As I watched one local church depict the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ this past Thursday and Friday and then heard my pastor and other pastors preach about the significance of the resurrection of Christ, I reflected on the fact that the Crucifixion and the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ was not just the ending to the most epic story of all time but the beginning to why He came and died for us. Though I was taught this beautiful story of redemption when I was a child, only as an adult do I now grasp the entirety of its significance to the world, especially to those that believe.
Paul in 1 Corinthians 15: 1-11 did his best to explain the importance of the the Resurrection of Christ. “Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance[a]: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
“For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. Whether, then, it is I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.”
I understand completely why Paul says he doesn’t deserve to be called an apostle but God’s grace goes so much further than our sinful nature and what we deserve. That’s why it’s called grace. Which makes me think of Romans 5:20 which states “… where sin abounded, grace did much more abound…” I am so grateful for the grace of God that kept me even though I felt unworthy of his love.
As I heard God’s Word preached from two difference pulpits on Sunday and two different perspectives, I realized how opposite everyone’s perspective is depending upon where they stand not just physically but spiritually at the feet of Jesus.
Even those who physically witnessed the death of Christ on the cross saw it from only their viewpoint. The crowd that went from waving palms to waving fists witnessed a different view of Christ. The Roman soldiers, who flogged him at the whipping post, nailed him to the cross and then pierced his side, saw a different view of Christ. Then those who loved him, followed him, wept for him at the foot of the cross saw another viewpoint. Each unique. Each individual. Each totally different. Yet each were still honest perspectives of the cross and the Christ. And Christ still cared and died for each and every one of us. Even the ones who mocked Him then and still mock Him today.
I wonder how many walked away from the cross that day and wished they had looked at Jesus differently. I wonder how many were amused thinking good riddance or how many were confused, wondering could He really be dead. But that’s not how the story ends. The best part was yet to be witnessed.
That’s when Mary reached the tomb to find the stone rolled away but she didn’t have the right perspective. She still wasn’t seeing the whole picture. She wasn’t realizing an empty grave meant He had risen! So for a moment she was tearful. For a moment she was confused. But finally she was focused on the Savior who was before her and she finally saw the truth. He was no longer dead. Death had been swallowed up in victory. And now she could be live because of Him.
Today though our lives may seem turned upside down, they can be completely turned around by the Savior. He’s just waiting for us to get a new perspective.
Ironically nothing has really changed in all these years. When Paul was writing to the church in Corinthians it was a mess too. They were divided on teachings. There were issues with sexual immorality, sacrifices being made to idols and believers were polarized in their opinions.
This is why Paul reiterated that the true identity of our spiritual resurrection meant we were buried with Christ (our sins and our past) and we were raised to life in Christ. That’s why the Resurrection of Christ was so critical! Our very existence depended upon it! We would be lost and nothing without Him!
Just like the ground shook on the day that Jesus died on the cross, God is shaking The Church of Jesus Christ again! God is removing the goats, reestablishing the prodigals who are coming home, reckoning His warriors and reviving his people once again! He is preparing His Bride for her wedding day!
The Resurrection of Jesus was just the beginning and is still the greatest headline we will ever read or write. It’s still earth-shaking news from now until eternity. So it’s vital that we focus on getting ready to meet Jesus face-to-face.
John 9:4 says to “work while it is still day with eyes on the coming resurrection.”
So we need to be ready to run into the fields and harvest the wheat while we can. Then ask God to set our hearts ablaze with the fire of the Holy Spirit that will burn away anything that tries to entangle us with this world and hold us back. Just like the Bride on her wedding day we want to be prepared and have everything in its place as we walk down to meet our Groom – King Jesus.
So I pray, “Even so Lord Jesus come.” Amen.
