RESURRECTION VICTORY
Easter Sunday is often referred to as Resurrection Sunday because it marks the anniversary of the best news anyone has heard in two millennia -
Jesus is alive!
Easter has always been a day where the global church collectively celebrates King Jesus by commemorating the day He disarmed and defeated satan, sin, and death by raising from the grave victorious. Easter is and forever will be a day where the church of Jesus collectively appeals to a watching world with a triumphant call declaring…
“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ
— 1 Corinthians 15:54-57
THE RESURRECTION IS CENTRAL
There is nothing is more central to Christianity than Jesus’ death and resurrection. The Apostle Paul put it this way…
“If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.” - 1 Corinthians 15:17
Jesus’ resurrection then ensures us that we have a new life apart from our sinful nature (1 Pet 1:3; Romans 6:4-11). Additionally, it confirms for us:
Vindication: The resurrection displays God’s acceptance of the work of Christ on behalf of man to the watching world and legitimizes our hope.
Victory: The resurrection displays Christ’s victory over death and our partnership in that victory.
Assurance: The resurrection provides a confident hope for those who are in Christ that they too will be resurrected unto life.
Think about what that means. Without Christ having been raised from the dead we have no forgiveness for sins and our faith is worthless! This makes the resurrection of Jesus vitally crucial to what we believe. In addition, the resurrection of Jesus makes Christianity distinct from every other religion.
If the resurrection is true, it means that sin, death, and hopelessness do not win—Jesus does. It means that the empty tomb is the final word of Jesus. It means Jesus really did die for our sin and really did rise for our salvation.
The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.”
— Jesus
Most joys afforded to us in this life ebb and flow; they overpromise and underdeliver, but Jesus doesn’t. Jesus said that he would die and after three days, raise from the dead— and he did. Every promise God has made to his people has been made secure by the resurrection of Jesus. Because the tomb is empty, sin is washed away. The darkness, depression, fear, and anxiety we often feel is not permanent. Even death itself is not permanent.
The tomb is still empty and Jesus is still alive; and to this day is still ruling and reigning. Jesus has been victorious and sin and death are defeated. May our hearts rejoice. Jesus promised. Jesus delivered. We can now enjoy great assurance and hope that we too will be vindicated and victorious over death.
On Good Friday we remember and reflect on the single most horrific and evil day in human history. Jesus— perfect, innocent and sinless was beaten, tortured, crucified, and murdered. But on Easter Sunday we celebrate his victory and remember what man meant for evil, God meant for good.
Take heart. Jesus is alive.
Let’s celebrate together this Sunday at 10:30am!