A Reason to Celebrate

from the March 18, 2008 eNews issue

Mohammed, Siddhartha Gautama (The Buddha), Confucius, and Jesus Christ: To many, these names are all of equal value; they represent great teachers who spoke words of wisdom and enlightenment. They are the leaders of major religions, and their words and ideas live to this day, each having won the loyalty of millions and even billions of followers.

All four of these men died and were buried. However three still lie in the grave. This coming Sunday, Christians around the world will celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. On the Passover he was slaughtered as our spotless Passover lamb. As in Egypt, his blood was placed over us to protect us and shield us from the judgment of God. Then Christ conquered sin - and death itself - by rising again.

And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay (Matthew 28:5,6).

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:55-57).

Resurrection Sunday should be a day of greatest rejoicing. Christ Jesus lives today! We have a living Lord, a living Savior, a living Hope. He has broken the power of death and sin over our lives! Through him, each of us can escape God's wrath and live forever. This is the foundation of the Christian faith. Without Christ's resurrection, we have nothing.

Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable (1 Corinthians 15:12-19).

Praise the Lord, Christ has risen! Billions of people through the centuries have had their lives changed by the living power of Jesus Christ, and to this day, his resurrection power heals and restores and gives new life. We are witnesses to that life-giving power here at Koinonia House, as are thousands of our readers. How do we know Christ lives? We've watched him change our lives and the lives of people around us! We've watched him heal and restore over and over! Praise God - he will continue to do so until his return!

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you (1 Peter 1:3,4).

That is reason to celebrate indeed! Thanks and glory and praise be to God for ever and ever! Amen.