Easter 2024

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Introduction

Happy Easter! Or, happy Resurrection Sunday!
The celebration of Christ’s resurrection is, I would say, the most climactic of “holidays” in Christian tradition, and I’m very happy and grateful to be celebrating it here with you.
Do any of you have any particular Easter traditions you look forward to?
Easter comes with a lot of fun traditions, like coloring Easter eggs, and Easter egg hunts, and the Easter bunny, and Easter baskets, and Easter candy!
Easter was always one of my favorite holidays growing up. I loved the Easter egg hunts as a little kid, which always culminated in the glorious discovery of an Easter basket filled with all kinds of treasures. And when I got a little older, it turned into elaborate treasure hunts that my mom would craft with a series of dozens of different clues I had to follow and decipher. And often the clues would involve looking up Bible verses, so she managed to make it a spiritual activity besides!
Easter is, of course, an explicitly Christian holiday, though many non-Christians enjoy some of these traditions that are not inherently religious, much like our Christmas traditions.
It’s actually unclear exactly where these traditions, like decorating eggs, and the Easter bunny originated. There’s even some debate as to the origin of the word “Easter” itself to refer to this holiday! It’s possible that some of it predates Christianity and goes back to general pagan customs and ideas about fertility, and celebrating the arrival of spring and new life. However, there is some evidence that Easter eggs and even the Easter bunny have implicitly Christian origins. And, because Easter is so close to when the Jews celebrate passover, there is some influence from passover traditions as well.
The earliest recorded observance of an Easter celebration comes from the 2nd century, though it’s certainly likely that Christians had been commemorating Christ’s resurrection before that as well. There was some significant controversy as to when to celebrate Easter, which was not fully resolved until the 8th century (and has continued to be a discussion into the 20th and 21st centuries).

Significance of the Resurrection

However, regardless of the date it’s celebrated, or the traditions surrounding it, the purpose and the focus of Easter has pretty much always been the same: to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.
Eggs and baskets and candy and big family meals with ham or lamb, those are all great, fun family traditions! But we should also be sure to take time to reflect on “the reason for the season” as we often say about Christmas. To truly celebrate the meaning of Easter.
In fact, there is an Easter tradition that I know some of you are familiar with, and I like this one a lot. It’s just a simple call-and-response phrase. A declaration and affirmation, to say:
** He is Risen!
** He is Risen indeed.
It just feels good to say, doesn’t it? Those few simple words are so full of hope and joy and declare the reason we can confidently follow Jesus and call him our Lord and Saviour.
It’s a reminder that, at its core, Easter is a celebration of life.
LIFE!
Jesus said:
John 10:10 LSB
10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
The ultimate mission of Jesus was to bring life to people. Perhaps more accurately, the mission of Jesus was, and is still, to bring people to life. He did this, as life himself, coming and giving himself to us that we may have life in him.
Easter is a celebration of that life, specifically, which Jesus provides, but symbols and celebrations of life in general, such as is represented by spring, the renewal of the earth, flowers, eggs, sunshine and bright colors, all of these things are appropriate, albeit temporary, rising and setting reflections of the eternal light of life offered through Jesus.
When adults and children alike hear an d properly understand the story of Jesus' resurrection, it's a lot like finding a lost treasure (or an Easter basket) in a hidden garden on a beautiful spring day. The discovery and wonder of Easter festivities reflect the joy and excitement that the Easter message brings to the entire church family.
Lexham Survey of Theology Jesus’ Resurrection

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is that central moment in human history that serves as the foundational doctrine of Christianity. After having truly assumed human nature and submitted to an agonizing and shameful public death, the eternal Son of God was truly raised from the dead in his glorified physical body, no longer subject to decay and death. His resurrection validates his identity as the divine Son of God, demonstrates his irrevocable victory over death and the grave, and secures both the present salvation and future physical resurrection of believers.

In other words, The resurrection of Jesus Christ is important! We’re going to explore some of the reasons why a little further in a bit, but first I’d like us to read the “Easter story” together.

