He Is Risen
Today we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave where he lay for three days and three nights. I have noticed that throughout the epistles, the resurrection is mentioned often. In today's reading Paul tells the Thessalonians that he has heard how they turned from idols to serve the living and true God and were waiting for his Son from Heaven, whom God had raised from the dead. (1 Thes. 1:9-10) The resurrection was a central part of the gospel Paul preached. He stated in 1 Cor. 15:17 that if Christ has not been raised our faith is futile and we are still in our sins.
Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we also have hope of a resurrection. That's why Paul could write in 1 Corinthians 15 that Christ is the first fruits of the resurrection. "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death is your sting?" "Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Verses 55, 57)
The sacrifices that we have been reading about in Leviticus all point forward to Jesus, the lamb of God, who would become the once-for-all sacrifice. They are a picture of the fact that Jesus would die to atone for the sins of the whole world. Jesus said that the very reason he came into the world was to die. (John 12:17) Aren't you glad you don't have to bring an animal sacrifice to get forgiveness of your sins?
When I think about the sinless son of God becoming that sacrifice and having all the sins of the whole world from the beginning of time until the end of time heaped upon him; of him actually becoming sin for us, I feel like David in Psalm 8. "What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings, and crowned him with glory and honor."
All the trappings that we put around Easter such as bunnies, baby chicks, flowers, eggs, etc. are colorful and fun and do signify that spring has come; a resurrection of sorts. But let's not forget the central truth, that Jesus was raised from the dead. Without that there would be no Easter. The angel at the tomb told the women "He is not here; he has risen, just as he said." Matt. 28:6. In many countries around the world people greet each other on Easter morning by saying, "He is risen." In Holland the greeting is "Hij is waarlijk opgestan."
However you choose to celebrate Easter, lets not forget the central truth that Jesus did rise from the dead and like the song says, "Because he lives, I can face tomorrow."
God is good all the time,
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