This Sunday we celebrate and commemorate a day known as Easter; but better described as Resurrection Sunday. Easter is not about a date on the calendar. It is about God in the flesh receiving the first glorified body when He was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. When Jesus rose from the dead, everything changed! The time of anticipating fulfillment of the promises and prophesies about Messiah's first coming had past. The time to experience the truth of redemption through the shed blood of Christ and victory over death by His resurrection began.
Christ’s resurrection is the immovable rock on which we stand to boldly proclaim the validity of the gospel message and the power and purpose of our faith!
- 1 Corinthians 15:13-14 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: 14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
But, since the time of Adam’s fall, past the moment of resurrection, and until the future restoration of all things; the combined influences of Satan, the world system, and the weakness of our flesh have led to a perversion of the purity of God’s plans and purposes. Therefore, what should be a solemn remembrance and glorious celebration of the greatest happening in human history, has for many become yet another shameful confirmation of the depravity of mankind.
There are essentially three perspectives concerning the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ:
There are essentially three perspectives concerning the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ:
- The Oblivious: Those who are Unaware
- The Obsessed: Those who are Unappreciative
- The Obedient: Those who are Unashamed
The Oblivious
- The oblivious don’t know about Christ. They have not heard the gospel message. They have no concept of a resurrected Savior and what that should mean for them personally.
- They don’t know the truth.
- To the oblivious, this Sunday is just another day with no special meaning.
- The oblivious are the reason for the Great Commission
- Matthew 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
The Obsessed
- The obsessed have heard about Christ. The gospel means nothing to them. The obsessed are more concerned with the preoccupations of the fallen world: the lust of the flesh; the lust of the eyes; and the pride of life.
- They have ignored the truth.
- To the obsessed, ‘Easter’ is just another reason to buy candy and gifts, dress up in their ‘Sunday Best’, eat a big meal and teach their children through example that nothing is sacred.
- The obsessed have turned their back on God
- Romans 1:24-25 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
The Obedient
- The obedient have, by the grace of God and the faith He gives, heard about Christ and accepted His free gift of salvation. The gospel means new life and a new lifestyle. The obedient are seeking the Savior daily and submitting to the transforming work of His Word and Spirit.
- They have experienced the truth.
- To the obedient, Easter is a glorious celebration of Christ’s resurrection, confirmation of Christ’s Deity, Christ’s defeat of death, and Christ as a living promise of eternal life for those who trust in Him!
- The obedient, through the illumination of the Holy Spirit, understand the significance of the resurrection
- Luke 24:44-48 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. 45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, 46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And ye are witnesses of these things.
Sadly, many claiming the name of Christ are not obedient to His call or His commands: they live a life that resembles the obsessed. Some are Christians but have not grown in their faith. Some believe they are Christians but are actually deceived. Some are just pretending to be something they are not.
Arrogance and pride should never be a part of the Christian’s celebration of Christ’s resurrection (or any other part of our lives). We aren’t perfect. We aren’t better than anyone else. Bet we are privileged to know Christ as Savior. And with that privilege comes great responsibility.
Please don’t misunderstand. I love the celebratory aspects of Easter. We serve a God who loves to see His children filled with the joy of celebration (God instituted many celebrations in the Old Testament). The point is, we should remember the significance of what we are celebrating and the source of our joy. We must maintain holiness, righteousness and dignity as we celebrate. And as we celebrate, we must pray for the lost!
Prayer
Father, I thank You for our risen Savior. I thank You for what the resurrection means to all who sincerely call You Lord. I thank You for those who will come to know the truth about the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Through Your Holy Spirit, bring dignity and delight, reverence and rejoicing, solemnness and sincerity, piety and peace to our observances of Resurrection Sunday. I long for the day that I stand in Your presence in the glorified body promised in Your Word and demonstrated in Christ’s resurrection. All praise and glory and honor to You Lord. In Christ’s precious and eternal name I pray, Amen.
Arrogance and pride should never be a part of the Christian’s celebration of Christ’s resurrection (or any other part of our lives). We aren’t perfect. We aren’t better than anyone else. Bet we are privileged to know Christ as Savior. And with that privilege comes great responsibility.
Please don’t misunderstand. I love the celebratory aspects of Easter. We serve a God who loves to see His children filled with the joy of celebration (God instituted many celebrations in the Old Testament). The point is, we should remember the significance of what we are celebrating and the source of our joy. We must maintain holiness, righteousness and dignity as we celebrate. And as we celebrate, we must pray for the lost!
Prayer
Father, I thank You for our risen Savior. I thank You for what the resurrection means to all who sincerely call You Lord. I thank You for those who will come to know the truth about the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Through Your Holy Spirit, bring dignity and delight, reverence and rejoicing, solemnness and sincerity, piety and peace to our observances of Resurrection Sunday. I long for the day that I stand in Your presence in the glorified body promised in Your Word and demonstrated in Christ’s resurrection. All praise and glory and honor to You Lord. In Christ’s precious and eternal name I pray, Amen.
