Christianity would have no message if Christ had not risen. In 1st Corinthians 15:14 the apostle Paul was led by the Holy Spirit to emphasize: If Christ has not been raised our faith is useless. The resurrection was the Lord Jesus’ greatest expression of His mission on earth and His potential power in the lives of His followers. Jesus’ resurrection power conquers sin, death and the grave! Christmas made it possible for God to come to man but Easter made it possible for man to go to God. We are “confident” of this because of our Lord’s resurrection (2nd Corinthians 5:8). Rather than just once a year at Easter we really celebrate Jesus’ resurrection each Sunday when we gather in worship because it was on Sunday that Jesus came alive after suffering and dying in our place on Friday.
Christian baptism displays the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus as well (see Romans 6:3-10). The physical experience seen as the baptismal candidate comes up out of the water is the portrayal of his or her spiritual experience through the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Our communion as we celebrate the Lord’s supper commemorates the death of Christ and the church has been commanded to observe it until the Lord comes again strongly saying by its observance that there is a risen and waiting Lord who will return victoriously (see 1st Corinthians 11:26). Through the resurrection and the power and presence of our Lord’s Holy Spirit Jesus is always with us (Matthew 28:20). He has become as much with us as He was with His disciples 2000 years ago! More than the Christ of history, He is the Christ who makes men free!
More than the Christ of song or pen, He is the Christ who lives within.
The emptiness of Christ’s tomb means that the fullness of God can come into our lives! Have you by prayer received the risen Savior into your heart and life? (John 1:12).
Currie Phillips
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