Celebrate Jesus Celebrate
“He is not here, for he has risen.” These words of the angel at the tomb have been repeated in some form by Christians for 2,000 years. The resurrection is the bedrock of Christianity.
It explains how every tear will be wiped, sin will be eradicated, and our rickety world will be made new.
He Is Alive
In this anthem you hear the chorus being repeated throughout, a call to everyone to remember that Jesus is alive and has risen! We know this to be true because He did appear after His death and resurrection. He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, the gardener at the tomb, and then to two of His disciples as they walked to Emmaus. After that, He appeared to many more of His disciples over the next forty days. There were more than 500 recorded eyewitnesses that saw the resurrected Christ, it was undeniable!
He is no longer in the cold cemetery but is now with us, resurrected and living in bold grace. Dead churches cannot claim His calming presence, but those that live with Him will shout Hallelujah! He is the King of kings and Lord of lords. He is the one we love, praise and serve! He has risen!
He Is With Us
We have seen a number of ads recently, a series that centers around the idea that “He Gets Us.” Jesus was a refugee, He had disdain for hypocrisy, He was unfairly judged like many marginalized members of modern society.
But the most important thing about Him is that He rose from the dead. The resurrection proves He is who He says He is, and that His claims about Himself are true.
The angel who appeared to Mary Magdalene and the other women at the tomb, told them not to be amazed, but that He had risen. He also promised them that He would be with them forever through the Holy Spirit.
Jesus’ resurrected body is with His people, comforting them, strengthening them, convicting them and guiding them into the life God desires for them. His resurrection transforms utter defeat into irreversible victory. This weekend’s Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 24) reminds us of this fact. Use it in your worship.
He Is Our Savior
If you watch many movies, you’ll see a hero intervene in a dangerous situation to rescue a powerless victim. When the hero saves the day, it’s easy for the victim to say, “You’re my hero!” In the Bible, the word Savior—from the Hebrew yasha—means someone who saves or delivers others from danger. That’s exactly what God does through Christ.
The Bible tells us that Jesus is the Son of God who came to save people from sin and death. He did that on the cross and proved it by rising from the dead. That’s why Paul wrote to the Romans, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” It is no longer possible to receive Jesus’ salvation without receiving Him as Savior and Lord. He is our hero who saved us from the eternal fires of hell! He is our hope who will continue to deliver us from evil.
He Is Our Hope
The hope we have for this world and the next — that is, eternity with God — rests on one set of shoulders: Jesus. He is for us the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and He offers what we are powerless to provide for ourselves: restored relationship with God, a knowledge of what really is true, and life that will never end.
The heart of Christianity is Christ’s coming as a human being to destroy the works of the devil and save those who believe in Him. This was the central event of all history, and it will be the central event of our future as well.
We may not know all that God is doing right now, but we can be confident He is working on our behalf. These reassuring Bible verses will replenish your perspective and give you hope for the future. God will use even your worst circumstances to bring you joy in the morning.
