Resurrection is so much more than an event! The Lord Christ is alive now! He lives personally and not merely as a concept or symbol. He lives actually, not merely in the memories of his disciples.
He lives not only in earthly history but in that eternal life that transends history, to which he has ascended. He lives not in latent power or potentiality, but rather in the fullness of his blessing and power. The completion of the gospel mission depends upon the “contining real presence” of the living Lord. If Christ were a dead body, there could be no continuation of His mission.
Some may wonder or even dare to ask why the resurrection is so decisive for Christianity? “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification” (Romans 4:25).
The moment that the disciples were met by Jesus, they understood that they were already standing in the beginning of the end time, the last days. In an instant it became clear to them that the end had indeed appeared and begun and that Jesus was “the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Cor. 15:20).
Jesus was regarded as the first born from the dead, the one through whom the believing community learned to look for the final coming of the kingdom of God, and the fulfillment of the eternal hope. This realization was not a matter of development, but rather the results of extensive anticipation, or faith in the promise of the Father.
Due to His resurrection it was made clear that his sacrificial offering of himself for others had been accepted. His atonement for humanity was received of God and thus humanity itself had been raised up, made new, and brought near to God.
“God reaised us up with Christ and seated us with hiim in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace,” (Eph. 2:6-7).
Jesus’ resurrection is thus not a myth or symbol in the New Testament but simply a fact attested by credible witnesses: “God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses fo the fact” ( Acts 2:32). The Church did not receive its life from a moral teacher whose body was decomposing in a grave, but from one whose incomparable power made him known as risen Lord.
The resurrection thus forms the very basis for the believer’s hope amid the death of this world. By sharing in Christ’s resurrection by faith, the believer is delivered from the power of death. “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live,” (John 11:25).
There are four benefits that the believer receives from resurrection:
- “For by it righteousness is obtained for us….” (Romans 4:24).
- it is a sure pledge of our future immortailty (1 Cor. 15).
- even now by its virtue we are raised to a newness of life (Romans 6:4)
- that we may obey God’s will by pure and holy living (Romans 6:4)
“I believe that He rose on the third day from the dead, to give me and to all who believe in Him a new life; and that He has thereby quickened us with Him, in grace and in the Spirit, that we may sin no more, but serve Him alone in every grace and virtue.” (Luther)
Christ rose as the messianic King through the resurrection, and from that tomb he gave his disciples the Great Commission; “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. (Matt. 28).
Peter proclaimed that the risen Christ had “commanded us to preach to the peple and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name” (Acts 10:40-43).
Jeus is alive! And He continues His mission through you and me, through His Church. We are sent into this generation as witnesses! As witnesses who announce the very love and grace of the Christ who died for all sinners.
And not only did He die but He rose. He destoryed death, so that we might live both now and in the future as HIs brothers and sisters. So we begin, again to tell the story of the comiing of Jesus, of His life and death and greater still His resurrection.
As one of his disciples I am asking you to join with me, with us as we reach out to tell others, your friends, your family and your neighbors of the “Great love with which He has loved us…”
Invited them to come! To come to the church. To come and “Celebrate, to Connect, to Commune, and to Contribute” to the continuing living, mission of the Risen Christ.
Every Sunday is a Celebration of His Resurrection!!!!
Bishop Quintin
