Easter Sonrise reflections.

“Why is it important to believe that Jesus          rose from the dead?” 

It's a question I've been thinking about as I prepare to participate in an upcoming short-term mission project in Thailand. On Easter Sunday I will have the opportunity to preach amongst an emerging faith community of local Thai young people in Korat, NE Thailand.

Crossing countries, cultures and climates will provide quite a contrast to my usual Easter experience at home with the family in Melbourne. It will be a different environment but the message does not change.

I believe that Easter is such an appropriate time for us to revisit what we as Christ-followers believe to be true about the Person and work of Jesus…

Is it sufficient to believe that Jesus suffered and died on the cross to pay the price for our sin?

Is it sufficient to believe that by dying on the cross Jesus offered himself as the perfect sacrifice before a holy God?

Is it sufficient to believe that by dying on the cross and by being the perfect sacrifice that Jesus has made the way open for us to find forgiveness and a restored relationship with God?

The cross is central to our faith as Christians. However, the bible tells me that if we leave the story there, at the cross, then the story is incomplete – it is not the full picture.

So, why then is it important to understand why Jesus rose from the dead?

The bible provides a number of reasons to explain why Jesus had to rise from the dead. Here are four that I believe we need to be familiar with;

1.    1. To fulfil what he had said he would do.

Jesus himself said that he would go to die on the cross and on the third day he would be raised to life again (Matthew 20:17-19).

If Jesus had not been raised to life again on the third day, then this would make Jesus either a liar or insane. The resurrection fulfilled what Jesus said would happen.

2.    2. To return to be with his father in heaven and send the Holy Spirit to live in the heart of the Christian believer (John 14:15-18, 26, 16:7).  Acts 2:1-4 informs us about how this happened for the first believers at Pentecost.

3.     3. To go away to prepare a place for us in heaven.      (John 14:1-4) The Apostle Paul explains that "we are citizens of heaven where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly awaiting for him to return as our Saviour." (Philippians 3:20). A.W. Pink says; "Christ would do all that was necessary to secure for His people a welcome and permanent place in Heaven."
  

      4. To ensure victory over death.

The Apostle Paul expands on this in 1 Corinthians 15.

“And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.” vs 17,18

“But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead…for since death came through a man (Adam), the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man (Jesus). For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” vs 20-22

“Where O death is your victory? Where O death is your sting?”  vs 55

“The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  vs 56,57

The resurrection of Christ offers us incredible hope – it assures the Christ-follower that death is not the end of the story – rather, death opens up a new chapter of a life spent in eternal glory with God and all those who belong to Christ!

So how, then, can the resurrection of Christ inform the way we live our lives this Easter and every day, wherever we are in God's world?

~ we can remember that we serve a living Saviour.

~ we can be thankful for the hope, security and future we have in Christ.

~ we can be empowered to live purposeful lives through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. 

~ we can take and tell this wonderful message to others.

May the living Lord Jesus be your Source of hope, joy and renewed commitment this Easter season.

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning it’s shame, and sat down at the right hand of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”  Hebrews 12:2-3