An encouragement this Easter.
Now, brothers, I
want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, and in
which you stand firm. By this gospel you
are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you
have believed in vain.
For what I received I passed on to you as of first
importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the
third day according to the Scriptures, and
that He appeared to Cephas and then to the Twelve. After that, He appeared to more than five hundred brothers at once,
most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then He appeared to James, then to all the
apostles. And last of all He appeared to me
also, as to one of untimely birth. (1 Corinthians 15:1-8)
In the Christian Gospel message, Christ’s death and
resurrection is the cent re of all that our faith leans. Remove resurrection
and what remains is a shell of hopelessness. I one time had a talk with a
Jehovah’s Witness who told me that they celebrate Jesus death (Good Friday) but
they don’t recognize Easter (the resurrection of Jesus Christ). For them the
resurrection is not important. I thought to myself how hopeless can one be when
you believe and commemorate the death of the saviour but don’t recognize that
He rose back to life; yet one who calls him or herself a Christian.
Paul talks in 1 Corinthians 15 of Christ who died, buried and rose according to the scriptures. The three events are
all important and most of all one must hold firmly to that truth. We must never
lose sight dear friends of the fact that Christ rose again.
The advantage and courage that we all have is that the
resurrection message is based on a true story. From historical facts, it can be
confirmed. There were eye witnesses and historians have recorded the witness
stories over centuries. Archaeologists have gone a long way to try and excavate
remains that prove the existence of Jerusalem, Calvary and Golgotha and even
the Empty tomb. Nay-Sayers will want
to disapprove but truth be said, most speak out of shear ignorance, without any
knowledge and Biblical facts.
Christian faith is based on true story of God’s love to
humanity, and the sacrifice of God’s only Son Jesus Christ to a dying world.
Jesus’ death is the ultimate sacrifice for the sin committed in the Garden of
Eden, the life we all lived, when ignorance overshadowed and marred our vision that
we would not see and worship the true God. His resurrection is a vindication to
the fact that he had no sin. Jesus took the sin of the world but he himself did
not commit sin. His resurrection also tells that he has conquered death. Moreover,
death is now under His feet and the feet of all who believe in Him, and that
those who trust in Jesus Christ's death and resurrection, they shall rise again
to Eternal Glory.
Jesus resurrection gives every believer a sense of hope and
joy. Today as we remember the resurrection, let’s keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith.
It is a day of celebration as we shout that He is risen, our Lord is risen.
With resurrection comes life, victory over death. The Lord
Jesus is seated at the right hand side of the Father today interceding for us. May
we find peace, joy and hope in Him
amidst any challenges. Let’s shout that He has conquered for us and that we
are alive in His name. For He brought us Life and Life in Abundance! Amen.
