The Resurrection...

Hiya!

First and foremost, Happy Easter Sunday! Or, as my family often calls it, Happy Resurrection Day! (We're not against saying "Easter", but I try to say "Resurrection Day" instead because it points to the "real meaning" of Easter... Jesus' resurrection!) I thought I'd share a few thoughts and Bible verses with you all...

Good Friday has come and gone... it's arrival can give rise to solemn thoughts as we think about Christ's suffering. It is continually amazing that Jesus, God incarnate, would allow Himself to be tortured so that we, sinful human beings, could have a relationship with the Father, God. Occasionally I find it sometimes ironic that such a sad day has been given the name "Good"... yet, Christ's death was part of God's plan of salvation, and what God does is always good.

I think it's good to remember Christ's suffering. We should not be flippant about, or forgetful concerning, what He allowed men to do to Him so that our sins could be forgiven. We should never, ever, forget the cross.

But Jesus' death was not the end. Three days later He rose again - the Resurrection.

For many years, I didn't quite comprehend the full importance of the Resurrection, but now I understand...

Jesus rising from the dead is proof that His sacrifice, that His death, was enough. No other atonement would be needed - no more sacrifices. No other atonement would be accepted - "good works" are not enough to save us (Ephesians 2:8-9 tell us that is we have been saved "through faith, and not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." (emphasis added)

The Resurrection is also proof that Jesus was who He said He was. Only God's Son would have the power to rise from the dead. Jesus even prophesied His death and resurrection - check out Matthew 20:17-19! There were many eyewitnesses who saw Jesus after He rose again. You can check out this article at Answers in Genesis for evidences for the Resurrection.

As Easter Sunday / Resurrection Day approaches, Christians remember Jesus' sacrifice... but at the same time, we need to remember that that Jesus rose again. Jesus conquered death. He has given us our hope and our proof.

Christ the Lord is risen... praise the Lord!

"Klarabelle"

"For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time."

1 Corinthians 15:3-8