April 2026

The Bible says in Matthew 28:1-7, “In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week [Sunday], Mary Magdalene came and the other Mary to see the sepulcher [Jesus’ Tomb]. And there was a great earthquake: for the Angel of the Lord descended from Heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance [facial appearance] was like lightning, and his raiment [garment] white as snow. And for fear of him the keepers shook, and became as dead men. And the Angel answered and said to the women, “Fear not, for I know that you seek Jesus, Who was crucified. He is not here: for He has risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord was laid. And go quickly, and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and He goes before you into Galilee; there shall you see Him, I have told you.”

This is the time of year when we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

This season is and should be one of the most joyous festivals that the Church celebrates. The Resurrection meant new life for Jesus and for all Believers. Along with new life, we have received blessings He purchased for us at Calvary. I want to give to you five blessings that now belong to us through Jesus. The first blessing is “pardon.” Jesus’ Resurrection seals our pardon.

The Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 4:25, [He Jesus] Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.”

Because Jesus paid the price for our redemption and took our place, God can now offer us a full and complete pardon. What does “pardon” mean? A pardon is a legal document setting a person free from punishment. It also wipes out a record of past deeds. It’s as though they never happened. We should have to pay for our misdeeds. Instead, Jesus took our sins and the punishment for those sins upon Himself at the Cross. As a result, the Heavenly Father can offer us a pardon and wipe out our misdeeds, our sins, and our past as though they never existed. The devil may try to haunt you with visions from your past. But as far as God is concerned, if you’ve accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, you have been pardoned, and your slate has been wiped clean.

The second blessing Jesus gave us is “peace.” If you have ever lived without peace, you know that peace is a great blessing. And the Resurrection guarantees that you can have peace.

Jesus said in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you: not as the world gives, I give I to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” Then in John 20:19, He tells us more about this peace. “Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week [Sunday], when the doors were shut where the Disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be unto you.”

One of the last things Jesus said to His Disciples before His death was, “Peace I leave with you.” And the first thing He told them after His Resurrection was, “Peace be with you.” Jesus is our Prince of Peace, and He is not buried in a tomb in Jerusalem. The Prince of Peace is alive and well. And because He is, we have peace.

The third blessing Jesus gave us through the Resurrection is “purity.” The person who has received God’s pardon from sin by accepting Jesus Christ as Savior now needs purity. Through Jesus, we receive pardon for the past, peace for today, and purity for life in the future. Because of the Resurrection, a pardoned sinner can now live a life to God.

In Romans 6:18-22 Paul says, “Being then made free from sin, you became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as you have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity to iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness to Holiness. For when you were the servants of sin, you were free from righteousness. What fruit had you then in those things whereof you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, you have your fruit to Holiness, and the end everlasting life.”

Because of the purity imparted to us in Christ, we can live free from sin with fruit to Holiness. Regardless of your past, when you accepted Jesus, you were pardoned, and your past was wiped out. Once you were pardoned, you were given peace. So don’t let your past hinder you anymore. When you were pardoned by God through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, you were also given purity. Don’t ever say you are unholy. Instead, say, “I am pure and Holy because of the Blood of Jesus.” The fourth blessing of Jesus’ Resurrection is “power.”

In Philippians 3:10 Paul says, “That I may know Him, and the power of His Resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable to His death.” Romans 8:11 says “the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead shall quicken our mortal bodies.” Many Christians believe Christ gives us power only for spiritual things. But because of the Resurrection, we also have power through the Holy Spirit to quicken (build up and strengthen) our bodies. We have power at our disposal that we often don’t think to use.

Then Paul says in Ephesians 1:19–20, “And what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, Which he wrought [worked] in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His Own right hand in the Heavenly places.”

According to this passage of Scripture, the exceeding greatness of God’s power is toward us who believe. We have power because of the Resurrection! Jesus said in Luke 10:19, ‘Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, that nothing by any means shall hurt you!” A fifth blessing of Christ’s Resurrection is “His Presence.” One of the greatest personal blessings of the Resurrection is the promise of God’s presence. 

In Hebrews 13:5, the Bible says, “Let your conversation [behavior] be without covetousness; and be content with such things as you have: for He has said, “I will never leave you, nor forsake you.” The Lord has promised to never leave us nor forsake us. You can be all by yourself with no one else around for miles. Yet, you’re not alone. God’s presence is with you wherever you are. Even when you’re asleep, He’s there. When you’re eating, driving, working—wherever you are and whatever you’re doing, He’s there.

Jesus said in Matthew 28:19-20, “Go therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and I am with you always, even to the end of the world.”

God has promised through Jesus, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” We should never forget the many blessings of the Resurrection. Pardon, Peace, Purity, Power, and God’s Presence are just a few. How amazing to think that Jesus died for us. But how great and wonderful to know that He also rose again! And because He rose again, you and I have blessings beyond compare. Thank God for the Resurrection!

No matter what you may be facing today, I want to encourage you to stay in faith, stay in prayer, stay in the Word every day, make you daily confession, pray in the spirit for our nation, our leaders, and all who are in authority, pray for the peace of Jerusalem; and remember “God loves you; we love you and JESUS IS LORD!”

In The Service of Our King,

Darrell G. Harrelson

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