We are at the end of our Holy Week series, and it’s resurrection day. We all know what happened today. The church worldwide is celebrating! We are all declaring! He is Risen! Christ is risen indeed!
And I just have a few thoughts to share.
The resurrection is a new creation reality. The first Easter morning, Jesus rose from the dead and He went to them, wherever they were. He went to Mary in the garden. He went to the two walking on the road to Emmaus. He went to the house where the disciples were hiding. And He is still coming to us today.
We are celebrating today what they were only finding out about that first Easter morning. When they woke up, it was still dark, but then they found out. It’s Good News! Jesus is alive! Death has lost its sting. The grave has lost its victory. Jesus took the keys of death, hell and the grave and gave them to the church, and now it’s our turn to do the work of the kingdom. What Jesus started in His earthy ministry, what the disciples continued after His ascension, it is now ours to do.
We are to continue the work the men and women of faith have carried on down through the millennia and centuries until now, sharing the good news of restoration and reconciliation with the Father. Jesus cut the covenant with the Father for us and paid our debt with His life.
And by the blood of his cross, everything in heaven and earth is brought back to himself – back to its original intent, restored to innocence again.
Colossians 1:20 tpt
And now we are brothers and sisters in God’s family because of the blood of Jesus, and he welcomes us to come into the most holy sanctuary in the heavenly realm – boldly and without hesitation. For he has dedicated a new, life-giving way for us to approach God. For just as the veil was torn in two, Jesus’ body was torn open to give us free and fresh access to him! And since we now have a magnificent High Priest to welcome us into God’s house, we come closer to God and approach him with an open heart, fully convinced that nothing will keep us at a distance from him. For our hearts have been sprinkled with blood to remove impurity, and we have been freed from an accusing conscience. Now we are clean, unstained, and presentable to God inside and out!
Hebrews 10:18-22 tpt
Other translations say our bodies were washed with pure water. The whole point was to bring us back to Himself and to give us free and fresh access to the Father. He wanted relationship! Salvation is possible because of Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday. But salvation isn’t the end; it’s the beginning.
Salvation is the door into the adventure of discipleship. Following Jesus is a lifelong journey. We’ve already said it, but it bears repeating. The same covenant that provides everything for us requires everything from us.
Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.
I Corinthians 6:19-20 nlt
I’m reminded of an old song written by Elvina M. Hall in the 1800’s.
Jesus paid it all.
All to Him I owe.
Sin had left a crimson stain.
He washed me white as snow.
Elvina M. Hall
Jesus paid it all, and now we owe all to Jesus. Take a moment and remember today. Remember when you met Him. Remember when you surrendered your life to Him. Personally, I was an emotionally broken. I was a mess. And He picked up all my pieces and gently and lovingly put me back together.
But that’s not why I need Jesus. There are people all around us who have their lives pretty straight. They’re emotionally sound and financially secure. By this world’s standards, they’re okay, but they still need Jesus.
We don’t need Jesus because we are a mess. We need Jesus because we are eternally separated from the Father and He is the ONLY way.
Today is a day of excitement and hope. Of joy and celebration. It was for the disciples on that first easter morning and it still is for us! So let’s celebrate big!
But in your celebrating don’t forget our mission. Let’s look with redemptive eyes at those all around us that are still without hope and without God in this world, and do whatever we can to reunite them with His love.
Holy Week is over, but the work has just begun. Jesus gave a command to the disciples right before He ascended to heaven, and it was for us too. It’s our turn now.
Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:19-20 nlt
Go! That literally means, “As you go, preach the gospel.” As you go. As you go to work. As you go to the store. As you go to the bank. As you go to your child’s sports event. As you go, share the good news. Chances are there is someone there who needs to hear it.
Let’s pray.
Lord, thank you! Thank you for paying our debt! Thank you for opening our eyes! Thank you for giving us free and fresh access. Approach. Communion with the Father. Give us boldness to share the good news with those around us so they can know You too.
In Jesus’ Name.
Amen.