For we believe that Jesus died and rose again. (1 Thess. 4:14)
Expanded Passage: 1 Thessalonians 4:14
A church I pastored at always had the kids put on an Easter program. All the kids would dress up, and some of the adults would too. One year, we had the biggest, buffest guy in the church dress up as an angel. When it came time to roll the stone away from the tomb, he decided to improvise. He lifted the boulder above his head and threw it backstage. What an incredible image of the power of God. It was especially powerful as I hurried to get out of the way because I was in the impromptu landing zone! Just imagine, that is only the strength of an angel of God!
Joking aside, Jesus was willing to go to great lengths to pay the price for our misdeeds and God was more than capable of raising Jesus back to life. It is by this same power that Christians find forgiveness and new life on earth. And it is by this same power that God’s people will be resurrected to spend the rest of eternity in God’s presence.
It is imperative that Christ’s followers always remember the power and love of the one they wholeheartedly follow. This is where real hope comes from. Nothing is too great for God, and everything he does is good. That is why believers can find hope in him.
Always keep in mind the power of the One we follow.
Tyler Hardy is a husband, pastor, substitute teacher, and camp volunteer. He enjoys writing, hiking, and perhaps most of all, cooking a good pizza.
© 2026 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
