April 1, 2018 | Easter Sunday
The Resurrection of Christ– The Bestowal of The Living Hope
(1Corinthians 15:11-21, John 11:25-26)
– Pastor N Tuanglang
As Easter approached this week, there were talks around the social media about the word ‘Easter’ and questions surrounding the etymological meaning and the inexistence of the very word in the Holy Bible. Indeed, this is something to be thankful about since unlike in the contemporary times, where Easter has become an event of sorts associated with Easter eggs and such, the meaning of Easter is what’s plaguing most of us. Sadly, not so much is being researched about the true origins of Easter, which is ultimately the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Granted, there are many things that can be discussed and talked about the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ that may answer our concerns, perhaps. However, the most crucial one of all is a question one must reflect on and ask themselves if they must: What effect does the power of the great resurrection of Christ have in our lives?
Had Christ not risen again:
- All the foretelling in the Old Testament wouldn’t have been accomplished and neither would it have been acknowledged as the truth.
- The words of the prophets would have been nothing but lies.
- Christ’s words itself would have been nothing but lies as He’d predicted His death and resurrection.
- The Holy Bible, said to have been influenced by God Himself would ultimately become a mere book, undependable and worthy of nothing.
- The Church that we come to know of in the New Testament will not be standing/existing today.
- The Old Testament would be read as a series of composed stories and lore.
- The books after the Gospels in the New Testaments would cease to exist.
- Christians, especially tribal people like us living in the capital of India, living the life of grandiose, would not be where we are today.
However, our Lord did resurrect. Death couldn’t hold Him, the tomb stones couldn’t keep Him and He rose again. He came victorious. Which is why we have plentiful gains, such as:
- We know for sure, through Christ’s resurrection and victory, that the Bible is indeed influenced by God Himself and is ever unfailing and worthy of our trust and belief.
- The prophecies of the prophets before our time have all been proved true and faithful. This shows us that the people God uses are unwavering as the God they believe in.
- Death is not the end. There is life after death for us believers. What a joyous fact it is to know!
- We know for a certainty that our faith and belief is not for nothing. Not only is it worth living for, it is even worth dying for. (Genesis 3:16)
- The secret of victory over sin and evil is unveiled.
- Our loved ones we’ve been separated from have not died in vain and neither are they gone forever, they’ve merely departed earlier and we shall soon be reunited with them in the kingdom of God.
- Hope. The living hope is what lets us see beyond this worldly life. And it is the very drive that moves us to action.
It is said in Romans 6:5-7, 11-12
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.
In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore, do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.
When we accept Christ into our lives, our minds and into our heart, it is the same as saying we are dead towards sin, since a dead man cannot commit sin again. This is the death of the self that was crucified with Him on the cross and through it we’ve been set free. And this death is not a death to be mourned but to be celebrated as this is where we come to life– Alive in Christ because Christ is our gain.
Today, ask yourself: What do I make of this gain?
