Sunday's Here!
Sunday is here, He is risen!
The resurrection of Christ is such a defining element in the crux of Christianity, His believers even derive their identity through it. Before Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, He told Lazarus’ sister, Martha, that He is the resurrection and the life - that all that believe in him will never die even though they will in this world. In another moment in His ministry, the Sadducees test Jesus with an anecdote about a woman that had been married to a number of brothers. If she were married to many, then whose wife will she be in Heaven? Like many fallacies, the premise here is invalid and Jesus corrects them accordingly. In addition to this, however, we are given a small glimpse as to the identity that the believer will have in Heaven. We are told that we will be like angels and He goes on to call us, “sons of the resurrection” (Luke 20:36).
When we celebrate Resurrection Day, however, we must always keep our focus on Jesus and not be distracted by the act itself. The act is marvelous and even miraculous but it is nevertheless found throughout the Bible. In the Old Testament we find where Elijah, for example, resurrected the son of Zarapath’s widow (1 Ki 17-24) and Elisha resurrected the son of a Shunammite woman (2 Ki 4:35). Elisha is also involved in one of the most arguably strangest occurrences in the Bible. When some men were trying to bury a body, they were spooked by a group of marauders. In their haste, they threw the body in Elisha’s tomb and when the dead body touched his bones, the man they were trying to bury came back to life (Ki 13:21).
Resurrection occurrences obviously continue to be found in the New Testament. Jesus not only raised Lazarus (Jn 11:43-44) but He also raised the widow’s son at Nain (Luke 17-13-15) as well as Jairus’ daughter (Mt 9:25, Mk 5:42, Lk 8:55). On the day of His crucifixion, the saints resurrected and walked among the living (Mt 27:52-53). After His ascension, Peter raised Tabitha (Acts 9:36-42) and Paul raised Eutychus (Acts 20:9-12). Some even argue that Paul himself was resurrected after he was stoned (Acts 14:19-20).
As previously stated, the resurrection is a marvelous and miraculous act that helps shape the identity of the believer. The act itself is found throughout scripture so that we will believe. On the last day, we will resurrect as well (Jn 5:29, Daniel 12:2, Mt 25:46, Lk 14:14, Acts 24:15) when we rise to be in eternity with Jesus. It is the power of God that raises dead bones (Ez 37:1-14). The difference in the multiple resurrections found in scripture and Jesus’ resurrection is that all the others except Jesus died as agents of sin. Jesus, however, became a curse for us and died for our sins. In His resurrection, He conquered death on our behalf. Our hope is found in Christ and His work of atonement. The resurrection and ascension serves as a beacon as to what is to come for the heirs in Christ. Praise Father, Son and Holy Spirit!
It is my hope that you enjoy this Resurrection Day with family and loved ones as we reflect on Christ and remember what He did for us.
Happy Resurrection Day!
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