Events of the Resurrection

I’m going to read from Luke today; we can find the story in all the gospel accounts, but Luke is pretty thorough and detailed, and the last couple times we’ve read it as a church has been from Matthew and John.
So, we’re going to start in Luke chapter 23, backing up to the moment when Jesus died. Because his resurrection is only significant if he truly died. The death, burial, and resurrection are kind of a package deal. The resurrection is the really fun and happy part, but I don’t want to skip over those first two, so we’re going to read through the whole story together.
In Luke 23:44, Jesus is still hanging on the cross, and he just had his conversation with the two other guys being executed on either side of him. It’s Friday, the day Sabbath will begin at sundown.
Luke 23:44–24:53 LSB
44 And it was now about the sixth hour, and darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45 because the sun was obscured. And the veil of the sanctuary was torn in two. 46 And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” Having said this, He breathed His last. 47 Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he began praising God, saying, “Certainly this man was righteous.” 48 And all the crowds who came together for this spectacle, when they observed what had happened, were returning, beating their chests. 49 And all His acquaintances and the women who accompanied Him from Galilee were standing at a distance, watching these things. 50 And behold, a man named Joseph, who was a Council member, a good and righteous man 51 (he had not consented to their counsel and action), a man from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who was waiting for the kingdom of God; 52 this man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 And he took it down and wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid Him in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had ever lain. 54 It was Preparation day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. 55 Now the women, who had come with Him from Galilee, followed and beheld the tomb and how His body was laid. 56 Then after they returned, they prepared spices and perfumes. And on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment. 1 Now on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it happened that while they were perplexed about this, behold, two men suddenly stood near them in dazzling clothing, 5 and when the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living One among the dead? 6 “He is not here, but He has risen. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, 7 saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.” 8 And they remembered His words, 9 and when they returned from the tomb, they reported all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the rest of the women with them were there; they were telling these things to the apostles. 11 But these words appeared to them as nonsense, and they were not believing them. 12 But Peter stood up and ran to the tomb; and stooping to look in, he saw the linen wrappings only. And he went away by himself, marveling at what had happened. 13 And behold, two of them were going that same day to a village named Emmaus, which was sixty stadia from Jerusalem. 14 And they were conversing with each other about all these things which had happened. 15 And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus Himself approached and was going with them. 16 But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him. 17 And He said to them, “What are these words that you are discussing with one another as you are walking?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 And one of them, named Cleopas, answered and said to Him, “Are You the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?” 19 And He said to them, “What things?” And they said to Him, “The things about Jesus the Nazarene, who was a mighty prophet in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people, 20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to the sentence of death, and crucified Him. 21 “But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened. 22 “But also some women among us astounded us. When they were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and not finding His body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive. 24 “Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just exactly as the women also said, but Him they did not see.” 25 And He said to them, “O foolish ones and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 “Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” 27 Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He interpreted to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures. 28 And they approached the village where they were going, and He acted as though He were going farther. 29 But they urged Him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is now nearly over.” So He went in to stay with them. 30 And it happened that when He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and after breaking it, He was giving it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him. And He vanished from their sight. 32 And they said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was opening the Scriptures to us?” 33 And they stood up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those with them, 34 who were saying, “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 And they were relating their experiences on the road and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread. 36 Now while they were telling these things, He Himself stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace to you.” 37 But being startled and frightened, they were thinking that they were seeing a spirit. 38 And He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 “See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. 41 And while they still were not believing because of their joy and were still marveling, He said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave Him a piece of a broiled fish, 43 and He took it and ate it before them. 44 Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 “You are witnesses of these things. 49 “And behold, I am sending the promise of My Father upon you, but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” 50 And He led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up His hands, He blessed them. 51 And it happened that while He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven. 52 And they, after worshiping Him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple blessing God.
Wow! What a story! Without having enough time in one sitting to fully explore every aspect of this story, let’s spend a little time looking at the context, and precedent for the resurrection, as well as some of the implications it has for us.

