Easter Thoughts
He is Risen. He is Risen indeed!
With Easter nearly upon us, it is important that we do not allow familiarity to breed contempt or casualness of the remembrance of the event.
The fact is that Jesus was not put to death by anyone. He gave up His life: it was not taken from Him,
John 10:18 “No one takes my life away from me. I give my own life freely. I have the right to give my life, and I have the right to get it back again. This is what the Father told me.”
The doctrine of the Resurrection is essential to the faith of those who follow Jesus. Paul made this statement:
Romans 1:4 “[Jesus]… who was declared Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness by the resurrection of the dead, Jesus the Christ our Lord…”
The Resurrection of Jesus from the dead, was for Paul, the final proof that Jesus was indeed the unique divine Son of God.
Indeed, Paul makes clear that belief in the doctrine of the Resurrection, is an essential part of salvation.
Romans 10:9 “…..that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and you believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.”
The Resurrection also has implications for Christians and sin in their lives.
Romans 6:9 & 11 “…knowing that the Christ, having been raised from the dead, no longer dies. Death is no longer master over Him….. Likewise you also, consider yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in the Christ Jesus our Lord.”
An important statement from Paul must be an essential challenge to those who would deny the doctrine of the Resurrection:
1 Corinthians 15:13-16 “But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then the Christ has not been raised. And if the Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain and your faith also is vain! And we are found to be false witnesses of God, because we bore witness concerning God, that He raised the Christ, whom He did not raise--if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then neither has the Christ been raised. If the Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins!”
An often overlooked aspect of the Resurrection is the sealed tomb. Jesus did not need the stone to be rolled away. His leaving the tomb demonstrated His power over death Rising in power He simply left the tomb – it could not hold Him!
Acts 2:24 “But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.”
That He could walk through physical structures is shown when he entered the room where the disciples were hiding.
John 20:19 “Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, "Peace to you."”
This is also confirmed that the Resurrected Jesus, although still having the scars, was now raised in glory.
Mark 16:12 “After that, He appeared in a different form to two of them as they were going into the country.”
Finally, the Scriptures are so abundant with evidence of the Resurrection, it is to our encouragement, that death is an enemy, that Jesus has conquered. In this we can be reassured that we also will be resurrected into eternal life. Let us therefore live our lives in that sure and certain hope, ever ready for His return. Let us keep ourselves holy as He is holy, making sure that the flesh remains dead to sin and we live to service in the Christ.
May you have a great Easter season and may your faith increase, in celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus.
David & Martin