Passion Week: Resurrection Sunday

The redemptive work of Jesus culminated in His ressurection from the dead. If Jesus had died and stayed in the grave, then He would have been just like any other man. But praise be to God, for He is risen!

I remember growing up, we used to say to one another in church, "He is risen!" and the other person would respond, "He is risen indeed!" I like these statements, because they carry within them an excitement over Christ's triumph over death and the grave. Because of His triumph, we also may share in the victory over death. This is seen in Paul's writings in First Corinthians 15:20-22, "But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, in Christ all shall be made alive."

We see two things from these verses: 1)in Adam we die, yet through Christ 2)we are made alive. This is cause to celebrate! Where Adam gave us sickness, sorrow, and death, Christ offers joy eternal, vitality, and abundant life in living and in dying. Think about the so called great men who are still in their tombs - Buddha, Muhammad, and Joseph Smith. They can do nothing for us - for they have not defeated anything.

But then there is the Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, the God-Man...

Up from the grave He arose, with a mighty triumph over His foes, He arose a Victor from the dark domain and He lives forever with His saints to reign. He arose! He arose! Hallelujah Christ arose!!!