EASTER MEDITATION

EASTER MEDITATION

2022

"But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits

of those who have fallen asleep."

(I Corinthians 15:20)

Death is the destiny of all men. The ratio is one to one – 100%. Untold billions of people who have lived here on earth have died. Even the Lord Jesus had to die. So what makes his death so special?

There is only one thing that separates His death from all of the others. The manner of His death is not what sets Him apart from the rest. Even His crucifixion, with all its suffering, was not what made His death unique. After all, many, many people have been crucified. It was third day after His death when He rose from the grave that was so crucial.

So why was the Resurrection so important?

His Resurrection gave meaning to His death. If Jesus had not risen from the dead, His death would have been like just any other person. He would be no better than Buddha, or Confucius, or Mohammed. His resurrection was the proof that God accepted the sacrifice that Jesus made for sin.

His Resurrection gives the foundation for my faith. As it is written, "If Christ is not risen, your faith is futile" (I Corinthians 15:17). Without the Resurrection, the Christian faith is empty – a hollow shell – and has no intrinsic value.

His Resurrection gives hope for the future. We know that there is life after death because Jesus has proven it by His Resurrection. Without it, I have no assurance that there is something awaiting me after I die. "If in this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable" (I Corinthians 15:19).

I am so glad for Easter, and the celebration of Resurrection Sunday. It gives meaning to life. Without it, life itself would be empty with no future. We have hope of heaven because Jesus is alive.

Praise God for Easter.