, posterity and purpose (newness of life).
The resurrection begins by detailing the harsh suffering of Christ to death, but it also illuminates his resurrection as joy and hope! Hebrews 12:2 For the joy that was set before him (he endured the cross). Isaiah 53:10-11 says, Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt… 11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied, by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous and he shall bear their iniquities. This shows me that through the suffering and crushing, Jesus made an offering for us! He paid a price and bore our iniquities. Even before the appearance of Christ, Isaiah shows us that the “righteous one” would carry out God’s will by saving us! “Many” offspring would be accounted righteous… from every tribe and language and people and nation”. Rev. 5:9 We as a world have... hope!
In 1 Peter 1:3-5 (ESV) ... it says he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading… 1 Peter 1:3-5 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in this world…
Even in a world of chaos, we (his people), have already escaped because we have hope (assurance) that through the resurrection of Christ we shall also be resurrected, our new bodies will be raised in glory and power bearing the image of the man of heaven, the divine son! Hallelujah! (Romans 8:11, Phillipians 3:10-21, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
The resurrection also represents our ability to consider ourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ! It demonstrates that our posterity lies in the newness of life. Romans 6:4 For we were buried… with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life… Because of this we cannot allow sin to reign in ourselves. Our new “walk” demands that we must live as new creations. It also points us to our purpose. We are seeds and because of this “burial”- the planting of the Lord- and being sown we must arise to walk in a new purpose! We are to win others to Christ so that they may know what it truly means to walk in victory, free from fear, and pursuing their God-determined purpose. In Christ, we have a mission that brings joy and meaning to all who know him!
Jesus Christ’s resurrection on the third day fulfills Old Testament predictions, initiates the new creation, justifies, calls the believer to walk in newness of life, and supplies hope to all believers of their own resurrection. You see, it is not just the idea of the resurrection; but what follows it. A living hope, an eternal purpose, and blessed assurance… just for me? No… just for us. Our hope for tomorrow makes our today... better. So I encourage you to check your mail, read the epistle from Paul, and comfort yourself through the comforter, that you too even in this chaos...have assurance.
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine;
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
2
Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels descending, bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
3
Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest;
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love