Context of the Resurrection

So first of all, what was the precedent for his resurrection? Jesus obviously knew ahead of time what was going to happen, but everybody else seemed totally shocked!
Should they have been shocked, though? Or if they were paying attention to scripture and the life of Christ, should they have been expecting this?
Well, it’s easy for us to criticize his disciples in hindsight for being surprised, but I’m sure I wouldn’t have been any different in their shoes.
That said, in hindsight, we can certainly see the precedent and foreshadowing, and even outright prophesy that not only foreshadowed but foretold the resurrection of the Messiah.
And we do know that the concept of dead people coming back to life was a very familiar concept to the Jewish people. They did anticipate that a resurrection would take place at the end of all things. The concept of resurrection was fundamental to Jewish theology, except, of course for the Sadducees, who denied that there would ever be a resurrection, and even denied the existence of spirits altogether. But because of them, the idea of resurrection was an existing controversy that was very frequently discussed among the Jews! It was not a new concept.
Any scholar of Hebrew scripture would have had categories in their mind for the mass resurrection of many people at the end of days, as well as for Yahweh intervening to bring a single individual back to life.

Daniel 12

In Daniel chapter 12, we get a glimpse at what the culmination of God’s kingdom will look like at the end of days:
Daniel 12:2–3 LSB
2 “And many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to reproach and everlasting contempt. 3 “And those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
Let me give you one more example of an Old Testament passage in which the speaker is looking forward to a future resurrection:

Job 19

Job 19:25–27 LSB
25 “As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, And at the last He will rise up over the dust of this world. 26 “Even after my skin is destroyed, Yet from my flesh I shall behold God, 27 Whom I myself shall behold, And whom my eyes will see and not another. My heart faints within me!
This “redeemer,” a savior God who saves even from the dust and decay of death, is in fact the Christ, the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth.
Even before his own death, Jesus demonstrated his authority over death, recalling the greatest works of the Old Testament prophets Elijah and Elisha, as someone greater even than them.
He brings a young girl back to life, the daughter of a leader in Matthew chapter 9,
And in Luke 7 he brings a boy back to life in the middle of his funeral procession! The boy sits up right out of his coffin!
The third example of Jesus demonstrating power over death is probably the most famous one. And I think it’s the most poignant one, because the man Jesus resurrects had not just recently died. He had been dead, funeral was over, and he was buried in a tomb for four days!

Lazarus

You can find the full story of Lazarus in John chapter 11, which we won’t read all of today for the sake of time, but I think it’s an important precedent to Jesus’s resurrection that it’s worth mentioning.
Lexham Survey of Theology Jesus’ Resurrection

At the time that the events of the New Testament occurred, the resurrection of the dead was a concept very familiar to the Jewish people, who anticipated that it would take place at the end of all things (Dan 12:2–3).

In fact, Martha believes that Jesus is referring to this resurrection when he explains that her brother Lazarus “will rise again” (John 11:23). Undoubtedly having heard the same reassurance from others offering their condolences, Martha replies that she knows “he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day” (John 11:24). The weight of Jesus’ response, that he is “the resurrection and the life,” must have increased once Martha saw her brother, dead by then four days, walk out of his tomb (John 11:38–44).

Just as with the story of Lazarus, the enigmatic promises in the Old Testament of the Messiah’s resurrection were brought into sharp focus after the event had taken place (John 20:9). In fact, Jesus’ revelation to his disciples on the road to Emmaus shows that the death and resurrection of Christ is a central proclamation of the Old Testament (Luke 24:25–27). In addition to the Old Testament prophecies, the resurrection of Christ was repeatedly and specifically proclaimed beforehand several times by the Lord himself (Matt 12:38–40; Mark 8:31; 9:34; 10:34; Luke 9:22), and even when the disciples find the tomb empty, they must be reminded of what Jesus had said concerning his own resurrection (Luke 24:6–7). When the disciples finally encounter the resurrected Christ, they find his body not to be a phantom or a mirage, but truly flesh and blood: he insists that Thomas physically touch him (John 20:24–29), and he eats regular food (John 21:9–14). The “heavenly” body to which Paul refers in 1 Corinthians 15:40 is the resurrected body, one beyond the reach of death.

