Belong: Resurrection

Next week shops, offices, and schools across Germany will be closed for Osterferien (Easter holiday). Some people must continue to work, but many will take advantage of the holiday to travel, spend time with family and friends, or just rest. What are your plans for Osterferien? 

It is good news when we know that we have a holiday in sight. But while enjoying a much deserved break from work or school is refreshing, will Easter break change your life? 

Probably not.

Unless of course, Easter represents a different kind of good news to you. 

Photo credit Jeremy Fairbrass

Let’s look at how the Bible describes the very first Easter Sunday long ago. The last chapter in the book of Matthew says this:

"Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb.

Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint.

Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you.”

The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel’s message. And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there” (Matthew 28:1-10, New Living Translation). 

Jesus’ resurrection changed everything. 

Three days earlier, Jesus died a horrible death on a cross. Crucifixion was a typical form of Roman execution for criminals. Jesus’ death, however, was anything but typical. Not only was he completely innocent, but his physical death served as the spiritual turning point for all creation.

Jesus came to this earth, lived a blameless life, and willingly allowed himself to be killed. His death provided the ransom payment needed to set people free from sin (or the actions and attitudes which control us because we rejected our loving Creator God). In this way Jesus’ death restores us to a right relationship with God.

But the story didn’t end with Jesus’ death, because he came back to life! Through his resurrection, Jesus showed his complete triumph over sin and death. Now, we can be set free from sin and look forward with confident hope to our own future resurrection and eternal life with God. 

Even as I type these sentences I realize that some people wrestle with the idea of someone dying on their behalf. Maybe even more problematic is the concept of sin itself or the possibility of a physical resurrection.

If you struggle with these things, I wish we could grab coffee together and discuss them at length. Alas, this is just online input. However, plenty of people much smarter than I am have written about these topics (The Cross of Christ by John Stott or The Reason for God by Tim Keller could be helpful resources for you).

Instead, I want to draw your attention to one life-changing aspect of the resurrection story.

The angel said, “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen” (verses 5&6).

What Jesus promised came true!

The women who witnessed Jesus’ death (Matt. 27:55) also enjoyed the privilege of being the first people to see, touch, and worship the risen Jesus. When they left the empty tomb, “they were frightened but also filled with great joy,” as they rushed to tell others the good news (Matt. 28:8). 

The description of their joy being mixed with fear feels significant to me. Their relief and excitement that their friend was alive had dramatic implications for their future. Good news can be quite terrifying if you know it is about to change your life.

If Jesus really rose from the dead, then that changes everything for us too. It means we can’t just pick and choose which teachings or promises of the Resurrected One we want to apply to our lives. We have to accept all of them because what Jesus said would happen, happens! 

So, when we feel a bit terrified about the reality of the resurrection and all of it’s beautiful, powerful, and life-changing implications for us, let’s allow the words of Jesus to comfort us.

“Don’t be afraid!” (Matt. 28:10).

Isn’t the one who has power over sin and death worthy of our trust? If Jesus has control over all these things, should we not give him control of our lives too? 

This Easter as we rest and worship, let’s celebrate that Jesus died and rose again. And let’s trust and obey everything else he said too.

If you would like to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus with us, then we invite you to join our Easter Celebration tomorrow Sunday, 31 March 2024. We will gather for a simple worship service at 11:00 and afterwards continue celebrating with food and fellowship at 12:30. Lunch is for free! So just come ready to eat and to celebrate.