Carter Benjamin Lam

The women who had come with [Jesus] from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment. But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” (from Luke 23-24)

Christ is risen! Jesus Christ, the second and perfect Adam, has returned from the dust for us. Just as death entered the world through the sin of one man, so redemption and life have come to the world through the Resurrection of the one sinless Man.

Christ is risen, and he has justified the ungodly! On Good Friday we saw that Christ necessarily paid the debt that our sin had incurred. Now that he has been raised by the glory of God, our justification has been sealed forever.

Christ is risen, never to be brought low again! In his Incarnation and Birth, throughout his entire earthly ministry, the Son of God made himself low in order to serve us sinners. Now that his work of service is accomplished and complete, he shall never be made low again. He is exalted forever.

Christ is risen, and death has been defeated! Death had its final victory on Good Friday, and now the Son of God in his Lordship rules over death forever. Jesus Christ died once for sins, once and for all time. Now, because Christ has defeated death, when we are in Christ by baptism and through faith, we no longer serve death, but death serves us. Death is not the end; it’s the passage into full communion with God in glory. Because of the Resurrection of Christ, we trample death underfoot on our way into God’s presence forever.

Christ is risen, and all who are in him shall rise with him! Our hope for our eventual and permanent resurrection is rooted in the Resurrection of Jesus. We no longer have to fear the separation that death seems to create, because nothing will prevent God from raising us up into full and perfect communion with him.

Christ is risen, and he is bringing the new creation with him! It’s significant that Jesus resurrected from death on the first day of the week. The seventh-day Sabbath rest was fulfilled when Christ rested in the grave yesterday, on Holy Saturday. The old week is over, and the new week has begun. This is the start of the re-creation of all things.

Christ is risen, and Christ is Lord! He is Lord over all things in the heavens and on earth. As we go on fulfilling his Great Commission—that is, as we go forth and make disciples, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and as we teach them all that Jesus commanded (from Matthew 28)—we keep in mind that we are on a mission that cannot fail, because all authority already belongs to Jesus and he will be with us always.

Dear Christian, go forth into the world knowing and proclaiming that Jesus Christ is risen from the dead. A very happy Resurrection Sunday / Easter Sunday to you all.