I think one of the coolest parts of this story, other than the resurrection itself, is Jesus’s conversation with Martha.
He tells her “Your brother will rise again.”
And at first, it seems Martha thinks that Jesus is referring to the resurrection we read about in Daniel, in the end of days, when he explains that her brother Lazarus “will rise again.” Martha replies that she knows “he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”
But then Jesus’s response, that he is the resurrection and the life is such a bold, powerful claim! And Martha actually seems to get it at that point! She believes that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that he has authority even over death.
How much more would her faith have then increased once Martha saw her brother, dead by then four days, walk out of his tomb, fully alive?!?

Implications of the Resurrection

All of this goes to show that at the time of Jesus’s death, the Jews would have had the opportunity to think about the Old Testament’s prediction of resurrections in the future, as well as three specific examples of Yahweh bringing people back to life through Elijah and Elisha, AND three specific examples of Jesus bringing people back to life!
Moreover, John records Jesus as having said, specifically, that he is the one through whom we may all participate in the glorious resurrection on the last day:

Jesus is the Son of God.

John 6

John 6:35–40 LSB
35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me will never hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. 36 “But I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe. 37 “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will never cast out. 38 “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 “Now this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. 40 “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”
Which brings us to the final area of focus for this morning, the implications of the Christ’s resurrection for us.
The New Testament writers insist that Christ’s resurrection bears strong and everlasting consequences.
It validates Christ’s claim to the be the Son of God, proves his victory over sin and death, secures our eternal salvation, demonstrates our future, and elevates Jesus to the throne of the kingdom of Yahweh, having been given authority over all creation, in heaven and earth.
Let’s look a few more passages which bring out each of these points. 1 Corinthians 15 is, I think, one of the more comprehensive passages, from Paul, on the implications of the resurrection:

1 Cor 15

1 Corinthians 15:1–26 LSB
1 Now I make known to you, brothers, the gospel which I proclaimed as good news to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I proclaimed to you as good news, unless you believed for nothing. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep. 7 After that, He appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, and not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed. 12 Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. 15 Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we bore witness against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied. 20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming. 24 Then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy to be abolished is death.
He goes on to discuss some of the logistics of these claims, then in verse 54 sort of comes to this conclusion:
1 Corinthians 15:54–57 LSB
54 But when this corruptible puts on the incorruptible, and this mortal puts on immortality, then will come about the word that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 Now the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!
What a bold, triumphant, and hopeful statement to claim!!!

Rev 1

In Revelation, John witnesses and hears the risen Jesus make this claim:
Revelation 1:17–18 LSB
17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not fear; I am the first and the last, 18 and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forever and ever, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.
Jesus not only holds the keys of death and Hades just for his own benefit, but extends the offer of salvation to all. HIS resurrection secures OUR salvation!

Eternal Salvation

HIS resurrection secures OUR salvation!
Romans 4:25 CSB
25 He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
Romans 10:9–10 CSB
9 If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.
1 Peter 1:3 CSB
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead
This is possible because he is our eternal, undying high priest, interceding on our behalf before the Father:
Hebrews 7:23–25 LSB
23 And the former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing, 24 but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. 25 Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

Jesus Demonstrates Our Future

Such is our eternal hope that the resurrection of Jesus serves as the precursor for the resurrection of believers, who have been “buried with him in baptism,” will be raised with him, and “will appear with him in glory,” having been made “like him.”
Colossians 3:1–4 LSB
1 Therefore, if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you died and your life has been hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, is manifested, then you also will be manifested with Him in glory.
1 John 3:2 LSB
2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not been manifested as yet what we will be. We know that when He is manifested, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.
Again, in Revelation, we get this beautiful depiction of God’s kingdom, with the “lamb,” referring to Jesus, sharing equally in all the glory and honor and worship attributed to Yahweh. The lamb is depicted here as the king of the kingdom:
Revelation 7:9–12 LSB
9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; 10 and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” 11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying, Amen, the blessing and the glory and the wisdom and the thanksgiving and the honor and the power and the strength, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”

