This Changes EverythingSample

His Life Changed Everything

Welcome to our Easter devotional! Over the next 5 days, we will be leaning into the realization of how the life of Jesus, changed everything. He lived a life of power and authority, fully man and fully God. Yet, in a society where the pursuit of power and authority was for personal gain and abuse, Jesus came as a servant, born an infant, and He ministered to people in love and compassionate servitude. He came to lay down His life in death and to take the atoning place for us through His one sacrifice on the cross, forall sin and separation from God.

Over this devotional, there are three things that we want to really grasp as a revelation in our hearts- who Jesus is, what His death and resurrection means for us, and how that one act of the cross has changed history forever. We will cover many scriptural references in this devotional, and we recommend you take the time to explore the stories found within them.

Jesus came with power and authority.

We see the reaction of people to Jesus in the Bible time and time again, as they remark on not just what He does but the "authority" in which He does it. He came with words and power: Mark 1:27 a new teaching but with authority, 2:10 authority to forgive sins, 3:15 authority to drive out demons, 6:7 authority to empower others. He didn’t just teach with wisdom, lepers were made clean 1:40-45, diseases were healed, 2:1-12, 3:1-12 and more. He had authority over nature: He calmed the sea 4:35-41, He walked on water 6:32-35. and He had authority over death 5:35-43. Jesus came with power and authority for all who believed.

His authority had action, not just words.

The Gospel of Mark parallels the ministry of the Pharisees and Jesus. One came with laws and legislations, just like the philosophers of the Greco-Roman culture, but Jesus was the whole package; He came with wisdom, power, and authority. People didn't need words, new philosophies, or new laws; they needed the ability to be forgiven of sin, freedom, miracles, and healing, which is what Jesus gave them. Today people don’t need just wise words, they need the power of God!

Jesus’ authority was to serve and give up his life for others.

In Mark 10:45, "even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Jesus came with power and authority not to “lord” over people but to serve. Jesus' death was an atoning sacrifice to pay for our sins and restore human beings to a good relationship with God. He came to do the ultimate act of service, to lay down His life for others.

Prayer Point:

Lord Jesus, thank you for coming to the earth to lay down your life for me. Thank you that you came and lived a life of power and authority, bringing life, forgiveness of sins, healings and miracles. But you chose to lay down that life in the greatest act of service for my sins.