This time of year is usually a happy time for people. Spring signals an end to the harsh cold of winter and is a pleasant cushion before the uncomfortable heat of summer. Spring flowers bring vibrant colors and beautiful fragrances to the austere landscape left by winter’s domain. New life appears everywhere. In addition to the flowers, trees bud, birds build nests, animals have babies, and fields begin to sprout. Springtime seems to breathe life back into the world. (I will add here, that even though Florida winters are not as cold as up north, they are grey and chilly and spring is a welcome change here too.)
This time of year also brings a celebration commonly called Easter. This is when Christians everywhere rejoice because Jesus Christ was raised from the dead! Many Christians call this holiday, “Resurrection Sunday” and that is actually my preference.
The Bible devotes four books, known as the Gospels; Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, to chronicling Jesus’s life here on earth. Each book describes many wonderful things that Jesus did while here on earth and the sad events surrounding his heinous capture and crucifixion. But the Gospels culminate with the glorious description of his resurrection. It is that resurrection that changed the world forever!
So, it only makes sense that Resurrection Sunday would be a day of great celebration each year. All the rights and privileges we have as sons of God hinge on Jesus Christ’s resurrection and ascension. It says in the gospel of John that Jesus Christ came so that we could have a life that is more (or super) abundant. (John 10:10)
It is because of the finished work of Jesus Christ that people can be born again. Our redemption and salvation were accomplished by his resurrection. And his resurrection took place because Jesus Christ fulfilled all the requirements of the Old Testament law and became the sacrificial Passover lamb once and for all. He gave his life for us. Therefore, our salvation is not only completely legal, but it is also a gift. Jesus Christ paid the full price so that we could be born again and receive all the benefits of being sons of God. It was something that we could not do for ourselves, no matter how hard we tried. So, I don’t know about you, but I sure am thankful for what Jesus Christ did so that I could be saved! 😉
Just as springtime renews life after the doldrums of winter, salvation renews our lives after the bondage of the world. It is interesting to note, that for most of us, we didn’t recognize the bondage that we were in until we got born again. That is a clever scheme promoted by worldly powers. The world disguises its bondage as “just the way things are.” And it has lulled people’s minds into accepting that statement. How many times have you thought, “That’s just the way things are. There is nothing we can do about it.” Well, with Christ in us, there is always something we can do about it!! The book of Romans declares that we are “more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37) And we could not be more than conquerors unless there was something that we needed to conquer.
John 16:33 – (Jesus Christ talking): These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
We may see hard times in life, but we are fully equipped with the power of God so we can rise above the circumstances. Sometimes bad things happen. Sometimes difficulties plague us. But we can be victorious over whatever is troubling us when we believe what God’s Word says. Jesus Christ overcame the world for us, so that we can experience victory in our lives.
Just like spring releases us from the icy grasp of winter, salvation releases us from the clutches of sin. We were freed from the bondage of our old sinful nature by the finished work of Jesus Christ. We just need to believe that.
2 Corinthians 5:17 – Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
So, on Resurrection Sunday, we can rejoice because we have been given a brand new life. Our old way of thinking, our fears, worries and doubts were swept away by the power of God who raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Our past sins were fully cleansed so not even a hint of them remains. God remembers them no more! And if we sin now, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ. (1 John 2:1) We truly do have newness of life!
Remember this very familiar verse?
John 3:16 – For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
God so loved that He gave! Jesus Christ so loved that he gave! And now because he was raised from the dead, we have eternal life! We have so much to rejoice about!
We don’t have to let the pressures of this world weigh us down. Spring always follows winter. Light always dispels darkness. God is always with us. And with God all things are possible.
Jesus Christ rose from the dead, which made salvation available to anyone who wants it. It’s a gift of God that we just need to accept. Once we do, we are going to live forever. We’re going to heaven and all hell can’t stop us. And in the meantime, we can live a new life that is more than abundant.
Romans 6:4 – Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Note to my readers: Happy Resurrection Sunday!! I love you. Thanks for reading.