Summary

Lexham Survey of Theology Jesus’ Resurrection

The New Testament insists that Christ’s resurrection bears strong and everlasting consequences. It validates Christ’s claim to the be the Son of God (Acts 2:22–36); it also validates his teaching as being from God (Matt 12:38–40). The resurrection event also stands as evidence of the Lord’s victory over death and the grave (1 Cor 15:54–55; Rev 1:17–18), and it secures our salvation (Rom 4:25; 10:9–10; Heb 7:23–25; 1 Pet 1:3). As such, the resurrection of Jesus serves as the precursor for the resurrection of believers (1 Cor 15:20), who have been “buried with him in baptism” (Col 2:12), will be raised with him (2 Cor 4:14), and “will appear with him in glory” (Col 3:1–4), having been made “like him” (1 John 3:2).

The resurrection of Christ holds a central place in Christian theology: everything is built upon this foundational event. Without the reality of the resurrection our salvation is nothing but a sham, the proclamation of the gospel is utterly pointless, and Christians are to be pitied (1 Cor 15:14–19). But, as Paul reassures us, Christ has indeed been raised from the dead (1 Cor 15:20) and his union with believers ensures our own future physical resurrection (1 Thess 4:13–18). The early church testified to this connection between the Lord’s empty tomb and our own with the final lines of the Apostles’ Creed: “I believe in the resurrection of the dead and the life everlasting.”

Conclusion & Present Purpose

The resurrection gives us hope, and it gives us purpose.
The resurrection proves that Jesus is in fact the Messiah, that he is in fact the son of God, and that he is in fact the solution to the problem of sin and death that was introduced back in Genesis 3.
Romans 6:23 CSB
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
2 Corinthians 5:21 CSB
21 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Jesus did what Israel could not, and by placing our faith in him, our own sin becomes covered by HIS death.
Though we still live in a fallen world, and we all will die someday, these bodies dying is not the end of our lives. In Jesus we have the promise of eternal life in the resurrected bodies of a new creation.
What exactly that will look like is a mystery, and it doesn’t take away the pain or the sorrow of this broken world, but it does give us hope for the future.
The resurrection is relevant in the here and now, too. It gives us hope and purpose, not just for the future, but for the present, right here, right now.
Romans 6:4 CSB
4 Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life.
Here, Paul is talking not about the future, but the present! Yes, Jesus gives us hope for the future, but he’s not just alive and working in the future, he’s alive and working NOW, today, in our lives, through the power of his spirit. Here Paul is specifically talking about putting to death the sin which rules over our lives, because Jesus has already conquered it for us!
2 Corinthians 5:17 CSB
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!
The bright hope we have for the future does not bypass or negate the dark reality of our present. But even though we are surrounded by darkness, we are called to be lights in that darkness, just like Jesus was! When we walk in the presence of God, we walk in the ultimate joy and peace of knowing him, which transcends everything else.
Romans 12:1–2 CSB
1 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
As we continue to celebrate Easter today, let us enjoy time spent with family, and whatever traditions and festivities we choose to partake in, but most of all let us rejoice in the glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ, and give thanks to him for the hope we have in him of eternal life, and salvation from sin and death forever.
Pray
Father, we are so grateful for the sacrifice you made, and for providing the solution for us through yourself, for becoming the solution to sin and death through your son Jesus. Today, as we celebrate the joyful truth of your resurrection, let us not take this great gift for granted. In you we have hope, the promise of new life, both now, in the presence of your spirit, and in the age to come, in the glory of your new creation. We present ourselves now, as living sacrifices, to do your will. Renew our minds and our hearts, God, so that we may see you and know you, and by your spirit bring the light of your salvation into the world just as you did.
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