“I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said.” – 1 Corinthian 15:3-4.
Another Easter has come and gone. The Easter pictures have been taken and posted on Facebook for family and friends to enjoy. All the Easter eggs, even the gold ones, have been hunted and found. And most likely all the chocolate bunnies, sugar concoctions, and jelly beans have been consumed as well. Most importantly, Easter services have taken place in churches all across the world and, hopefully, many thousands of people trusted Christ as their personal Saviour when they heard of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection. Rightfully so because Jesus conquered death and the grave when He arose on the third day. Nothing has changed that and nothing else compares.
Now what? Do we wait for next Easter to come around so we get to do it all over again? If we allow Easter to remain confined to only a day on the calendar we are allowing the full weight of the resurrection to go unrecognized. Easter must cause us to daily contemplate and celebrate the identity and work of Jesus, the resurrected Christ, in our lives. Easter ought to live in every Christian heart—new inspirations, a new uplift, new revealing of hope. Death has been conquered. A grave is no longer a hopelessly sealed prison—its doors have been broken. Easter isn’t meant to be a once-a-year celebration, but a daily reminder that, through our faith in Jesus, we each have access to His resurrection power in every ordinary moment of our lives. Jesus is our example, our comfort, our hope, and our peace every day.
As followers of Jesus, we believe in the resurrection because we have encountered the resurrected Christ in our own life. The resurrection story isn’t one that’s simply an account of what happened. It’s a living, breathing experience that we can share with others in this world who are so desperately looking for some good news; good news that is just as good throughout the year as it is on Easter.
John Piper said, “No matter how devastating our struggles, disappointments, and troubles are, they are only temporary. No matter what happens to you, no matter the depth of tragedy or pain you face, no matter how death stalks you and your loved ones, the Resurrection promises you a future of immeasurable good. Few people seem to realize that the resurrection of Jesus is the cornerstone to a worldview that provides the perspective to all of life.”
While the tradition of Easter is over for 2022, the good news is that our Saviour is still risen today and will be tomorrow, the next day, the following day, next Easter, and for all eternity. We don’t need to wait until next Easter to celebrate Him.
Discussion Questions:
- Jesus’ resurrection proves that He is God and gives us power over sin and death. Agree or disagree and why?
- Does the resurrection give you an unshakable hope and confidence that we can overcome our past and our fear of starting fresh?