Easter has, once again, come and gone. It was a weird Easter for me. I was on the tail end of a crazy illness that had me laid up in bed for several days leading up to Easter Sunday. On Easter Sunday, I managed to physically go to church and celebrate the truth that death could not keep Jesus in the grave. However, I am not so sure I was cognitively all there. I also wanted to write a blog post about the resurrection, but that too fell by the wayside due to being ill.
And so, I write this blog about the resurrection post Easter. And as I do, I realize it is appropriate to do so! Why? Because, as Christians, we celebrate Christ’s resurrection every day.
Christ is risen:
- There is hope in this world!
As I write, I am aware that this world is a mess. Persecution is on display, terrorism continues to rise despite the worlds’ governments seeking to squash it, babies still die stillborn, and human trafficking continues at an alarming pace. And yet, there is no greater hope than the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
For the unbeliever…. why is there no greater hope? What is the importance of the resurrection? How does the resurrection give us hope?
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 6:5-11 ESV)
Whatever it is that you and I might face today, nothing in this world gives us more hope than knowing that sin and death has been defeated – Jesus rose from the grave!
- Death Does Not Have The Final Word
Sure, the Christian celebrates the resurrection on Easter Sunday. But, the celebration is not limited to one Sunday a year! Every day is a celebration of Christ’s victory over the grave. And that victory reverberates off the walls of history. He rose from the grave! I need to be reminded of this truth each day. He rose from the grave! Have we grown overly familiar with that phrase? He rose from the grave! Death could not keep Him. Christ, not death, had the final word. Death will not have the final word over you, Christian.
Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!
(Romans 7:24-25 ESV)
- The Resurrection Is Good News For Sinners
One day Jesus walked into the synagogue and took the scroll and began to read from Isaiah.
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
(Luke 4:18-21 ESV)
This world offers hope in a lot of so-called saviors. Humanity runs to relationships, addictions, money, and much more. We are all on an all-out search for something to bring relief from the suffering, sadness, and pain that riddles us. Humanity looks for a salvation. Something, anything to relieve the anguish we each face. The resurrection of Jesus offers you a powerful hope that will not be found anywhere else or in anything else. The resurrection is good news for the poor, the blind, and the oppressed. The resurrection brings hope to the hopeless.
Will you come to Christ? Believer and Non-believer alike. Run to Jesus. His resurrection from the dead offers you a hope greater than you can imagine.
Christ is Risen!
Thank you, Pastor Elder Bishop Tim (inside joke). In Him we live…… Be blessed. John H.
Thanks John! And that’s Reverend Pastor Elder Bishop Tim – you forgot the Rev! :-)