An Easter To Remember! Series

THE TRUTH ABOUT JESUS WAS NOT FINALLY REVEALED UNTIL HIS RESURRECTION. THE RESURRECTION WAS THE SEAL AND CONFIRMATION OF JESUS CHRIST’S SAVING ACTIVITY ON THE CROSS OF CALVARY.

THIS IS WHY THE GOSPELS DO NOT EXPLAIN THE RESURRECTION. THE RESURRECTION ALONE IS WHAT EXPLAINS THE GOSPELS. THE RESURRECTION IS ALSO THE NECESSARY COMPLEMENT AND SEQUEL TO THE INCARNATION.

JESUS’ RESURRECTION IS THAT ONE EVENT IN WHICH THE MESSIAH WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD AND HIS BODY BROUGHT TO LIFE IN ORDER TO DEMONSTRATE THE COMPLETED WORK OF REDEMPTION.

NOT ONLY DID CHRIST DEMONSTRATE HIS COMPLETION OF REDEMPTION, BUT GOD ALSO IN POWER AND MIGHT, STRUCK DOWN DEATH IN TOTAL DEFEAT.

THIS IS WHY, DOWN THROUGH THE AGES, CHRISTIANS HAVE ALWAYS PROCLAIMED THAT THEY WANT TO, "KNOW CHRIST AND THE POWER OF HIS RESURRECTION AND THE FELLOWSHIP OF SHARING IN HIS SUFFERINGS, BECOMING LIKE HIM IN HIS DEATH, AND SO, SOMEHOW, TO ATTAIN TO THE RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD."

CHRISTIANS UNDERSTAND THE RESURRECTION TOGETHER WITH THE CROSS TO BE HISTORY’S MOST IMPORTANT EVENT. THE DESPAIR OF ALL PAST HISTORY IS REVERSED BY IT. THE HOPE OF ALL FUTURE HISTORY IS ENABLED BY IT. IT IS OF ALL EVENTS THE MOST ILLUMINATING DISCLOSURE OF GOD’S PLAN OF SALVATION.

TO UNDERSTAND THE RESURRECTION IS TO UNDERSTAND THE MEANING OF HISTORY FROM ITS END! THIS IS WHY LUKE 24:34, "THE LORD HAS RISEN INDEED" IS NOW OUR TESTIMONY.

WHAT A WONDERFUL MIRACLE THAT OCCURRED THIS DAY WHEN JESUS CHRIST ROLLED THE STONE AWAY AND WALKED OUT OF HIS EARTHLY GRAVE!

THAT FIRST EASTER WAS DEFINITELY A DAY TO REMEMBER. THIS YEAR’S EASTER CAN ALSO BE ANOTHER EASTER TO REMEMBER BY TAKING THE TIME TO REFLECT UPON THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST AND ON WHAT IT MEANT FOR YOUR SALVATION AND YOUR ETERNAL FUTURE!

TAKE TIME TO REFLECT ON WHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED BY CHRIST’S RESURRECTION: HIS LIFE WAS PHYSICALLY RENEWED! HIS BODY AND SPIRIT WERE REUNITED! DEATH BECAME SUBJECT TO HIS AUTHORITY. HE WAS EXALTED FOR HIS OBEDIENCE AND OBTAINED HIS NEW POSITION AT THE RIGHT HAND OF HIS FATHER IN HEAVEN. HIS BODY BECAME TRANSFIGURED ONCE AND FOR ALL.

HOW DOES ALL OF THIS TRANSLATE INTO "ENGLISH" FOR US TODAY? ONE: IT MEANS THAT BECAUSE OF THE RESURRECTION, WE CAN HAVE ETERNAL LIFE!

JOHN 11:25, "JESUS SAID, ’I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE. THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN ME, EVEN THOUGH THEY DIE LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, WILL LIVE AGAIN.’"

TWO: IT MEANS THAT WE CAN LIVE UNDER THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. EPHESIANS 1:19-20, "I PRAY THAT YOU WILL BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND THE INCREDIBLE GREATNESS OF HIS POWER FOR US WHO BELIEVE HIM. THIS IS THE SAME MIGHTY POWER THAT RAISED CHRIST FROM THE DEAD AND SEATED HIM IN THE PLACE OF HONOR AT GOD’S RIGHT HAND IN THE HEAVENLY REALM."

THREE: WE WILL, ONE DAY, EXPERIENCE OUR OWN RESURRECTION. 1 CORINTHIANS 15:20, 22, "BUT THE FACT IS THAT CHRIST HAS BEEN RAISED FROM THE DEAD. HE HAS BECOME THE FIRST OF A GREAT HARVEST OF THOSE WHO WILL BE RAISED TO LIFE AGAIN...EVERYONE DIES BECAUSE ALL OF US ARE RELATED TO ADAM, THE FIRST MAN. BUT ALL WHO ARE RELATED TO CHRIST, THE OTHER MAN, WILL BE GIVEN NEW LIFE."

THIS IS THE KEY TO OUR VICTORY IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN DRAWN INTO UNION WITH CHRIST. EPHESIANS 2:6, "FOR HE RAISED US FROM THE DEAD ALONG WITH CHRIST, AND WE ARE SEATED WITH HIM IN THE HEAVENLY REALMS -- ALL BECAUSE WE ARE ONE WITH CHRIST JESUS.

THREE THINGS THAT THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST MEANS FOR US: RECEIVING ETERNAL LIFE, BEING SPIRITUALLY EMPOWERED, AND EXPERIENCING OUR OWN SPIRITUAL RESURRECTION.

JESUS CHRIST SHOWED HIS PERFECT LOVE FOR ALL HUMANITY WHEN HE BORE OUR SINS AT CALVARY. HE CONQUERED SIN AND DEATH WHEN HE ROSE FROM THE GRAVE THREE DAYS LATER.

THIS IS WHY WE REJOICE THIS DAY. THIS IS WHY WE REJOICE EVERY EASTER AND EVERY SINGLE DAY FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES! THERE CAN BE NO DOUBT, THAT THE VERY FIRST EASTER IS ONE TO REMEMBER!