Easter 2022
In a few weeks Easter Sunday will be here. Easter is one of the highlights of the Christian calendar. Indeed, followers of Jesus experience the consequences of Easter every moment of their lives, whether they realize it or not. The Apostle Paul considers the resurrection of Jesus “of first importance” (1 Corinthians 15:3 ESV), along with the crucifixion; these provide the meaning and evidence for the Christian faith along with the empirical evidence of Jesus being alive. Paul makes a powerful assertion that if Jesus did not die for sin, enter the empty tomb, rise on the third day, and demonstrate His resurrection to many witnesses, there is no Christianity.
“Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.” (1 Corinthians 15:12-19)
Easter is a time of remembrance and renewal. We remember that on the first Easter, there was a lamb. Jesus realizing, He fulfilled all Old Testament requirements, including the final Passover, said, “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” Jesus knew that no person would ever be free from the weight of sin without His death. “Indeed, under the law, almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” (Hebrews 9:22) Jesus verified everything He said and did with His resurrection. So, Easter is a time to remember that our faith rests on defensible evidence that all who follow Jesus experience assurance of forgiven sins and, consequently, heaven awaits at death.
Easter is more, however, than remembrance. The finished work of Jesus is also about renewal. Because of a Lamb and His sacrifice, Castine will find renewal as we shout the words, He is alive! Because He lives, we face all our tomorrows with hope and confidence. We know that Jesus’s resurrected life flows through our being at our weakest point. One of my favorite songs says it well: “Saturday was silent, Surely it was through, But since when has impossible Ever stopped You. Friday’s disappointment, Is Sunday’s empty tomb, Since when has impossible, Ever stopped You! This is the sound, Of dry bones rattling; This is the praise, Make a dead man walk again, Open the grave, I’m coming out, I’m gonna live!” (Rattle! “Elevation worship”)
The power of Jesus continues to renew the most broken lives; His power provides endless authority and protection in the battle against evil forces! Jesus can lead us from despair to again destroy the work of the devil. Jesus renews strength to know we have a light within that darkness can never entirely snuff out! Jesus provides the resolve to stare death in the face and smile, knowing that the grave does not have the final say!
Join other followers of Jesus on April 17 as we remember there was a Lamb and a sacrifice, so all who follow Jesus can live a new life every day! Easter is our day, not the easter bunnies! I look forward to the celebration with you.
“Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.” (1 Corinthians 15:12-19)
Easter is a time of remembrance and renewal. We remember that on the first Easter, there was a lamb. Jesus realizing, He fulfilled all Old Testament requirements, including the final Passover, said, “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” Jesus knew that no person would ever be free from the weight of sin without His death. “Indeed, under the law, almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” (Hebrews 9:22) Jesus verified everything He said and did with His resurrection. So, Easter is a time to remember that our faith rests on defensible evidence that all who follow Jesus experience assurance of forgiven sins and, consequently, heaven awaits at death.
Easter is more, however, than remembrance. The finished work of Jesus is also about renewal. Because of a Lamb and His sacrifice, Castine will find renewal as we shout the words, He is alive! Because He lives, we face all our tomorrows with hope and confidence. We know that Jesus’s resurrected life flows through our being at our weakest point. One of my favorite songs says it well: “Saturday was silent, Surely it was through, But since when has impossible Ever stopped You. Friday’s disappointment, Is Sunday’s empty tomb, Since when has impossible, Ever stopped You! This is the sound, Of dry bones rattling; This is the praise, Make a dead man walk again, Open the grave, I’m coming out, I’m gonna live!” (Rattle! “Elevation worship”)
The power of Jesus continues to renew the most broken lives; His power provides endless authority and protection in the battle against evil forces! Jesus can lead us from despair to again destroy the work of the devil. Jesus renews strength to know we have a light within that darkness can never entirely snuff out! Jesus provides the resolve to stare death in the face and smile, knowing that the grave does not have the final say!
Join other followers of Jesus on April 17 as we remember there was a Lamb and a sacrifice, so all who follow Jesus can live a new life every day! Easter is our day, not the easter bunnies! I look forward to the celebration with you.
Posted in CastineConnect