Resurrection: Celebrating life in Jesus

Resurrection day greetings to you! May the peace given by our risen Lord Jesus Christ rest with you! Rejoice for this is a day of celebration!

Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’ ” And they remembered His words. Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. Luke 24:1-9

The news about the resurrection of Jesus Christ brought joy to the women who went to the tomb and then to the disciples. Jesus Christ’s resurrection was a sign which He talked about before his crucifixion, yet the disciples and Christ’s followers did not quite understand prior. With Jesus Christ atoning for our sins on the cross, and making a new covenant with us all, we have received salvation and eternal life through the blood of Jesus Christ. All in all, this is a reason to celebrate life in Jesus, a life which is free of sin and the burden which follows sin. Additionally, this resurrection is more special.

In the old testament, we have records of people being resurrected. Elijah was the first to call the LORD to revive the son of the woman who provided lodging for him. Following this, we have multiple other records of resurrection. Jesus himself resurrects multiple people is recorded in the gospels, the most famous of which is Lazarus owing to the duration of his passing. There is also an incident recorded in the book of Acts where Paul resurrects a young man.

Now it happened after these things that the son of the woman who owned the house became sick. And his sickness was so serious that there was no breath left in him. So she said to Elijah, “What have I to do with you, O man of God? Have you come to me to bring my sin to remembrance, and to kill my son?” And he said to her, “Give me your son.” So he took him out of her arms and carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his own bed. Then he cried out to the Lord and said, “O Lord my God, have You also brought tragedy on the widow with whom I lodge, by killing her son?” And he stretched himself out on the child three times, and cried out to the Lord and said, “O Lord my God, I pray, let this child’s soul come back to him.” Then the Lord heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came back to him, and he revived. And Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper room into the house, and gave him to his mother. And Elijah said, “See, your son lives!” Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now by this I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is the truth.” 1 Kings 17:17-24

But all these resurrections are different from the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In fact, the resurrection seen here in Jesus is the first of a new resurrection, which we too shall enjoy on the final day. Our natural body which we are born with is of the same form as Adam, the first man. We are made in the image of God, which followed through Adam. However, this body we have is made from dust, and is prone to decay. We see this in the case of all the other resurrections in the Bible. The people who died, even when brought back to life, died in due course of time. Their resurrected body was the same as they had before, that is of dust. In contrast, Christ was resurrected into a spiritual body, which was not constrained to the same limits of the natural body. Just like we bear the image of Adam, we will also bear the image of Christ. Paul discusses this in detail in his epistle to the church at Corinth.

So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man. 1 Corinthians 15:42-49

There is a reason why this spiritual body is needed. In 1 Timothy 6:16, we read “who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power.” Our Father who lives in heaven is holy and pure. This is why our sin hinders our relationship with our Father. Through Jesus Christ, we are able to be more close than ever to the LORD in heaven. However, our body, made of flesh and blood is not suited for the kingdom of God, since it is corrupt and perishable. Nevertheless, in order for us to live close with Him for eternity, our Father will transform us all into a spiritual body, much like the one into which Jesus was resurrected into. With this Death will be permanently defeated!

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:50-57

Jesus Christ, through his death on the cross, atoned for our sins. This enabled us to repent and directly ask for forgiveness in the name of Jesus Christ. Further, having been cleansed by the blood of Christ, we could now seek the LORD directly with Jesus as our mediator. This way, we have a more intimate relationship with the Father.

Now, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we also have the promise of being resurrected into a spiritual body following the example of Jesus. This will enable us to spend eternity in the presence of the Father, in close proximity. Is this not a reason to rejoice!? As we patiently wait for our eternal life of joy and peace, let’s continue in doing the good work of our Father and celebrate life in Jesus Christ!

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:58