Easter

Easter

Every year Easter is celebrated. In some religious movements special traditions have been established and it is considered unthinkable to have Easter without them.  In the Russian church the greeting “Christ is risen!” is used.  The response to this greeting is “He is risen indeed!” Easter is a day to reflect on Christ’s resurrection from the dead. 

The first message of Christ’s resurrection came from angel’s lips.  Women came in the early morning hours in order to anoint Jesus’ body.  As they reached the grave, they found it empty.  Then two angels approached them.  They said:  “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!” In surprise, the women hurried from the grave in order to tell the disciples what they had experienced.  On the way they met the risen Saviour; they heard His greeting and fell down before Him.  The event was too overwhelming; yet now they knew that He was risen indeed.  In this manner He revealed Himself to a crying Maria Magdalene, to Peter, and to two disciples who were on their way to Emmaus. Finally, in the evening he stepped into the midst of the surprised disciples and said, “Peace to you!”  He proved to them that He had indeed risen from the dead.  Now the discples were certain of Christ’s resurrection. In this manner they became witnesses of His resurrection and spoke of it to the leaders of Isreal as well as to the common people.  The testimony of the resurrection was one of the main topics of conversation in those days. 

And wasn’t the resurrection of Christ a wonderful event?  He, the crucified One whose side was pierced with a spear from bottom to top, rose from the dead.  This is too much for the human mind to comprehend.  Regardless, He stood alive before His disciples and a doubting Thomas was able to place his hand in His side and his finger in the nail marks.  No wonder he cried, “My Lord and my God!” Thus he was convinced of the Resurrection.  Then John wrote: “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life— the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us.” (1 John 1:1-2)  He testified of the eternal life that came to him through Christ, the Risen Lord.  Even the apostle Paul gave his testimony and wrote to the Corinthians: “Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.” (1Corinthians 15:8)  For this reason he also claimed that he: “...has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” (2 Timothy 1:10) The testimony of the resurrection of Jesus could not be denied by anyone because all the wonders and signs happened in the name of Jesus.  That was supported by these words: “And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs.” (Mark 16:20)

The Risen One was topic of the sermons in the early Church.  A dead Christ would not have brought these fearful men out in public; yet, because of the resurrection of their Lord they became fearless go-getters.  The Spirit of the Risen One was inside them and equipped them, despite all threats, to proclaim Christ’s resurrection. This message also brought victory in all the world and millions submitted to Christ as their Lord and King.  They willingly gave up their lives in the battle against sin, superstition and heathen idolatry because they knew that they too would rise again and live. 

Our Christian world has for the most part forgotten the huge significance of the resurrection of Christ.  A large number of those who stand behind the pulpit do not believe in the physical resurrection of Christ.  Today is a time when the lifegiving doctrine is rejected without considering the clear teachings of the Holy Scripture.  The Apostle Paul once asked: “Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead?”  Unbelief allows a person to sink into a dark night where no hope can be found.  How different it is for the children of God who proclaim, “I know that my Redeemer lives!”  This knowledge comes from a personal experience with the resurrected One.  He came into their lives, changed it completely and gave them a new heavenly perspective.  They experience Him repeatedly through wonderful answered prayer and together they testify: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever!”

Gustav Sonnenberg (1898-1980)