Love paid a price for hope to come true. ~ Susan Gaddis
The resurrection of Jesus is both the end … and the beginning of our Christian faith. Jesus’ death ended the Old Covenant with all its rules, symbolized by the veil of the temple being torn in two (Mark 15:38). His death ratified a New Covenant, a better covenant, which was established on better promises (Heb. 8: 6). Then God raised him from the dead and anointed him as our High Priest to minister those promises to us.
Easter symbolizes all that we hold dear in our Christian faith. Jesus’ demonstration of love, obedience, and sacrifice established a new relationship between God and his people. But this man, having offered a single sacrifice for sins forever, sat at the right hand of God from now on to wait until his enemies were made his footstool. (Hebrews 10: 12-13).
When God made a covenant with Abraham, He ratified it with the blood of animals and birds (see Genesis 15). Our New Covenant, however, was ratified in Jesus’ own blood (see John 20:17).
Blood covenants are deeply ingrained in human experience. American Indians become blood brothers. Husbands and wives become one with the shedding of blood. In ancient times, families, tribes, and villages created blood covenants for protection, loyalty, support, and profit.
A blood covenant is a form of adoption. Neither party is singular; now they are one. It is the strongest relationship bond known to mankind. Two parties exchange everything they are or have for the benefit of the other. In our case, the New Covenant forever sealed our access to all the riches and power of heaven. That is why the communion ceremony is so powerful; reaffirms our Covenant with Almighty God and His Son, Jesus, our Savior, Lord, and High Priest.
God declared, “I will be their God, and they will be my people” (2 Cor. 6:16). Why? … that in the centuries to come he may display the abundant riches of his grace in his goodness to us through Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2: 5-7).
You can imagine? God wants to show us His immense wealth and goodness! He wants to bless us very abundantly on everything that can be asked or thought, according to the power that works in us (Ephesians 3:20). These are just three of our promises at the Resurrection.
Jesus our hope
Through whom we also have access by faith to this grace in which we are, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5: 2)
Hope means expectant expectation. No matter what is happening in your life, hope clings to God’s promises, waiting for things to change. As born-again believers, we hope to spend eternity in heaven because of Jesus. Why? Because God said so! But God also wants us to have a good life here on earth. He wants us to have hope in ALL of his promises. Peter explained that we were redeemed by the precious blood of Christ … so that your faith and your hope are in God (I Peter 1: 19,21).
The hope of the covenant comes from the Word. David said, “You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word” (Ps. 119: 114). Paul explained in Romans that we have access by faith to God’s grace and favor. Faith – putting our absolute trust in the Word of God alone – is the substance of the things we hope for. Hope, coupled with faith, loudly declares God’s promises of health, prosperity, peace, joy, and deliverance, believing that they will be fulfilled.
Jesus our power
Let us come, then, confidently to the throne of grace, so that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help us in times of need.(Hebrews 4:16).
The power of God is demonstrated throughout the Bible. From the creation and parting of the Red Sea to the miracles of Jesus and the acts of the Apostles, we see physical circumstances dominated by the voice of Almighty God. The greatest demonstration of his power was the resurrection of Jesus from the abyss of hell. How did he do all his wonders? Speaking words from His mouth. Everything He says has the power within Himself to make it happen. And He transferred that power to us through Jesus!
As joint heirs with Him, we have the power to speak His Word. Jesus, as our High Priest, is ready to ratify our words spoken in faith. The God of Israel is the one who gives strength and power to his people (Ps. 68:35). That power is inherent in the Word of God, but we also need strength to patiently remain until the manifestation. Faith clings to the Word, knowing He gives strength to the weary, and increases strength to the one who has no (Isaiah 40:29).
Jesus our victory
But thank God, who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:57).
Hope and power lead to victory. Born-again believers have an advantage that the rest of the world lacks. Because everyone who is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, even our faith (I John 5: 4).
Think of Jesus’ mission on earth. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he anointed me to preach the gospel. [good news] To the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and to restore sight to the blind, to set them free in the wounded. (Luke 4:18). The Amplified says those who are “oppressed, bruised, crushed, and broken by calamity.”
Healing, deliverance, restoration, and freedom are part of our Covenant. Jesus never rejected anyone who asked for healing or restoration. He brought victory wherever he went. He never said, “You don’t deserve it.” In fact, the Bible says that he only said and did what the Father told him to say and do, so everything he did was an example of the Father’s will. God wants to do you good and bring you victory where you need it.
Yes an amen
Sometimes we feel that God is telling us no, not now, or that he is simply ignoring us, but that is not true. Because all the promises of God in him are ‘yes’; and in Him ‘amen’ for the glory of God for us (2 Corinthians 1:20). It is a covenant alliance. Jesus is the Mediator, but the power works “for us” as his representatives on this earth. God’s promises are always ‘yes and amen’, but it takes our faith to make the connection to God’s provision. Both parties are needed to make a strong pact.
God called us to be His family, to receive all the generosity and blessing that He can bestow. We are not only your covenant partners, we are your sons and daughters. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to promise. (Galatians 3:29).
If he was named heir, I am willing to bet that he would be ready and waiting to receive what was promised to him. I’d call the lawyer and say, “Hey, that’s me. I’m entitled to that and I want it. What do I have to do to get it?” Then you would do whatever it took to get what you were promised.
The same is true of the New Covenant of grace. God’s grace has made everything available to you through the blood of Christ and the Word of promise. Look at Jesus, hold on to his promises and stand up. You have the supernatural hope, power, and victory you need to bring them to life, all thanks to the Resurrection.
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