Jesus’ Resurrection…and Yours

Jesus’ Resurrection . . . and Yours

By Pastor John Dawson

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:3-5.

Resurrection Sunday comes early this year. I’m always glad to celebrate Easter each year. Yes, we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus every week. That is why we gather on the first day of the week. That is why we call it the Lord’s Day. Paul writes that the message of the resurrection of Jesus is of first importance. Without the resurrection of Jesus we are still in our sins. Without the resurrection of Jesus there is no power for us to have a new life. Paul even says that if Jesus has not risen from the dead, then we are of all people the most miserable.

            But Christ is risen from the dead. Easter Sunday is the day, and the season, that all of Christendom turns special attention to the event of Jesus’ resurrection. There are special celebrations. This is why I am so glad to celebrate Easter. This year we are adding two events to the week before resurrection Sunday which calls greater attention to the resurrection. One is a Passover seder meal and service on Wednesday. The other is a Good Friday service on Friday. The purpose of the extra meetings is to call greater attention to the resurrection of Jesus which we celebrate. They recall to our minds the events and the suffering of Jesus—his suffering for us—which gives a greater understanding of the glory of his resurrection.

            Jesus was crucified at the time of Passover. That was the annual remembrance of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt. The Seder service that is still used was like that which Jesus would have done with his disciples at the last supper. It was a part of that service that Jesus used to institute the Lord’s Supper, which the Church continues to use as one of her sacraments. Our focus in the Passover seder is to see how the ancient readings point to Christ. The bread that Jesus used to institute the Lord’s Supper was the hidden bread that was redeemed. The cup that he passed was called the cup of redemption. We are not adding a Jewish practice to our gathering but seeing in a new way how the deliverance from Egypt points to the greater deliverance by Christ over sin.

            Good Friday is the day when the Church especially remembers the crucifixion. Does it strike you odd that the event of such cruelty and injustice would be called good? It is good because that was the day that Christ atoned for our sin to heal our souls. We do not like to think of ourselves as broken by sin and in desperate need healing, but we are. Jesus’ suffering on our behalf brought that healing. Meditating on the depths of his suffering reminds us how great is our need. The focus of our Good Friday service is the suffering of Christ. We leave that service with a greater gratitude for God and a greater desire to celebrate the resurrection.

            As I write this, I am preparing a memorial service for a member of my family. The resurrection of Jesus is connected to our own. Peter wrote that we have born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Our sins are forgiven, and we have new life because of the death and resurrection of Jesus. The resurrection of Jesus also anchors our hope in our own resurrection and the eternal inheritance that can never be taken away. The resurrection of Jesus ensures our own resurrection. The hymn, Jesus Lives and So Shall I, is all about the resurrection of Jesus, but it is not so much an Easter hymn, but one of confidence in our own resurrection in Jesus. It reminds me that when I celebrate Easter, I rejoice in the resurrection of Jesus, and I celebrate my own resurrection in advance.

            So as we focus our hearts in praise for the resurrection of Jesus, remember that it is an event that changes your life now and guarantees your eternal life. When Christ returns, the dead will be raised. This includes all who are trusting in Jesus. This is not just a celebration for the Church in a general way. Let your worship and praise of the One who raised Christ Jesus from the dead, be full of hope for your own resurrection. He is risen! And so will you be.

Hallelujah!

Pastor John