Made Alive In Christ
The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. … go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’” (Matt 28:5-7)
Christ is risen indeed – Hallelujah! Celebration is in order. Our celebration today is even greater than that of the people who first received news of the resurrection: they had just been rudely mauled and disappointed by the arrest and murder of the great Rabbi Jesus. Still in the state of heartbreak, confusion and almost sinking into depression, news of the empty grave and a claimed resurrection started filling the air. This must have been received like a sick man recovering from a debilitating stupor, like a woman waking up on the morning of her wedding day – excited, yet anxious with fear, not allowed to shout and celebrate loudly, yet truly entering the ‘day of her dreams’.
But as for us, despite the hush tones under quarantine, let us celebrate joyfully! Every home should fill the air with singing and praising the Lord for the victory in the resurrection. Capture this mood by reading together Psalm 114, which celebrates the deliverance of Israel from their bondage in Egypt, and calls upon the earth to tremble at the presence of the Almighty God; the stone was rolled away in obedience and our Lord was delivered from the bondage in the tomb – the ultimate display of power at the command of the Lord.
As recorded in Matt 28:1-15, there are two types of people who received the news of the resurrection. The first were the disciples (including the women witnesses): they received the best news ever, and their hope was restored and renewed. They were truly made alive. It was a great turning point in their life, and the victory and salvation received is still alive and effective to us today who receive the Lord Jesus our Saviour. The second type of people were the disappointed enemies: they had ‘won’ the battle they were now evidently losing the war. The chief priests therefore hatched a plan using lies and bribery to extinguish the news of the resurrection, and though the guards cooperated and gave a false report, it could not be sustained.
When it comes to faith in Jesus Christ and celebrating the resurrection, we still have the two kinds of people today: those who doubt and discard, and those who believe and banquet. Many attempts to keep alive have been put together, but the surest is what God has provided; those who hold firmly to the faith should enjoy the good nutritional and medical provisions for living longer; but most greatly we should rejoice because we are made alive in Christ as attested to by the resurrection.
God bless you all. Have a Blessed Easter!