This is the most important event in the life of the Christian Church. Nothing else can even come close to the Resurrec-
tion of Jesus the Christ. Not his birth, his ministry nor his Crucifixion, as important as these events were. Obviously the Resurrection could not have happened without the prior phenonenons taking place. But it was the Resurrection of Jesus from the grave that gave those first disciple the courage and stamina to go out in their world and continue to minister to everyone they met.
After the crucifixion and burial of their Lord and Master the disciples met behind closed doors, trembling every time there was a knock on the door. They were fearful that they might meet the same fate that had taken away their Leader. But after they became convinced - and that didn't happen too easily, as the various gospel accounts of the Resurrection story reveal to us - they became completely transformed. Their fear was turned into courage, uncertainty becaame dynamic and radiant faith. And before long these men and women were out in the streets of the city that had dealt so cruelly with their Master, declaring with great joy the mess- age of salvation which had come about by the mighty vindi- cation of His son by almighty God.
The disciples had felt totally defeated when Jesus was crucified. When they learned that Jesus was risen from the grave, those men and women who had lost all hope turned into fearless ambassadors for God and His Kingdom.
The Resurrection has very little to do with spring, except we celebrate Easter then. There may be some symbolism in the Easter eggs, in new life emerging and the budding of the trees and the appearance of the flowers, and the earth recovering from the death-grip of winter. The Resurrection, however, is so much more.
The Resurrection is the power of God which raised Jesus Christ from death to life. Ephesians tells us of that power "which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms..." [Eph. 1:20, NIV]. That is the Resurection! It tran- scends season, it even bypasses revered religious rites and rituals, because it is centered in the blood, sweat, tears, hopes, and dreams of all human existence.
Hear the almost lyrical words of Paul in verses 42-44: "The body that is sown is perishable; it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body." Because He lives, we shall live also, and hope is born in the human heart. He was raised on the third day. And this Resurrection gives us hope for the future which transforms the present. There are illness, loss, death, a cross, a burial...and Resurrection. And that makes all the difference in human existence both in this temporal world, and in the eternal life to come. He was raised on the third day, bringing salvation and hope.
The Resurrection is the most important event in the life of the Christian Church. Jesus birth, ministry and crucifision do not compare to the Resurrection happening. Obviously the Resurrection could not have happened without the prior phenonemons taking place, but it was the Resurrection from the grave that gave those early disciples the stamina to go out into the world and keep the Christian Church alive.
Christ was placed in the tomb. It had a finality about it that was devastating. What could be worse than this? The disciples' hopes were sealed in the cold tomb of their Lord. Could there ever be light in their hearts again? Only God could transform the circumstances.
The Resurrection has little to do with spring, except that we celebrate Easter then. Oh, there is some symbolism involved in those Easter eggs, in the idea of new life emerging, in the budding of trees and the appearance of flowers, and in the earth's recovering from the death-grip of winter. But the Resurrection is so much more.
The Resurrection is the power of God which raised Jesus Christ from death to life. Ephesians speaks of that power "which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms..." (Eph 1:20, NIV). That is the Resurrection! It transcends season, and it even bypasses revered but crusty religious rites and rituals, because it is centered in the dust and trauma, the blood, sweat, tears, hopes, and dreams of all human existence. Therefore it cannot be encapsulated, much less codified and classified as yet another phenomenon or distinctive of one of the world's religions.
No, the Resurrection is the power of God which raised Jesus Christ from death to life. Ephesians speaks of that power "which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms..." (Eph 1:20, NIV). That is the Resurrection! It transcends season, and it even bypasses revered but crusty religious rites and rituals, because it is centered in the dust and trauma, the blood, sweat, tears, hopes, and dreams of all human existence. Therefore it cannot be encapsulated, much less codified and classified as yet another phenomenon or distinctive of one of the world's religions.No, the Resurrection is the power of God which raised Jesus Christ from death to life. Ephesians speaks of that power "which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms..." (Eph 1:20, NIV). That is the Resurrection! It transcends season, and it even bypasses revered but crusty religious rites and rituals, because it is centered in the dust and trauma, the blood, sweat, tears, hopes, and dreams of all human existence. Therefore it cannot be encapsulated, much less codified and classified as yet another phenomenon or distinctive of one of the world's religions.
The Resurrection is the most important event in the life of the Christian Church! Not the birth of Jesus, nor his minis- try, nor his crucifixion are as critical as his Resurrection from the grave. Obviously the Resurrection could not have hap- pened without the previous phenomenons occuring. But without the Resurrection the Church of Jesus Christ would not have survived these many years. That is my conviction and I hold it strongly. I have been convinced of this for many years.
After the crucifixion and burial of their master the disciples were terrified and disconsolate men, hiding fearfully behind barred doors in an upper room in Jerusalem. They trembled at every knock on the door; they feared the same fate that had befallen Him. But after they had been convinced--and they were not easily assured, as the various Resurrection narratives make quite clear--they were men transformed. Fear was transformed into courage, uncertainty into a strong and radiant faith. Immediatly they were out in the open streets of the city that had dealt so brutally with their master, proclaiming with passion and joy the great salvation that had been wrought through this mighty vindication of His son by the almighty God.
The Resurrection has very little to do with spring, except that we celebrate Easter then. There is some symbolism involved in those Easter eggs, in the idea of new life emerging, in the budding of trees and the appearance of flowers, and in the earth's recovering from the death-grip of winter. But the Resurrection is so much more.
The Resurrection is the power of God which raised Jesus Christ from death to life. Ephesians speaks of that power "which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms..." (Eph 1:20, NIV). That is the Resurrection! It transcends season, and it even by-passes revered religious rites and rituals, because it is centered in the dust and trauma, the blood, sweat, tears, hopes, and dreams of all human existence.
Yes, the Resurrection is the Good News that there is life after death and we can look forward to it with great antici- pation. HAPPY EASTER!
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