Easter Sunday the Resurrection of Our Lord (Cycle A)

The tie in between today’s readings: Steps of Faith

Psalm 118:1-2; 16-17; 22-23, Acts 10:34-43, Colossians 3:1-4, John 20:1-9

Easter is here! The most important celebration in the Christian calendar. Advent has its charm in anticipation. Christmas is beautiful in its fulfilled promises. Lent is special in its preparation, but Easter is the victory! For the believer, Christ’s triumph over death and the Devil provides deliverance from sin and eternal life. So, there is no better time than now to assess where you are concerning your faith.

Psalm 118:17 (NASB)

I will not die, but live, and tell of the works of the Lord.

John 20:1-9 (NASB)

The Empty Tomb

No one back then believed that the Messiah would die as He did, let alone, rise from the grave. Even after repeated attempts by the Lord to explain it, the apostles struggled with the whole thing, as we see in John 20:9:

For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.

Let’s face it, in a world where dead is dead…its a big ask. For that very reason, that it is such a big ask, throughout history many people opposed to Christianity tried to refute the Resurrection because they understood that everything hinges upon it and perceived that it would be easy enough to demolish. Many of these antagonists became believers. They were overwhelmed by the truth that any honest investigation reveals: Christ is risen. Where do you stand on the resurrection? Faith’s first step starts with the facts. Seek and you will find.

Psalm 118:1-2 (NASB)

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
² Oh let Israel say,
“His lovingkindness is everlasting.”

Acts 10:34-43(NASB)

The Good News

Filled with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, our reading in Acts has Peter boldly proclaiming the gospel. He concludes with:

 ⁴³ Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.”

How does the resurrection relate to you? What does it mean to believe in Christ for the forgiveness of sin? The short version is this: Jesus wants you to join Him in His Resurrection…but you must die first. This can only be accomplished by faith. By faith, God unites you spiritually with His Son’s sacrifice on the cross. By faith, you die with Him. By faith, you’re placed in the tomb and by faith, you rise again with Jesus to new eternal life. This is faith’s second step. It goes beyond the facts into commitment. You may find that this next step of faith to be difficult, but remember, the lovingkindness of God provided this salvation for you and His lovingkindness will help you reach it. Ask and you shall receive.

Psalm 118:16(NASB)

¹⁶ The right hand of the Lord is exalted;
The right hand of the Lord does valiantly.

Colossians 3:1-4(NASB)

The New Self

Nothing says it better than our reading in Colossians:

3 Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ² Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. ³ For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

This new resurrected life in Jesus is an active life. You are a citizen in the Kingdom of God. You live by the laws of Heaven: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. This third step of faith is a growing up process with stumbles and falls along the way as you look to become more like Christ. God’s Spirit will give you all the power you need to pursue this life of holiness. Knock and it will be opened to you.

Psalm 118:22(NASB)

The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone

Rejected

It may be that you really haven’t bought into any of this Jesus stuff. You’re not alone. Many people, like the Pharisees, dismiss Him because He doesn’t fit into their celestial framework. For others, Christ holds the mirror of virtue in front of them. Loving their vices, they must ignore Him because living with the contradictions is too painful. For all of us though, Jesus declares Himself to be the Lord and boss of our lives. We must either submit or give Him our scorn for that assertion. He leaves you no choice. Jesus is the disrupter. He won’t stay in your God box. With the knowledge and the power of the Almighty, He will challenge all of your assumptions, poke you where it hurts, and demand that you change! Who needs that? Well, we all do. That’s what this whole thing is about.

Psalm 118:23(NASB)

Marvelous

Salvation is a God thing. He has provided everything needed for you to be with Him in heaven forever and live a joy filled life here on earth. Seek the facts! Ask for faith! Knock for power! Do not let this Easter leave you by unchanged. Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. Maranatha!