While meditating on what I should write about this month, I felt that the topic, “Resurrection Power” would be a good subject for the Easter celebration, so I began jotting down some thought-provoking notes that I could use in this devotional.  Then, the Lord started showing me all of the “threes” associated with Jesus, especially in association with his death and resurrection. The number “3” represents resurrection power. Of course, I was already aware of the most obvious ones, but the more I began digging, the more fascinated I became with my findings. I’m not claiming this to be an exhaustive list — you may know of others. Nevertheless, these facts all point to the truth of the supernatural resurrection power of our Lord Jesus.  

Jesus is 1/3 of the Trinity — the Godhead — three in one: God, the Father; Jesus, the son; and the Holy Spirit, who is with us today.  Jesus was 30 years old when he began his ministry. His ministry began immediately following Satan’s three temptations in the wilderness. His earthly ministry lasted three years. Then, He was crucified when he was 33 years old.  Jesus prophesied of his own death and resurrection in John 2:19 saying, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up,” speaking of his body. He also spoke of his own death and resurrection in Matthew 12, “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”  During the last supper, Jesus prophesied that Peter would deny him three times before the cock crowed.. Scholars say the cock is known to crow during the 3rd watch of the night, which is between 12:00 midnight and 3:00 am. With this in mind, Peter denied knowing Jesus three times during the 3rd watch of the night, and the cock probably crowed about 3:00 am.

After Jesus’ resurrection, Peter would have to re-affirm his devotion for Jesus three times when Jesus asked him three times, “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?”

Following the last supper, Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane. Three of his disciples, Peter, James, & John went with him into the garden to pray. Jesus prayed in the garden three separate times; the Bible records the first time was for one hour. If the other two times were also one hour, Jesus would have prayed a total of three hours.  Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss for 30 pieces of silver.  When the soldiers led Jesus away, he was tried before three official leaders: Caiaphas, Pilate, and HerodPilate spoke of Jesus’ innocence three times, saying that he found no fault in him.  Pilate appealed to three different groups: the Sanhedrin, the crowd of angry people, and the priests.  The soldiers whipped Jesus 39 times with a cat of nine tails. It was a whip with a piece of metal or bone attached to each of nine separate strands. That means Jesus was beat with 351 strands and pieces of metal or bone (351 divides evenly by 3).   When they laid Jesus on the cross, they pounded three nails or spikes into his flesh. There were three men crucified that day on three crosses.

The sign on the cross, “This is the King of the Jews” was written in 3 languages: Greek, Latin, and Hebrew.  The Bible names three women who were at the cross of Jesus: Mary Magdalene; Mary, the mother of James & Joses; and the mother of Zebedee’s children.

Three drinks were offered to Jesus: on his arrival at Calvary; on the cross before the malefactor cried for mercy; and at the end of His life.  The first three words Jesus spoke on the cross were, “Father, forgive them.” Jesus, also, had to forgive to be the perfect sacrifice for us.  Darkness came upon the earth for three hours before he died at 3:00.  Three supernatural events took place at his death: an earthquake, the temple veil was torn in two, and the dead were raised and seen walking.  Three women came to the tomb early Sunday morning: Mary Magdalene; Mary, the mother of James; and Salome.  The title, Lord Jesus, is first mentioned in Luke 24:3 following his resurrection. It is found 33 times in the New Testament.

The account of Jesus’ death — from the garden where He was arrested to his resurrection — is recorded in three chapters of all four gospels: Matthew 26-28; Mark 14-16; Luke   22-24; and John 18-20.  It’s clear to see that God loved us so much that he created a perfect plan, with every detail pointing toward the resurrected Jesus as our perfect sacrifice, bridging the gap between lost humanity and Himself. I’m so glad he did. Aren’t you?  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Vicki