Jesus Is The Resurrection and the Life

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    This is the week leading up to the Sunday known as "Easter Sunday."  In both Latin and Greek, this is Pascha, or "Resurrection Sunday."  Since at least the second century, A.D., (but most likely even earlier) Christians have observed this celebration of Jesus' resurrection.  What a gripping and powerful event this was! Because of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, we have eternal life! This event proved that Jesus is the Messiah -- the promised Savior! 

    As we celebrate this glorious event, we often recall the detailed events leading up to that glorious event when the stone is rolled away and tomb is found empty.  I have been challenged this season to look at not only what the Resurrection is, but who the Resurrection is.  You see, Jesus says in John 11:25: 

I am the Resurrection and the life. 

He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live.

    The Resurrection is not just an event, The Resurrection is Jesus! This was a powerful claim for Jesus to make! If He is the Resurrection, then He holds the power and even the existence of life in His hands! Only God can do that, right? So Jesus, through identifying himself as the One who holds the power of life and death was claiming to be God.  Through the Resurrection event, Jesus proved that He was indeed Who He said He was.  

    Why is this important? What does it really even matter? Is this just some cliché that is preached every Easter and tied to some intangible doctrine studied by stodgy old Bible scholars that write books on these things?  No! This is vitally important and news that the world needs to hear and understand! Let's look at the why for a minute.

    You see,  (in case you hadn't noticed) this world has a sin problem. When Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit, death came into this world.  Man was created to live forever, but sin ruined that. We have all been touched by death and that is our own destiny as well.  Our bodies will die, and our spirits are destined for eternal death in place called hell. It seems pretty hopeless, doesn't it?  

    I want to share with you the Good News!  God came to earth in the form of His son, Jesus.  Jesus faced death for us and gave us a way to be reconciled with God and live forever! Because Jesus conquered sin and death through his death and resurrection, we have eternal life!  Our salvation is not just in events that happened about 2,000 years ago.  Our salvation is in the person of Jesus Christ, The Resurrection and the Life!  Because He is who He says He is, we can place full trust in Him and rest assured that we will live forever with Him! Praise His Holy Name!

    I apologize for the number of exclamation points. This just can't be written with a boring period at the end of the sentence! This is life-changing, hope-giving, joy-producing stuff! Jesus wants to extend this offer of eternal life to you as well.  Yes, you!  Have you received this gift?  You can! It is freely offered to all! 

    This Holy Week, I pray you will look into your Bible and discover what it means for Jesus to be the Resurrection and the Life.  I have only shared here a tiny piece of the impact this foundational truth can have on your life. It changed mine.  It can change yours too!

He is Risen.  He is Risen Indeed! Hallelujah!

He is the Resurrection and the Life.

💓 Heather Sparks💓


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