So soon after the Day of Crucifixion, Good Friday, Jesus Christ was raised from the dead on that glorious Sunday. It has the deepest possible meaning.
Our Lord is risen indeed!
And we too wil be raised, we will live with Christ forever. The living almighty Lord remains with us under all circumstances. And Paul states unequivocally in Romans 4: 25 that he was raised for our justification. He was raised that when we come before God’s judgment, his resurrection will prove that we were not only redeemed by his blood, but that our sins and our death were overcome, were conquered, by his resurrection.
On Resurrection Sunday (Easter Sunday) we celebrate our complete salvation when we greet each other with these words: “Christ is risen indeed”.
What a surprise. What a glorious joy we may experience.
A few women, friends of Jesus, were numb with grief and deep and in dark depressive mourning after his death. They went to the tomb on that Sunday morning and found the stone rolled away. They entered the tomb and looked around for the body of Jesus and could not find it.
Scripture tells us "they were wondering about this." They were perplexed and had no idea of what happened - of what was going on.
Two angels appeared to them and told them that Christ has risen. The angels reminded the women of Christ's predictions about the cross and the grave, the crucifixion and the resurrection. "Remember?" they asked. Then they remembered his words and understood what Jesus had said to them: that He must die and must be raised. Then they believed that Jesus truly is alive. (Luke 24:8).
On Resurrection Sunday the veil is lifted. Finally people could see the risen Christ and believe his message that (Lk 24:7) the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again for our justification.
"Remember how he told you," said the angels. Then the women remembered and understood the full message of their redemption and salvation. Only then did they believe and their sorrows were changed into immense joy. While we remember, may we experience that Spirit inspired joy.
The message of the resurrection of Jesus Christ turns sorrow into joy, death into life and defeat into victory. For the disciples of Christ, that he was raised, was a wonderful, beautiful, and most of all an exciting surprise.
Surprise, death! Surprise, sin! Surprise judgment day!
Surprise, mourning disciples!
Surprise, doubting post-modern mankind!
Surprise! He's alive! Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia!
(Rom 4:25) He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
Comments
Post a Comment