Christ is risen

Wednesday June 30, 2021

Christ is risen

The men said to them : Why are you looking for the living one among the dead ? He's not here, but he's risen. Remember what he told you when he was still in Galilee : The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinners, be crucified and rise again on the third day. Luke 24:5-7

Make no mistake about it ! The good news is not only that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, it is above all that he was resurrected and lives eternally. This is a historical fact of paramount importance to our faith. If Christ had remained in the tomb, it would also be the tomb of all our hopes. The apostle said : If Christ is not resurrected, then our preaching is empty, and so is your faith (1 Corinthians 15:14).

It is true : we are deeply moved when we think of the many sufferings endured on the cross by our Lord, and it is well that it is so ; but let's not stop there ! Let us also realize that the resurrection constitutes one of the essential glories of Jesus Christ ; it proves that he accomplished his mission to the entire satisfaction of his Father. And the resurrection of Christ is attributed to the three persons of Deity : Christ was resurrected by the glory of the Father (Romans 6:4) ; I give my life to take it back afterwards (John 10:17) ; If the Spirit of him who raised up Jesus dwells in you, he who raised up Christ will also give life to your mortal body through his Spirit which dwells in you (Romans 8:11).

From Jesus' ascension to heaven, the fundamental mission of the apostles is to proclaim the resurrection of the Lord whom they witnessed (Acts 1:22). Peter's preaching on the day of Pentecost is based on the fact that God raised Jesus from the dead (Acts 2:24-36). With John, at Solomon's portico, he still insists on the resurrection of Jesus (Acts 3:15); he does the same in the Jewish court (Acts 4:10 ; 5:30). This momentous truth is also preached to non-Jews (Acts 10:40 ; 13:34).

Risen on the first day of the week, Jesus Christ takes the head of the new creation inaugurated that same day. The period of the Law, marked by the sentence of death on those who do not respect it, gives way to the reign of grace for those who believe in the work of Jesus Christ (Romans 3:20-22 and 8.1).

Christians, let us be filled with the gratitude of being identified with a risen and living Christ, of being a new creation in him !

Source (Pleasing the Lord)