Raised and Presented
2 Corinthians 4:14 (ESV) – knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence.
“Tah-Dah!” We’ve all said, or heard someone say, this phrase after presenting themselves. Some present themselves in a new outfit. The phrase could be said after doing a trick or fixing a problem. The phrase itself is about presenting something for other people’s view.
This idea of presenting something shows up in our passage today. In 2 Corinthians 4, Paul talks about how believers are going to be raised in the glory of the resurrection and presented with Christ. We read in verse 14, “knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence.”
The NASB translation says that He who raised Christ will raise us too and present us with “you.” The context of the passage is Paul writing to the church in Corinth. The believers there are going to be raised with Christ and presented one day as spotless, without blemish, and whole. But he says, “with you.” The idea is that all of Christ’s people, all over the world, will be united in glory as the spotless bride of the Lamb. We have the hope of glory.
The anchor to this promise is Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. He who raised Christ from the dead will raise us. That is a promise guaranteed. If we die in Christ, sown into the ground, we have the promise to be raised from the dead upon Jesus’ return to earth. On that day we will be presented. Christ will say “tah-dah!” Our perfection will be His achievement. Our spotlessness will be His praise. Our wholeness, His reflection.
Thank God today for the promises we have in Christ. We will be raised. We will be presented as blameless. This incredible promise will usher in the New Heavens and New Earth.
Reflection & Journal:
- Why can we be confident that we will be raised from the dead?
- What does it mean for us to be presented?
- How should this promise in today’s passage shape how we live our lives? What effect can this promise have on us?
We make these devotions freely available to thousands of readers daily. If you’d like to help support the ministry, please click here to learn more.
Sign up to receive our daily devotions in your inbox here!