“Death could not hold him. Rejoice in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
“Come seeking to know Him, and I promise you will find Him and see Him in His true character as the risen, redeeming Savior of the world”
Alexander B. Morrison
"He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay."
Matthew 28: 6
For so many, Easter is a time for the traditional Easter Egg hunt, a time when little boys and girls were given an Easter speech to recite during the Easter play. For the Easter programs, children are dressed in uncomfortable clothes and long for the day to end to be released from wearing the laced ruffled dresses and, for little boys, the bow ties and full armored dress suits.
More importantly, after the worship service there is always a good meal to finish off the day. It is an amazing time of the year when many seem to focus on the purpose of Christ’s entry into a dark and bleak world. A world that was daunted with hopelessness and despair.
It is because of the state of the world and the hopelessness that mankind faced that God developed a strategy and plan to bring humankind back into fellowship with Him. Because Jesus Christ mitigated the penalty of sin, Easter is celebrated to commemorate the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The resurrection is one of the important aspects that makes Easter of significant value to mankind.
The resurrection (He is Risen) conveys a message of:
a. Hope
b. Life’s pain and struggles are temporary
c. Triumph over Death (Victory)
Hope – The resurrection gives you hope! No matter what it looks like in your life. No matter what is going on in the world, there is still a reason to hope.
Hope fuels your faith to keep going in spite of what is happening around you. Things in your life may appear to be dead or over, but you should believe in God for the impossible. For with God all things are possible.
Hope is the audacity to still believe in God’s omnipotent power and His sovereignty. You must hope when there is no evidence to hope. Hope is the substratum for your faith. Faith is built upon your hope.
Today you may be experiencing a broken heart, loss of employment, illness, economic discourse, and other ailments; through all of what you are experiencing God is the author of your hope. You can be certain in your hope because of the resurrection that indicates the same power the raise Jesus can raise you out of your destitute situation.
Life’s pain and struggles are temporary - As you look at Jesus’ life and the events of the crucifixion, the agony and pain give way to time and opportunity. Every battle, trial, defeat, or heartache has a timetable, and the resurrection informs you that life’s pains and struggle sare temporary.
Lance Armstrong once stated “Pain is temporary and quitting is forever.” For the past two years, people all over the world have experienced enormous pain and suffering. Despite how horrific and painstaking that time has been, you can hold to the belief that this too will and shall pass.
Your current pain is for a season. Your life is like the four seasons in that winter, spring, summer and fall happen yearly. You may be in a winter season filled with hurt, burdens, and trials but be encouraged because Jesus Christ conquered the cross, death and the grave -- your winter season will change.
Triumph – Triumph is inevitable with Christ. The resurrection teaches victory over death, the grave and the power of the enemy. Whatever is holding you back, you can win the victory through Christ. Nothing can stop you from being the best version of yourself; nothing in your past or present can stop you. Nothing can stop your dreams and purpose from being fulfilled thus trust God’s unfailing providence in your life. You may not be where you desire to be but rest assured you are more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus which strengthens you.
In addition, the resurrection points to the fact that Jesus Christ arose from a guarded grave. As stated in Mark 8:31 , “He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.” This caused the Chief Priests and the Pharisees to be alarmed and place guards at the tomb of Jesus. Yet Jesus arose and left an empty tomb after three days and nights. Jesus’ resurrection points to the fact that you too can rise out of any situation. The same supernatural power that brought Him out of the grave will raise you up out of every situation you find yourself in. You will win!
The resurrection season reminds us to be hopeful when there is no evidence that supports you being hopeful. Life’s pains and struggles are only for a season and, you will triumph over everything that tries to hinder or prohibit you from living your God ordained purpose in this life. He is Risen, so you must rise!
