Why Jesus Christ Needed Revival

“For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.”

Romans 14:9

Who needs revival?

Churches advertise their special meetings as ‘revival’ services. Advertising like that is intended to be an invitation, but can easily be taken as an insult. Who, me? Are you insinuating that I stand in need of revival?

Yet we find that even the Lord Jesus Christ himself needed revival; not a series of sermons, but a real reawakening. What Christ experienced by the immediate quickening of the Holy Ghost, we only gain by constantly exposing ourselves to the Bible, the words of God. We both need the same RESULT: revival, but we often confuse the end with the means. Christ’s revival happened when he rose from the dead- ours when we listen to, repent, and obey the Word of God.

The text doesn’t just give the Gospel: that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day. It extends the ministry of His resurrection by saying, “died, and rose, and revived.” There is something extra special to be learned from why Jesus Christ revived.

Christ needed a revival to reestablish his rightful place with His Father.

Think of it, He spent 33 and a half years identifying with and ministering to sinners. He got to know them very well. Then at Golgotha, His fellowship with His Father was broken entirely. (“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Matthew 27:46) He needed to reconnect with Heaven.

Christ needed a revival to show the world who He really was.

They thought they had Him figured out. The world had taken the one man who was better than everyone, and successfully killed Him. But He was more than just “Son of man,” He was also, “the Son of God.” (John 1:34) Peter reported in Acts 10:40 to Cornelius the Italian: “Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly.” Do your friends, neighbors, and relatives know who YOU really are?

Christ needed a revival to connect the world with the cross.

The world had known nothing but death since Cain beat his brother’s brains out. They knew death, but what they didn’t know was a resurrection FROM the dead. They knew Christ was innocently murdered by crucifixion… they just didn’t know why. A revival let them know the resurrection was the final piece of God’s plan: God approved and accepted the sacrifice of Jesus Christ because He raised Him FROM the dead!

Christ revived so that you and I wouldn’t resist the quickening of the Spirit. He did it, so that you and I wouldn’t fear giving our lives to Him, or giving our lives for Him. He led by example.

Jesus Christ marked ‘revival’ as a spiritual experience that He had. Do you need revival?