Every Lord’s Day we should remember the resurrection of the Lord Jesus (indeed, every day we should remember it!). This Sunday, though, marks the time of the year when many in the Church worldwide especially remember the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead. If we focus on bunnies (or bilbys) and dyed eggs, we miss the point.
We believe that the Lord Jesus in His incarnation in Mary’s womb took on our human nature. He was, as the book of Hebrews reminds us, “made like His brothers in every respect…” (Hebrews 2.17, ESV). His death was real, not a swoon. His resurrection is real, not metaphoric.
To allude to John Updike’s poem, ‘Seven Stanzas at Easter‘, His cells’ dissolution reversed, His body’s molecules reknit, the amino acids in His body rekindled — “The same hinged thumbs and toes, the same valved heart / that — pierced — died, withered, paused, and then / regathered out of enduring Might /new strength to enclose.” It is in that body He arose and ascended to heaven — that body in which (though glorified) He now sits at the right hand of the Father, making intercession for us — and in that same body shall return to judge men and angels at the end of the world.
How does that affect us as believers? We’re told in 1 Corinthians 6.14 that God will also raise us up by His power. If you are a true believer in Christ, you will experience this resurrection power. It is a power that you first experience in your salvation, when you were brought from sin and death to light and life in Christ. You were called to new life by God the Holy Spirit.
You will also experience this resurrection power when Christ comes again. Just as God raised Jesus after three days in the grave, you will be resurrected by the power of God from the corruption of the grave. Paul will remind us later in this letter to the church at Corinth,
“…What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.” – 1 Corinthians 15.42b-43 (ESV).
By this power displayed (far, far greater than what TC Debbie produced!), the death we experience due to sin is overcome by the almighty power of God.
This resurrection power is not just for the then (past) nor the then (future), but it is also for the now. It is by that same power that brought our Lord Jesus from the dead that is now in us who believe. God has freed us from the domination and rule of sin to now serve Him. We can say “no” to sin and self and “yes” to serving Christ.
Beloved Congregation – He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! And so are we, in newness of life and empowering grace. Let’s live, really live, in that glorious reality!
Grace, mercy, and peace to you in Christ Jesus,
John Butler