This sermon was delivered on Easter Sunday.
Title: The Risen Lord
Text: Luke 24:6
Introduction
Today is Easter Sunday. Many people are in the Church for the tradition that they will be meeting the resurrected Jesus. Some Churches had their “Sunrise Service”. Some had their “Easter Program” with Easter Egg Hunting.
Easter celebrations originated during the Saxon times when they celebrated their pagan goddess named Eastre, the goddess of spring. When Christian missionaries arrived, trying to convert the Saxons to Christianity, they introduced them the celebration of the Lord’s resurrection on the same day that the pagans celebrates their pagan goddess of spring.
Easter is celebrated on the “First Sunday of the first full moon after the vernal Equinox”. The Ecclesiastical vernal equinox is March 21. Therefore, Easter is celebrated between March 22 and April 25.
An equinox occurs twice a year, when the tilt of the Earth’s axis is inclined neither away from nor towards the Sun, the centre of the Sun being in the same plane as the Earth’s equator. The two equinoxes are vernal (spring) equinox and the autumnal equinox. The vernal equinox is March 21, while the autumnal equinox falls on either September 22 or 23.
Significance of Christ’s Resurrection
Christ have risen to fulfill what He said that will happen
While Christ is still ministering, He already spoke about his death and resurrection. He spoke of this openly to his disciples (Matthew 16:21; Matthew 17:22; Mark 10:33; Luke 9:22). Now that it has been fulfilled, this means that what he is saying is true. Even the impossible has come to fulfillment.
The Lord has risen
Resurrection of the dead is impossible to do. How much more the predicted resurrection will be fulfilled exactly what Jesus has said. He said that he will resurrect after three days and after three days, he did resurrected. The disciples not believing in what Jesus said were puzzled in the disappearance of the body of Christ. It was the angel who told them about the risen Christ.
But just imagine if Christ’s resurrection did not take place? What do you think will happen to those who have put their faith to our Lord? Do you really think that we will still be here if Christ did not resurrect? If Christ did not actually resurrect, our faith then is baseless and Christians before us have died in vain including all the apostles.
Though there were some people who tried to dispute the historicity of the resurrection of the Christ, it is obvious that no one can really nullify by reasoning the resurrection of Christ. Having this assurance, we can also then be assured that what he is telling about the promised gift of salvation is also true.
Through the resurrection, we can see a great demonstration of God’s power. Ephesians 1:19-21 tells us that it is the power of the Father that raised Jesus from the dead.
Christ have risen to fulfill the will of the Father
Christ could have hid himself from the authorities who are trying to capture him. He could have migrated to another country. He could have actually fought against those people having so many followers. But at this very moment, we can see Jesus remained calmed and is even willing to give himself to the authorities.
John 18:6 tells us that the soldiers almost cannot believe it that the one that they are talking with is actually Jesus. In this passage we can also see that the soldiers are not the one who asked them, but it was Jesus though he already knows that he is the one they are looking for.
Luke 22:42 says; “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” Here we see the humanity of Jesus wants to ask for the exemption from pain, yet his choice to follow the will of the Father overcomes death. His willingness to follow the will of the Father is far greater than pain, not even death can prevail against it.
God’s will for Jesus is to fulfill the very purpose of his coming to humanity. Thus, part of it is to bring forth the salvation that was promised, the reconciliation of humanity to God through Jesus Christ. Without Christ’s resurrection, the Father’s will to reconcile humanity will not come to fulfillment.
Christ have risen to fulfill his promised gift
As mentioned earlier, Christ resurrected to fulfill the promised gift. Romans 4:25 “He was given over because of our transgressions and was raised for our justification.” The gift of salvation will not come into fulfillment.
Romans 10:9 ”…if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” This simply means that salvation depends on our faith in the resurrection of Christ. If there has been no resurrection, there will be no salvation. There will be no affirmation that indeed, Jesus is Lord.
1 Thessalonians 4:14 “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so also we believe that God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep as Christians.” This tells us that in Christ’s resurrection, our resurrection has also been assured.
