March 31, 1999
GRACE & PEACE:
Shout with gratitude for the
glory of the Resurrection___"While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright, the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, 'Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!' Remember how he told you while he was still with you in Galilee, 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again'" (Luke 24:4-7).___One of the greatest preachers of our century, William Sangster, suffered muscular atrophy in his latter years and was unable tospeak. On Resurrection Sunday morning, he scribbled a note to his daughter: "It is terrible to wake up on Easter morning and have no voice with which to shout, 'He is risen!' But it would be still more terrible to have a voice and not want to shout."
WILLIAM M. PINSON JR. Executive Director
BGCT Executive Board
___First century Christians would greet a fellow Christian with the words: "The Lord is risen!" The reply would come: "The Lord is risen indeed!" When I was pastoring, we sometimes would begin worship services as I would declare, "The Lord is risen!" And the congregation would reply--often shout--"The Lord is risen indeed!"
___Why such emphasis on the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ? Because the fact of the resurrection is the validation of the claims of Jesus to be the sinless Son of God who died for our sins. The resurrection is the exclamation point in the description of Jesus. Through his incarnation, Jesus shows the way life is to be lived. By his death on the cross--crucifixion--he sets us free to follow that way. Because of his resurrection from the dead, he is alive to empower and guide us as we follow the way. Without resurrection power, we would fail in our effort to follow Jesus.
___Thus the resurrection of Jesus is not an event which is reserved for celebration one Sunday a year but a fact to be experienced each day of our life in Christ. Because he lives, we live--abundantly and eternally. If the resurrection were not real, we would be "most miserable," the great missionary Apostle Paul declared.
___So how should Resurrection Sunday affect us? Surely it ought to be a time of joyous celebration--both the cross and the tomb are empty and the risen Lord is with us all the time! Clearly, it ought to be a day to share with those who have not trusted in the resurrection power of Jesus the wonder and joy of living daily with the indwelling love and power of Jesus. No greater love ever has been seen than the cross, and no greater power has been experienced than the resurrection.
___The resurrection of Jesus also provides the power and character of the Christian life. Jesus is alive and indwells those who have trusted him for salvation and invited him to live within them. As the Holy Spirit led Paul to write: "I am crucified with Christ. Nevertheless I live" and "Christ in you is the hope of glory."
___Please pray that Resurrection Sunday will be a day of great evangelistic ingathering in your church. Pray that many will come to faith in Christ on that day. And pray that the wonder, joy and power of resurrection will be companions every day, not just on Resurrection Sunday.Frontpage / Contents/ Masthead / Why We're Here / Links / Archive / E-mail us/ SUBSCRIBE!