Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!! Hallelujah!

When I served as full-time pastor, I always wanted to do a great job, to hit a “home run” with my sermon, on the big holidays of Christmas and Easter. Somewhere along the way, however, I realized that the Good News of God’s love and salvation for us in Jesus is so good that it does not need embellishment. Somehow, as the Holy Spirit worked in me, I learned on these special days to simply share God’s simple truth. It speaks for itself. Please listen with me to God’s plain Good News of Easter.

While preparing His disciples for His coming crucifixion and death, and for the trials God’s children face in this life, Jesus assures them, “ . . . Because I live, you also will live.” (John 14:19 b)

As Paul confronts the pain and reality of death in the church at Thesalonika, He declares, “We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.” (1 Thessalonians 4:14) Death is NOT the last word! Jesus is!!

As Paul discusses the guilt we face for our rebellion and sin, He declares that Jesus is not only risen, but in heaven pleading with His Father for us. “33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died-- more than that, who was raised to life-- is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” (Romans 8:33-34)

Paul also declares that the love of God, which caused Jesus to die and rise for us, gives us purpose for this life, a reason to live. “And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.” (2 Corinthians 5:15)

The plain truth is that our sin against God and our brothers and sisters deserves judgement, death, and hell from our Holy Creator. But, in sacrificial love, Jesus died to pay for the sin of the whole world. In His resurrection, Jesus defeated the power of sin and death. The Good News of Jesus’ Easter victory through His rising from the dead is that, God not only gives eternal life in heaven to all who believe in Jesus, He changes our lives for good in this life. We can live in courage, because death is not the end, God’s children have heaven coming. We can live in peace and assurance, because God knows our sin and still loves us – Jesus pleads for us in heaven. We can live with purpose in a world which has lost its bearing, because Jesus died and rose for us!

No wonder the people of God have a tradition of proclaiming the Good News each Easter, “Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!! Hallelujah!