He is Risen! (More Easter Thoughts)

So I couldn’t stay away.  My parents showed up at our house around 10:45am, and since the kids were happily occupied, I slapped on some lipstick and switched from sweats to skirt and hopped in the car to catch the 11am service at church.  I was late, so I knew I wouldn’t make it into the main sanctuary, but I joined Jeff in the Phase II overflow area, where more than 100 people were watching the message live-streamed onto the wall.  That may not sound appealing, but amazingly, it was still a powerful time.

What struck me from the Easter message was this:  Joel shared that 12% of confessing Christians do not believe in the bodily Resurrection of Christ.  Hmm…  And, 32% of self-identified Non-Christians DO believe in the bodily Resurrection of Christ.  Huh?  Apparently, about a quarter (22%) of our population have a major disconnect.  Why on earth would you be a Christian if you didn’t believe Jesus rose from the dead?  If He didn’t, then His message is not true, His disciples are liars, the Bible is false, and Jesus Himself is a lunatic.  Why would you identify yourself with that?   If you do believe in the resurrection, why on earth would you not be a Christian?  Conquering the grave, giving credibility to every claim He ever made, to deity, to His words about life and death.  Everything truly hinges on the resurrection of Christ.

Lastly, we see that the disciples, when faced with the miraculous reality that Jesus had risen from the dead, were “overjoyed.”  That is the proper response to what Christ has done.  Ultimately, we have no reason for depression or despair if we believe Christ.  He has conquered it all, made all things new, given us a new and living hope, and promised us eternal life with Him.  That’s reason to celebrate.

And celebrate we did.  For the last few songs of worship, I snuck in to the main sanctuary and stood in the back, just to watch the sea of people, hands raised, worshipping my beloved Savior.  It was a celebration to behold!  I love Easter! You can have your chocolate eggs and marshmallow peeps; give me Jesus!

You are stronger, You are stronger;

sin is broken; You have saved me.

It is written, Christ is risen;

Jesus, You are Lord of all!