Dakota Beacon

Victor Hugo said, “Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come.” What comes to mind when you think of power? Is it a nuclear bomb or the U.S. government? Maybe it’s an arsenal filled with high-caliber weapons or the force behind the breakers crashing on the beach as you walk and listen.

Or maybe it is what happens inside you when your baby cries or when someone you love calls your name. Whatever it is, it’s hard to explain---it just is.

Plenty of people have tried to wrap words around the concept of power; but nothing is as significant as personal experience. Sunday is the Christian holiday of Easter. We celebrate it with stuffed bunnies and egg hunts. We might even have a few thoughts about the death of a man who lived just over 2,000 years ago.

But as we look into the timing and circumstances surrounding his death, we discover something. This was an event that was all about power. His birth, life, and, at age 33, his impending death was a power struggle of epic proportion. However, on reading the accounts in the Bible, written in sections by many individuals thousands of years ago, it may not look like much but a sad end to an ancient story.

He certainly didn’t exude or command power over his peers or the Roman government who held the power of rule and authority where he lived in a small country in the Middle East. In fact, it was his own people who insisted that he be arrested, tried and crucified. And he was. At least it appeared to be so. But something happened that defied explanation.

When his followers came to the tomb on the third day, the body of Jesus of Nazareth was gone! Their first thought was that someone had stolen the body—until two men appeared and asked, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here for he is risen!”

Imagine yourself in this place. At this moment. At this time. The Jews had just been through the observance of Passover—the biggest feast day or holiday of the year. They had just witnessed the death of someone they hoped was Messiah or Savior; they expected deliverance.

Devastation and sorrow threatened to overwhelm his followers. Until Mary Magdalene, the first one to the tomb, heard his voice call her name. “Mary,” said Jesus. She replied, “Rabbi.”

His appearance to the 12 apostles and upwards of 500 others makes his resurrection one of the most verifiable events in history. As his followers reminisced, they realized their teacher had used the Old Testament record to tell them the time had come that Messiah should suffer and die and be raised with power to defeat sin and death. His words? “I have the power to lay down my life and the power to take it up again."

Now that’s power!

He was more than an idea whose time had come.

Emineth is a North Dakota native businessman and political activist. He is a former executive director and chairman of the North Dakota Republican Party. Emineth has served on the Republican National Committee and chaired numerous presidential campaigns in North Dakota. He is the host of “The Legislature Today” and “Open Range” daily TV shows on BEK. He is a serial entrepreneur and has 40-plus years of business experience with multi-national companies. He has traveled the world extensively and has served as CEO and president of mid-tier companies.