In a ‘sting’ operation, law enforcement agents set the criminal up in order to bring them down. That’s like what happened to Satan at the cross. For three days it seemed as though Satan had won. Then Jesus rose from the dead and turned his plans upside down: ‘He disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross’ (Colossians 2:15 NLT).

The thing Satan feared most, the birth of a church with the power to change the world through the gospel, had come true. ‘The rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord’ (1 Corinthians 2:8 NLT). Christ’s enemies even tried to stop the truth of the resurrection from getting out: ‘They decided to give the soldiers a large bribe. They told the soldiers, “You must say, ‘Jesus’ disciples came during the night while we were sleeping, and they stole his body.’ If the governor hears about it, we’ll stand up for you so you won’t get in trouble.” So the guards accepted the bribe and said what they were told to say’ (Matthew 28:12-15 NLT).

The resurrection is the ultimate proof that Jesus is Lord, and we can be sure of our salvation when we believe in the resurrection. ‘If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and if you believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you will be saved. We believe with our hearts, and so we are made right with God. And we declare with our mouths that we believe, and so we are saved’ (Romans 10:9-10 NCV).

What Now?

Get together with some friends, or set up a video call with them. Share a few stories about why you believe and things that you know God’s done for you, then say the words of Romans 10:10 (NCV) together as a declaration of your love and faith in God.