Three ways Jesus’ Resurrection Made Quiet Time Possible
Tiffany Joy Layton
Quiet time. Whether you know it well and are disciplined in it, or are not very familiar and struggle to commit, one thing remains the same: we would not have the opportunity of a Quiet Time with Jesus without the freedom and power His resurrection accomplished.
I think we can often lose sight of the beauty and power His death and resurrection hold. I know I can. Easter season always draws me to reflect on the fact that my quiet time was made possible by His great sacrifice.
Jesus’ resurrection made daily repentance possible.
Before Jesus’ death and resurrection, people could not just go straight to God and repent as soon as they sinned. They had to wait until the priest went before the presence of God to make sacrifices to atone for the people’s sins.
Can you imagine the weight of sin on the people as they waited until the day of atonement? I can almost feel the sense of hopelessness and defeat sitting upon their shoulders. Jesus came and did what the priests could never do. He became the sacrifice to end all sacrifices. His life was the atonement for sin once and for all. When His sacrifice was complete, He spiritually and physically (the temple veil was torn in two!) demolished what stood between us and His presence, giving us direct access to Him.
“Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins. But our High Priest offered Himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then He sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. There He waits until His enemies are humbled and made a footstool under His feet. For by that one offering He forever made perfect those who are being made holy.” (Hebrews 10:11-14 NLT)
Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we have the opportunity to go to Him at any time. We are free to repent before the presence of God ourselves and find instant restoration with Him. We do not have to ever be separated from God's presence. Like Hebrews 4:16 tells us we can come boldly before His throne and find mercy.
Jesus’ resurrection made personal Bible study and prayer possible.
When Jesus came and took away what separated us from Him, we were given access to know and understand the Bible for ourselves (without scribes and priests having exclusive access and knowledge of the law). He also gave us His Spirit Who enables us to come directly to God in prayer.
We now have the freedom to sit down and study the Word and pray to God whenever we want! We do not have to go through anyone else to know Him.
Jesus’ resurrection made intimacy with Him possible.
What is Quiet Time if not intimacy with God? It should not merely be a checklist or penance to please a higher being. Quiet Time is simply to know Jesus, to really know Him, and be known by Him. After His resurrection, His followers did not want Him to go away. I don’t blame them! I wouldn’t want Him to leave if he was right in front of me either. But Jesus assured them they should want Him to go because the Holy Spirit would only be sent once He returned to the Father. (John 16:7) Because of Christ’s resurrection, we are offered the Holy Spirit Who allows us to experience intimacy and oneness with God.
“And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it isn’t looking for Him and doesn’t recognize Him. But you know Him because He lives with you now and later will be with you.”(John 14:16-17 NLT)
“And this is the way to have eternal life - to know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.” (John 17:3 NLT)
In light of these truths, we can reflect on Quiet Time with Jesus, as something much more powerful and precious than a cute, Christian cultural norm embellished with highlighters, candles, coffee, and devotionals. While such things can be helpful or enjoyable, our Quiet Time with Him came at a great cost. Our great High Priest made the ultimate sacrifice so that we can have access to Him and intimacy with Him.
Such a great gift deserves our commitment to discipline and faithfulness and should fill us with joy! May we approach Quiet Time with awe and boldness, crying out All Hail King Jesus!
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Tiffany Joy Layton lives in Alabama with her husband, Lex. She works at a local Credit Union and volunteers at her church, where she serves as a worship leader.
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