Celebrating Easter

 

The graphic is a markup from a recent Lifeway Research article. The article stated:

Two-thirds of U.S. adults (66%) say the biblical accounts of the physical resurrection of Jesus are completely accurate. They believe this event actually occurred, according to the 2022 State of Theology study. Fewer than a quarter (23%) disagree, and 11% say they’re not sure.

The article's next paragraphs breaks down which groups/ages fall into what categories. The article then moves on to show that such a belief does not mean those who accept the physical resurrection of Jesus are not moved by that belief to apply it to their lives. While I cannot disagree with their survey results our their conclusions, I do have an opinion on why it matters to me.

Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. (Luke 24:1 KJV)

Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. (John 20:19 KJV)

And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. (Acts 20:7 KJV)

The Resurrection occured the first day of the week, as did the meeting of Jesus' disciples where He joined them, as did the the early Christians who listened to Paul preach to them. We do the same thing that Christians have done since the Resurrection in remembrance of that day and it's meaning.

Paul wrote of its importance:

Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. (1 Corinthians 15:12-15 KJV)

Christianity would be no different from any other followers of a teacher of good if Jesus died on the cross and the story ended. However, the first day of the week, which we call Sunday, made all the difference to His message of love God and our fellow man - Jesus walked out of the tomb and met with His followers. Not everyone believed that. Apparently there were members of the church at Corinth who did not believe that. Members of the Sanhedrin did not believe, though members of the Pharisee did. Paul had been a Pharisee, and he had seen the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus. There was no question in his mind that the Resurrection changed everything.

For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. (1 Corinthians 15:16-19 KJV)

May I confirm that Christians are not miseerable? Yes, we may have serious troubles in our lives, but they are handled with a hope that really is eternal. So, what are we supposed to do about it? The New Testament was written to give the full answer to that question, but I also like a specific:

Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (Hebrews 10:23-25 KJV)

What I do is gather with other believers in a variety of meetings - the first is Sunday morning in a classroom environment to learn about specific Bible verses/stories/exhortations. An hour later we come together as a church congregation to sing praises, worshipping God, and hearing a message from His word that we may apply to our own lives.

This coming Sunday I will be in that congregation celebrating the Resurrection, acknowleding our faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, the fulfillment of prophecies, and God's plan for mankind:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:16-18 KJV)